Three men supported by Kisharon Langdon are in for a big adventure on this month’s 284-mile bike ride from London’s Liverpool Street station to Amsterdam, and their ‘pilots’ will be with them all the way.
Dieter Stein, Lee Clements and Ben Miller, (Kisharon Trustee and Governor of Langdon College), are highly experienced cyclists and pilots for Marc, Ted and James, either taking the front saddle of Marc and Ted’s tandems or pedalling alongside James, who is riding solo.
Sitting front in a tandem takes strength, coordination, trust and above all many hours of practise, says Dieter, a Kisharon Langdon fundraising cyclist for 12 years.
“Your sense of balance is different, and if one pedals without the other, you get bruised and bloody calves or shins. As for your turning circle – its like an oil tanker!”
Physically, it’s tougher as tandems are heavier than the weight of two bikes and pilots can find themselves pedalling for two riders. Dieter added: “When cycling alone, you stand up to push harder when going uphill, but that’s impossible on a tandem. Of course, downhill you go faster!”
Despite the upcoming hard slog, Dieter says: “It is so rewarding. Marc is a lovely man and so is Ted – sometimes he just can’t stop chatting – and James’s buddy will definitely need to remind him to ride safely!”
Marc, Ted and James practise every Sunday morning – except when their favourite football team is playing.
Marc says it’s the camarderie of the Kisharon Langdon cycling family he’s looking forward to most on the ride and he’s pleased the route isn’t too hilly. “It’s going to be a good ride and I’ve never been to Amsterdam.”
After four long and tiring days of cycling, participants will tour the Jewish highlights of Amsterdam before flying home. Marc, James and Ted have a joint fundraising page. You can support them here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/james-marc-ted-velo
