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Two Old Bikey Mates, John Pankhurst & Paul Welch have taken up the Canine Partners Pedals for Paws challenge to riding a 52 mile charity bike ride round the South Downs National Park on 1st October and would be very appreciative of your support.

Many years ago, as a teenager, I was a very keen cyclist so much so that I got to National Junior level. One of my closest friends then and now who I used to train and race with was Paul Welch. I sadly gave up riding due to a back problem and college studies, oh and motor bikes and cars and!!!

A couple of years ago Canine Partners started their Pedal-for-Paws, a cycle ride round the South Downs National Park and I thought it would be nice to have a last ride with my old mate Paul, yes he is a couple of years older than me and is still riding his bike sort of competitively. The last ride we had together after 45 years was in the London Velodrome three years ago, it was magic and the first time I’d ridden a fixed wheel bike in 40 odd years.

With Sandy and our involvement with Canine Partners over the past two plus years and now our new pup Zed it came to mind that this opportunity needed to be taken up and to my surprise Paul was in agreement.

We are going to ride as a team called “TWO OLD BIKEY MATES” and are attempting the 52 mile option, I haven’t ridden that far in over 47 years so it's going to be a bit of a challenge!!!

Life is about challenges, isn’t it!!!

I was originally going to use the Paris bike frame Paul gave me in 1967 ish and I used as a hack bike when I was 15, he’d had it second hand so we really don’t know how old it is, I used to do my paper round on it for several years and then rebuilt it 7 years ago, getting modern ish equipment to fit was quite a challenge. I then rode it the other day and decided that if I was going to give myself any chance at all of achieving a 52 mile ride then an alternative machine was needed. So after some research and long telephone conversations with Paul I’ve acquired a new machine, now all I have to do is learn to ride a bike again and get a modicum of fitness before 1st October.

As this is a charity event any contributions in aid of Canine Partners would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be made via our Just Giving website account: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/two-old-biky-mates or in person to Paul or myself with cash or cheques made payable to either of us, gift aid forms will also be available and appreciated. Any offers for a couple of pints of Old Speckled Hen at the finish would also be very much appreciated by two old mates who have always enjoyed a pint or two.

Many thanks from two old bikey mates, John Pankhurst & Paul Welch.