Hal Bransby
Cycling from Sunrise to Sunset on the longest day for ME research
Fundraising for ME Research UK
Story
On the 21st June, the longest day of the year, I undertook a cycle ride. The format was simple, leave my house in Croydon at sunrise 4:43am and head west to see how far I can get before the sun set at 9:21pm. I covered 211 miles and that was enough for one day!
My alarm rang as the darkness was just starting to lift, I dressed ate and at about 4:30am waved goodbye to my warm home and headed off through the streets of south London, deserted except for the Friday night revellers winding their way home. Sutton, Epsom, Woking, Farnborough and on to Basingstoke for a short break at about 8:30am.
From here on the roads opened out and I was quickly able to roll on into Amesbury to purchase a Wiltshire Pasty and milk shake before heading on to Stonehenge and Chitterne where I took a break for lunch by a pleasant stream. I was still feeling fresh and the hot weather was not causing any problems.
Riding on through Castle Cary, Somerton, for a fuel stop at Langport keeping on the B-roads which give a good balance between directness and minimal traffic. From here things started to slow down, I had planned a route over Staple Hill (308m) which was ok however on the run in towards Exeter I started to suffer a real lack of energy and started to lose my appetite, the miles got longer and at one point I had to lie down for about quarter of an hour to recover. After the lie down I was able to push on to Exeter where I met my wife and family for a cup of tea … ahhhh.
However it was only 7pm and I still had over two hours to go, recuperated I continued on what felt like the hilliest piece of road I have ever encountered from Exeter to Mortonhampstead, up and down I went cursing my choice of route, a short communication with the support cars and we pushed on into Dartmoor for the first suitable stopping point (360m). I was pretty much running on fresh air with every cell in my bodied stripped of energy.
And there on the hill above my wife, children and parents silhouetted against the setting sun and I was very pleased to stop at 9pm after 211miles with the Dartmoor ponies.
I have chosen to raise money for www.meresearch.org.uk a charity that exists to fund biomedical research into ME, to find its cause and develop effective treatments.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is characterised by a range of neurological symptoms and signs, muscle pain with intense physical or mental exhaustion, relapses, and specific cognitive disabilities. I have seen first had from family members and friends the profound impact ME can have on the lives of those who suffer this illness from struggling to cope with normal daily activities to being completely housebound.
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