Cyclists gear up to race their way across the United States

Published on Monday 15 June 2009 10:02

THERE are easier ways to experience the adventure and romance of a coast-to-coast road trip across the United States.

But, in the name of charity, a team of cyclists from Edinburgh and Linlithgow have signed up for seven days of hell, and are preparing to saddle up for a non-stop race across America.

The team members have already raised 20,000 for charity with their entry in the non-stop relay, the Race Across America.

The six, all former colleagues at Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, will take it in turns to hit the road for three hours at a time, with a 15-hour break between each shift.

But even when they are out of the saddle, they will still be helping keep their team members on the road.

One of the riders, 40-year-old Andrew Bright, said: "It's 24/7, so the race never stops. It's not like the Tour de France, where they ride for a day and then go to a hotel and shower.

"We'll have what they call an RV – a recreational vehicle – which will go along with us and give us accommodation and a place to eat, and we should get some reasonable time to recover.

"We've got a fairly small support crew, so a lot of the riders will be involved in support – driving the vehicle, cooking some food, making sure people coming off their rides are fed and watered."

The cyclists, who call themselves The Caledonian Chain Gang, will set off from Oceanside in California on 20 June, and hope to arrive in Annapolis, Maryland, 3,000 miles and seven days later.

They will pass through deserts, the midwestern plains and the Rocky and Appalachian Mountain ranges.

Mr Bright, a technical director for an environmental and energy consultancy, said the cyclists had been training hard and were feeling confident.

"I think most of us spent time in our garages and hallways over the winter on indoor trainers and we're now outside doing 100-250 miles a week," he said.

"We've been very fortunate to have had a date at the velodrome in Manchester and got some advice from the GB Cycling coaches. They said that with our level of fitness it is within our capability but the challenge will be mentally coping with it."

Following their visit, GB Cycling team performance director, Dave Brailsford, said: "It's great to see these guys take on such an exciting adventure – this race will be a real test. We wish them all the best."

Mr Bright's fellow cyclists Charles Richardson and Dave Forrester live in Shandon, while Peter Loft, Phil Hedley and Simon Taylor all live in Linlithgow.

They are raising funds for several charities, including Cancer Research UK, Help for Heroes, the Alstrom Syndrome UK Support Group, Lothian Autistic Society and the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association, inspired by Mr Bright's mother-in-law, who died of the condition.

www.caledonianchaingang.com