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Bike to the Future Team
Les Niewiara John Howson Pete Abell Francis Rice Andy Hemens Dave Smithson ('Smit') Simon Gledhill George Smith Pete Van Ruiten (PVR) Dave Ephraim Sue Davison, Rosa Niewiara & Immi Niewiara (support team) Jordanna Pitchford (support team) Helen Gerrard (support team) Neil Gerrard (aka Jammy) - Masseuse Les Niewiara I am 44 and married to Sue. We have 2 fantastic daughters - Rosa (12) and Immi (10), all of whom will be part of the Ride Support Team. We are very much into outdoor activities particularly hill and mountain walking. I have always cycled, but have never attempted so large a distance in so short a time - I am looking forward to the challenge. It will be great to do the ride supported by friends and family who have been so supportive since last November. Les lives in Harrow with his partner Sue, and their 2 daughters Rosa and Immi John Howson As part of my mid life crisis in 2003 I decided to cycle the Coast 2 Coast along with 3 friends. From a standing start in February we trained most weekends and eventually managed the 180 miles in 3 days without too many problems. We raised £2000 for Leukaemia Research and enjoyed the experience so much we decided, for 2004 to do the Coast and Castles route from Newcastle to Edinburgh. We completed this 230 mile trip over 3.5 days at the end of July. I just need to maintain my fitness for the forthcoming ride!! John lives in Newcastle under Lyme with his wife Julia and their 2 children Lindsay and Matthew Pete Abell At the age of 44 I was looking for a new sporting challenge. Previously, I'd played football - equally bad at right or left back, cricket with moderate success and social tennis with the emphasis very much on the social. A year ago a knee operation slowed me down but the back to the future ride has given me the motivation to take my rehab exercises seriously and get the knee back working right. Secondly to get fit and lose weight and thirdly to give up my addiction as a Sky Sports couch potato. Pete lives in Cardiff with his wife Ann and their daughter Liz. Francis Rice I first met Les when he walked into my primary school class at SS Peter and Paul in Bolton when we both 5 years old. Since then we have been through thick and thin - the main thin being standing on the terraces at Burnden Park supporting Bolton Wanderers in the 'dark days' of the early 1970's. Now 39 years on, I feel it is only right that I support Les on this ride - I only wish that we had been born in Hemel Hempstead as it would have made the bike ride significantly easier. Francis lives in Hemel Hempstead with his partner Di and their 4 cats Andy Hemens Over the years I have tried my hand at most sports, and after realising that I am not going to be world champion (despite getting all the gear) I move onto the next one. And so now I am into tennis, golf and biking - the latter being quite fortunate as it means I can start making use of one of my bikes. I've recently got some pedal clips for my bike, and my one piece of advice would be not to attempt doing a wheelie, as when I over rotated, I ended up landing on my back with the bike on top of me (which I would have liked to have said about my university days, but alas I can't). Andy lives in Brighton with his wife Suzy and their 2 children Ella and Becca. Andy also has a son Lewis. Dave Smithson ('Smit') I'm a ginger haired, easygoing, Man U fan. Positives / strengths: Short hair - will reduce drag whilst cycling, 1990-1994 Champion puncture repairer of Bolton, Member of the I.A.C (Institute of Advanced Cyclists) Negative cycling incident: Smashed 2 front teeth out whilst "bombin" down our road at the age of 7. What do I hope to get out of the ride: To do something positive for a good cause, and A lift back to Bolton from Les' sister, Lodzia! Smit lives in Bolton, and goes out with Les' niece Jordanna Simon Gledhill I originally met Les at evening classes, and over time our families have become close friends. I've done a few London to Brightons for BHF, but this ride is for something closer to home. Out on the bike I think of myself as Eddie Merckx - but look more like Eddie Large! Always after a challenge - riding in England in November isn't a bad start. Simon lives in Harrow with his wife Rose and their 2 children Anna and George George Smith I am 44 years old married with two kids aged 8 and 10. I have not cycled since I had my bike stolen in 1976 although I did buy a bike to go cycling with the kids a few years ago. After dusting off the bike I very quickly discovered that they go a lot faster with air in the tyres and the seat set at the correct height! With the training and the ride I hope to lose a tyre - the one around my waist. Les assures me that it is all flat or down hill from Bolton to Hammersmith so I hope to be able to keep up. George lives in Pinner with his wife Micaela and their 2 children Olivia and George Pete Van Ruiten (PVR) I am 44 and live with Christine my wife and two of my three daughters (Imi and Maddy) in Pennine Yorkshire. My third and eldest daughter Sasha lives in Leicestershire. Although living in prime mountain biking country I have not as yet got into 2 wheel sports / recreational activities. The only way I have been seen going downhill is on a pair of skis. My favourite activities involve boats, sails, boards and water in any guise. So when this challenge was hatched I was somewhat apprehensive about joining in, however such a good reason as helping a mate under these circumstances has won the day. I work as a Director of an Environmental Engineering Company and need to get some cycle miles under my belt before the event. PVR lives in Holmfirth with his wife Christine and their 2 children Imi and Maddy. PVR also has another daughter Sasha. Dave Ephraim Biking Experience: Paper round 1972-78 Watched Tour de France on telly Strengths I can bring to Group - I will be able to translate if we meet a Welsh speaking person between Bolton & Hammersmith to ask the way. David lives in Kelsall (Cheshire) with his wife Kathy and their 2 children Megan and Dan Sue Davison, Rosa Niewiara & Immi Niewiara (Support Team) Sue: Les and I have been together for over 20 years, and in that time, have been through quite a lot - the worst being the last 10 months since Les' Pancreatic Cancer diagnosis and treatment. Hopefully, things are now getting better. As a keen runner, I seriously thought about doing the ride, however, trying to keep the family together and coping with a full time job whilst Les has been organising the ride and training for it, has meant that I will be helping out as a member of the support team. Rosa: I want to help as it looks as if I might get a day off school on the Monday when my dad will be finishing the ride Immi: I want to help as it looks like some people from Bolton Wanderers will be starting the ride - I hope it is Jay Jay Okocha as he is my favourite player Sue, Rosa & Immi live in Harrow with Les Jordanna Pitchford (Support Team) I am looking forward to the bike ride and think it will be such an achievement at the end. I am glad to be part of the support team with my two cousins (Rosa & Immi). I can't believe my Uncle Les is trusting me to drive his car down to Hammersmith!!! Helen Gerrard - Support team I live in Bolton and will be accompanying Jordanna in one of the support vehicles, and will be acting as co-driver as I possess excellent map reading skills. I have never been involved in anything of this nature so I am looking forward to supporting in any way I can. Neil Gerrard (aka Jammy) - Masseuse I am Helen's brother, and I will be providing massages to those extremely tired legs in order to get them rejuvenated for the next day of cycling. Massaging 10 pairs of hairy legs may not be my idea of a fun weekend, however, Smit and Jordanna managed to persuade me that it was all in a good cause, and that it will give me invaluable experience and also look good on my C.V!
Les lives in Harrow with his partner Sue, and their 2 daughters Rosa and Immi
John lives in Newcastle under Lyme with his wife Julia and their 2 children Lindsay and Matthew
Pete lives in Cardiff with his wife Ann and their daughter Liz.
Francis lives in Hemel Hempstead with his partner Di and their 4 cats
Andy lives in Brighton with his wife Suzy and their 2 children Ella and Becca. Andy also has a son Lewis.
Simon lives in Harrow with his wife Rose and their 2 children Anna and George
George lives in Pinner with his wife Micaela and their 2 children Olivia and George
PVR lives in Holmfirth with his wife Christine and their 2 children Imi and Maddy. PVR also has another daughter Sasha.
David lives in Kelsall (Cheshire) with his wife Kathy and their 2 children Megan and Dan
Sue, Rosa & Immi live in Harrow with Les
I am 44 and married to Sue. We have 2 fantastic daughters - Rosa (12) and Immi (10), all of whom will be part of the Ride Support Team. We are very much into outdoor activities particularly hill and mountain walking. I have always cycled, but have never attempted so large a distance in so short a time - I am looking forward to the challenge. It will be great to do the ride supported by friends and family who have been so supportive since last November.
As part of my mid life crisis in 2003 I decided to cycle the Coast 2 Coast along with 3 friends. From a standing start in February we trained most weekends and eventually managed the 180 miles in 3 days without too many problems. We raised £2000 for Leukaemia Research and enjoyed the experience so much we decided, for 2004 to do the Coast and Castles route from Newcastle to Edinburgh. We completed this 230 mile trip over 3.5 days at the end of July. I just need to maintain my fitness for the forthcoming ride!!
At the age of 44 I was looking for a new sporting challenge. Previously, I'd played football - equally bad at right or left back, cricket with moderate success and social tennis with the emphasis very much on the social. A year ago a knee operation slowed me down but the back to the future ride has given me the motivation to take my rehab exercises seriously and get the knee back working right. Secondly to get fit and lose weight and thirdly to give up my addiction as a Sky Sports couch potato.
I first met Les when he walked into my primary school class at SS Peter and Paul in Bolton when we both 5 years old. Since then we have been through thick and thin - the main thin being standing on the terraces at Burnden Park supporting Bolton Wanderers in the 'dark days' of the early 1970's. Now 39 years on, I feel it is only right that I support Les on this ride - I only wish that we had been born in Hemel Hempstead as it would have made the bike ride significantly easier.
Over the years I have tried my hand at most sports, and after realising that I am not going to be world champion (despite getting all the gear) I move onto the next one. And so now I am into tennis, golf and biking - the latter being quite fortunate as it means I can start making use of one of my bikes. I've recently got some pedal clips for my bike, and my one piece of advice would be not to attempt doing a wheelie, as when I over rotated, I ended up landing on my back with the bike on top of me (which I would have liked to have said about my university days, but alas I can't).
I originally met Les at evening classes, and over time our families have become close friends. I've done a few London to Brightons for BHF, but this ride is for something closer to home. Out on the bike I think of myself as Eddie Merckx - but look more like Eddie Large! Always after a challenge - riding in England in November isn't a bad start.
I am 44 years old married with two kids aged 8 and 10. I have not cycled since I had my bike stolen in 1976 although I did buy a bike to go cycling with the kids a few years ago. After dusting off the bike I very quickly discovered that they go a lot faster with air in the tyres and the seat set at the correct height! With the training and the ride I hope to lose a tyre - the one around my waist. Les assures me that it is all flat or down hill from Bolton to Hammersmith so I hope to be able to keep up. 
I am 44 and live with Christine my wife and two of my three daughters (Imi and Maddy) in Pennine Yorkshire. My third and eldest daughter Sasha lives in Leicestershire. Although living in prime mountain biking country I have not as yet got into 2 wheel sports / recreational activities. The only way I have been seen going downhill is on a pair of skis. My favourite activities involve boats, sails, boards and water in any guise. So when this challenge was hatched I was somewhat apprehensive about joining in, however such a good reason as helping a mate under these circumstances has won the day. I work as a Director of an Environmental Engineering Company and need to get some cycle miles under my belt before the event.
Biking Experience:
