We are delighted to announce our cycling challenge event will return in 2019 as members of Shrewsbury Town in the Community will Bike2Barnsley in partnership with Trek Bikes Shrewsbury.

After taking on Pedal2Pool last year for our cycling challenge event, this time we decided to take the challenge even further as we made the 110-mile trek from Montgomery Waters Meadow, across the Peak District to Oakwell for Bike2Barnsley!  

Over Easter weekend 10 participants took up the challenge to help raise funds and awareness of our projects running across Shropshire to help those in the local community to realise their potential and achieve their goals. The first leg of the jaunt began at 9:00am on Thursday morning as our participants departed through the gates of Montgomery Waters Meadows. On the first day the 74-mile route, planned and coordinated by Lee Handley from Trek Bicycles in Shrewsbury, took the team across the Shropshire and Staffordshire countryside before they were faced with climbing into the Peak District. With over 4000 feet of incline this was a gruelling end to the day and the team were very grateful to reach the hotel which signified the end of the first leg.  

On Friday morning there were only 40 miles between our team and their end goal and with considerably less incline and the sunny bank holiday weather, it was a much more enjoyable second leg of the journey. However by the time our 10 cyclists reached Oakwell they were more than ready to say goodbye to their bikes for the time being and settle in to watch the game. Jamie Edwards, Head of Shrewsbury Town in the Community, took part in the event, “It was the most enjoyable and horrific fundraising event I’ve ever done. Enjoyable in terms of scenery, the people taking part and sense of accomplishment when we reached Barnsley, horrific in terms of the physical demand. Would I do it again? Yes… as long as it didn’t include the Peak District.” 

Mark Bull, a Foundation Degree Student at Shrewsbury Town in the Community also took part and said that ‘it was a very physically and mentally demanding challenge but they money and awareness we will have raised for the projects delivered by Shrewsbury Town in the Community make it all worth it.” 

We would like to thank Trek Bicycles, Greenhous, Rybrooks Shrewsbury Montgomery Water, and Fortis Sports for all their help in supporting the event along with all who took up the challenge and took part. Keep your eyes out for our next cycling challenge event for next season