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news
Countess of Wessex Diamond Challenge Duke of Edinburgh AwardCountess of Wessex cycles 450 miles across Britain
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.”
Laura Laker is a freelance journalist with more than a decade’s experience covering cycling, walking and wheeling (and other means of transport). Beginning her career with road.cc, Laura has also written for national and specialist titles of all stripes. One part of the popular Streets Ahead podcast, she sometimes appears as a talking head on TV and radio, and in real life at conferences and festivals. She is also the author of Potholes and Pavements: a Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network.
Latest Comments
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Just noticed sjs cycles have reduced prices on winter tyres, although I'm too far south to make use of them. https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/winter-tyres/
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It may just be the picture angle, but it doesn't look like those bike docks would fit a bike with a pannier rack. And certainly not a cargo bike.
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She was still there in Greenwich when I cycled past her on Wednesday!
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No driver involved https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/24728452.car-crash-station-way-colch...
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On the last that's also a problem of success in many ways and I don't think is fixable by "more of the same". Roads attract motoring - better...
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28 comments
ti perdono.
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.
Doesn't even make sense, what do nonchalant #menswear trends have to do with any comments here.
Rich and rides a bike. What's not to like!
It's cool that they let her take time off work for this. Wish my work was as cycle friendly.
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)...
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.
Commendable achievement, she is a lot more likeable than most of the other royals, and at 51 yr young, a lot fitter as well
Promoting something alright. Certainly not cycling. More importantly Disfunctional, how do you find her shoulders?
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
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.
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?
oooh my first rogue double post. Scusami tanto.
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.
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.
Wow ... she's pretty.
How do I get a date?
Need to be related in some way
Wow ... she's pretty.
How do I get a date?
Looks like it's republican commentators' day at road.cc; nicer to read about £180K charity ride than another cyclist fatality/life-changing incident.
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.
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
Cheer them you myopic serf.
Were is Wessex and what is she counting there?
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?
Well done...lets hope she keeps up the cycling
well done and on a disc brake bike ......