190-miles on a child’s Raleigh Chopper bike is the challenge keen cyclist, Tim from Chelmsford, has set himself in aid of ‘Team Kids Inspire’.

Already at 75% of his fundraising target, Tim, a Senior Executive in Lloyd’s Market Association, will be cycling in a mixed ability group of inspired individuals. All cyclists have signed up to take on the second annual cycle challenge in support of children, young people and families recovering from traumatic experiences or dealing with emerging mental health difficulties.  

This year the challenge will go from London to Paris in a three-day event. Road bikes are the norm for these lengthy cycle challenges with cyclists expected to cycle 63-miles a day, Tim, on his modified child’s bike, will likely be averaging 12mph.

Tim commented: “After cycling in Kids Inspire’s inaugural challenge last year and finding it easy! I have once again been motivated by the work of Kids Inspire to take on this year’s cycle challenge, but this time on the very bike I had missed out on as a child.”

“I’ve not officially started my training plan yet but have cycled 4-miles on my Chopper on the road and I found it tough! The handlebars are at the wrong angle, the wheels are tiny, and the seat is in the wrong position. I have made some simple modifications but am not sure how best to modify the handlebars to make them comfortable for the challenge yet.”

The mixed ability group cycle group has no maximum number of cyclists and with last year’s ride raising over £75k in unrestricted funds, Kids Inspire welcomes more inspired individuals to take on the 190-mile challenge – on a road bike or chopper!

Paula Ashfield, Fundraising and Communications Manager at Kids Inspire, said: “We are in awe of Tim’s personal challenge in support of children’s mental health, it is inspiring individuals like Tim that really do help to build resiliency in our younger generations through their generous fundraising. We would really love to hear from anyone else that would like to take part in this forthcoming challenge, there is space for cyclists of mixed abilities, you don’t have to be an expert, just have the passion to make a difference.”

An information event to answer any questions about the 190-mile challenge will take place at Kids Inspire’s headquarters in Great Baddow on Thursday 2 April. The cycle ride from London to Paris will be on 18-21 June 2020.

• The Raleigh Chopper is a children’s bicycle, a wheelie bike, manufactured and marketed in the 1970s.

• Precedence has been set by just one other cyclist who cycled Coast to Coast on a Chopper in 2018.

• Modifications made to Tim’s Chopper… new seat post, new saddle and new handlebar grips