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Countess of Wessex cycles 450 miles across Britain

Sophie Countess of Wessex cycled from Edinburgh to Buckingham Palace over six days to raise money for the Duke of Edinburgh's award...

The Countess of Wessex says she feels “amazingly well” after cycling 450 miles across Britain, from Edinburgh to Buckingham Palace.

Sophie Countess of Wessex raised £180,000 for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, and encouraging people to take on Diamond or once in a lifetime challenges. After six days of cycling, Sophie rolled in to Buckingham Palace yesterday.

The money raised will help disadvantaged children to take part in their own challenges, giving them valuable life skills and confidence, and a “leg up in a world where getting ahead can be difficult”.

Countess takes on 445 mile cycle challenge

The Countess said: “Six months ago I thought I was probably going to wobble my way across the end line, but if you told me that I’d feel like this after six and a half days of cycling I would never have believed you. I feel fantastic.”

There was a brief chain malfunction at 30 miles, and a lot of cake along the way, the Duchess hit 45mph on one Northumbrian descent, averaging 75 miles per day.

On day three one of her co-riders gave her a helping hand up one incline as she struggled to turn the pedals, as she describes it: “the very athletic Jamie managed to uncleat one of his feet and bunny-hopped alongside me giving me a huge shove which gave me enough momentum to take me up the rise.”

Dame Sarah Storey appeared on a matching Boardman bike to cycle the start of the final leg of the Countess’ ride yesterday.

The Countess said of the awards effect on young people’s lives: “It gives them a definite leg up in a world where getting ahead can be difficult and many businesses are recognising the DoE as the most important non-academic qualification for a young person to have on their CV.  For those for whom life hasn’t dealt the kindest of cards it represents a real opportunity to turn things around and in many cases it has even saved lives.  How it achieves this is simple, the young people are shown the way, but every achievement is their own, therefore they own the outcome.”

 

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28 comments

Avatar
davel | 7 years ago
0 likes

ti perdono.

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Stephen D | 7 years ago
1 like

Ahh that must explain the police motorcyle escort and the police Range Rover, that blue lighted a peleton of 5-6 cyclists into London on Sunday, closing all roads to oncoming traffic. That's 75 miles a day with no traffic restrictions.

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Nick T | 7 years ago
1 like

Doesn't even make sense, what do nonchalant #menswear trends have to do with any comments here. 

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Yorkshire wallet | 7 years ago
1 like

Rich and rides a bike. What's not to like!

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stenmeister | 7 years ago
3 likes

It's cool that they let her take time off work for this. Wish my work was as cycle friendly.

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jasecd | 7 years ago
4 likes

Yet another BTL comments section dominated by Unconstituted.

Seems like every third comment on this site is from this guy. Does he have nothing better to do?

Avatar
bobbinogs replied to jasecd | 7 years ago
2 likes
jasecd wrote:

Yet another BTL comments section dominated by Unconstituted.

Seems like every third comment on this site is from this guy. Does he have nothing better to do?

 

Don't worry, he's off to Doha soon (probably)...

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Kadinkski | 7 years ago
5 likes

Good on her - 75 miles a day, fantastic effort! The DoE awards are amazing too, I've seen first hand the effect it had on a family member - he came back a complete different teenager and turned his life around.

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waldner71 | 7 years ago
5 likes

Commendable achievement, she is a lot more likeable than most of the other royals, and at 51 yr young, a lot fitter as well

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tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
2 likes

Promoting something alright. Certainly not cycling. More importantly Disfunctional, how do you find her shoulders?

 

Carton wrote:

Enjoying how Dame Sarah Storey thinks it an effort worth undertaking, but no, this here's Colnago socialist lot won't miss an opportunity to show off their splendid sprezzatura.

 

More of a Bianchi socialist myself.

 

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Carton replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
0 likes
unconstituted wrote:

More of a Bianchi socialist myself.

I wanted to go with Bianchi (beautiful bikes, congrats), funnily enough, but I found Colnago rolled off my tongue a smidge easier.

Interesting headlines on Yanis Varoufakis and a rhetorically reductive (shocking) but visually stunning piece Venezuelan Glitterati, thanks, I would never have found it otherwise. I always find it odd than some outlets seem more interested in the animals starving than the people, but YMMV.

In any case bolshie attitude and Bolshie nostalgia aside you seem to know what's what, you'll make a proper Cervelo Lib Dem eventually  3

 

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Carton | 7 years ago
2 likes

Enjoying how Dame Sarah Storey thinks it an effort worth undertaking, but no, this here's Colnago socialist lot won't miss an opportunity to show off their splendid sprezzatura.

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Dr_Lex replied to Carton | 7 years ago
0 likes
Carton wrote:

[...] sprezzatura.

An excellent word, but I think you give some posters too much credit with its application.

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davel replied to Dr_Lex | 7 years ago
0 likes
Dr_Lex wrote:
Carton wrote:

[...] sprezzatura.

An excellent word, but I think you give some posters too much credit with its application.

No sprezzatura here, on this topic, Colnago-themed or otherwise; she's busy demonstrating how much she gives a shit, and I (and others) am happy to put effort into questioning the cost-effectiveness of her charity campaign; indeed, her existence at all.

But sprezzatura sounds nice, eh?

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davel replied to Dr_Lex | 7 years ago
0 likes

oooh my first rogue double post. Scusami tanto.

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Carton replied to davel | 7 years ago
0 likes

I aim to please, Dr. Lex, but I've also learnt to never underrate the discreet charm of the post-modern bourgeoisie. And I do enjoy it; at times, it makes the whole exercise worthwhile. I would just have like to have seen it prefaced by an unassuming acknowledgement of a proper mitzvah. 

davel wrote:

oooh my first rogue double post. Scusami tanto.

Tranquillo, ragazzo. Succede anche nelle migliori famiglie.

And let me offer you my most comprehensive apologies in return. I must have missed that vigorous (if tenuously pertinent) defense of the Republican campaign, as well as your more serious suggestions on the proper comportment of the peerage and the landed gentry, amidst that exquisite fugue of Victorian sitting room quips.

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Valbrona | 7 years ago
0 likes

Wow ... she's pretty.

How do I get a date?

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tritecommentbot replied to Valbrona | 7 years ago
10 likes
Valbrona wrote:

Wow ... she's pretty.

How do I get a date?

 

Need to be related in some way crying

Avatar
Valbrona | 7 years ago
1 like

Wow ... she's pretty.

How do I get a date?

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Dr_Lex | 7 years ago
3 likes

Looks like it's republican commentators' day at road.cc; nicer to read about £180K charity ride than another cyclist fatality/life-changing incident.

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GREGJONES | 7 years ago
6 likes

Perhaps if she rode 37.5 hours or more per week I'd be impressed. But a bit of riding whilst getting paid for nothing and paying no rent hardly makes it notable.

She should go to work and donate the earnings, that'd be more useful.

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tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
5 likes

The Countess got off her arse for an award in the Duke's name. 

Great stuff. High praise indeed. With lines like that I don't think you'll be getting a job in any one of their three PR companies laugh

Cheer them you myopic serf.  

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Leviathan | 7 years ago
3 likes

Were is Wessex and what is she counting there?

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tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
6 likes

Bit weak. Not really impressed to be honest.

Usual piffle from this lot. Make a big deal out of absolutely nothing. 

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Leeroy_Silk replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
19 likes
unconstituted wrote:

Bit weak. Not really impressed to be honest.

Usual piffle from this lot. Make a big deal out of absolutely nothing. 

Give it a rest will you?

She got off her arse, trained and did something for a cause she believes in. I'm really struggling to see why you'd have an issue with that. 

As a side note. A colleague of mine recently did a 6km walk to raise cash for Alzheimer's. I wasn't impressed in the least and yet strangely didn't feel the need to lambast him.

Avatar
davel replied to Leeroy_Silk | 7 years ago
4 likes
Leeroy_Silk wrote:
unconstituted wrote:

Bit weak. Not really impressed to be honest.

Usual piffle from this lot. Make a big deal out of absolutely nothing. 

Give it a rest will you?

She got off her arse, trained and did something for a cause she believes in. I'm really struggling to see why you'd have an issue with that. 

As a side note. A colleague of mine recently did a 6km walk to raise cash for Alzheimer's. I wasn't impressed in the least and yet strangely didn't feel the need to lambast him.

Did your colleague do it to justify their life on benefits after marrying into royalty?

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Saint Mikie 41 | 7 years ago
3 likes

Well done...lets hope she keeps up the cycling 

 

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postmandick | 7 years ago
0 likes

well done and on a disc brake bike ...... frown

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