A big challenge (From Barry And District News)

A big challenge

A LOCAL man has been using plenty of pedal power this week, after he set off on a charity bike ride challenge across France.

Richard Baker, 29, of Highwalls Avenue, Dinas Powys, and his dad Mike, are tackling the gruelling 550 mile cycle from St Malo on the north coast of France, to Narbonne on the south coast.

Richard is raising money for The Friends of Heronsbridge charity, a group of families and friends of children who attend a special school in Bridgend.

He has been mountain biking for several years, and his aim is to complete the marathon ride in under eight days.

He said: "I hope to be able to cycle between 60 and 80 miles a day, stopping off at bed and breakfast accommodation en route."

The cycling trip will take the riders through Rennes, Angers, Poitiers, Perigeux, Montauban, Castres and to the coast at Narbonne.

Richard's partner, Allie Symonds said that the pair had caught the ferry on Monday night, (September 2), and started their cycling on the Tuesday morning.

Despite a couple of technical problems with his bike, the two had managed to cycle for twelve hours that day, and clocked up 94 miles between them.

In preparation for the challenge, they both ate healthily and did some physical training. Richard is the managing director of one of Wales' most successful web development companies, called Sequence.

His dad Mike works as a lighting director for his own company, called Bakerlite. He enjoys cycling, and the money that he raises from the charity bike ride, will go towards the Macmillan Nurses fund.

All the money raised from the challenge will go directly towards the charities, as Richard and Mike are funding all of their own travel and accommodation costs.

If anyone would like to sponsor Richard, contact him on 029 20252555 or alternatively email Richard.baker@sequence.co.uk

On his return, Richard will have a week to recover, before embarking on a half marathon, which will see him cover approximately thirteen miles.