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The
Picos Ride for Cancer
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Founded
1881
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A
Charity Bike Ride to the Picos de Europa Mountains
in Northern
Spain
to Raise Money for
The South East Cancer Help Centre
Supported
and Sponsored by
The Anerley Bicycle Club
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| A New Year Resolution.
Why and Where to. |
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The
Picos Ride has a very special motivation for Luke Vaz. Four years
ago, aged only 10, his mother died of a cancerous brain tumour. She
fought hard against the odds and relied heavily upon the support given
by the South East Cancer Help Centre. Luke's New Year resolution for
2010, together with his father Tom, was to do something special in
memory of her.
It is their reason for making this challenging ride into the mountains
of Los Picos de Europa. It is their way of saying thank you, for all
the help and comfort provided to their mother and wife.
Accompanying Luke and his dad, is Des Donohoe of the Anerley
Bicycle Club. His father died of prostate cancer.
There are
few of us who have not had family members or friends affected by the
devastation that cancer causes, so please support Luke and the other
riders, in raising money for this local cancer charity. |
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JAN
2010 The
Picos Riders Start Training
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Follow
the
monthly
reports
below
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This
is going to be a long hard ride, from Santander and into the Spanish
Cantabrian Mountains, so cycle and fitness training began early for
14 year old Luke Vaz, even before the snow has gone!
Here Luke is followed by his dad, Tom. The the last in the trio is
Des Donohoe, a long time member of the Anerley
Bicycle Club and the tour leader.
The white topped mountains were the first sight of land seen by the
Spanish galleons returning from the Americas. Hence
the name, Los Picos de Europa -The Peaks of Europe. |
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will set of in August,
during the school holidays, taking the ferry from Portsmouth
to Santander. The first night's stop will be at the small fishing
port of San Vicente de la Barquera which nestles below the majesty
of Los Picos de Europa. |
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will be cycling for 12 days in Spain. Visiting several places which
are of great significance in the early Christian history of Spain.
The furthest point west on the tour will be to Covadonga in the Principality
of Asturias. This is considered to be the birth place of modern Spain.
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In
711 the Iberian peninsular was invaded, and in the following
years, conquered by the Moors.
At Covadonga in the year 750, the Asturian Prince Pelayo inflicted
the first defeat of the Moors and began the reconquest of Spain.
This victory was foretold to Pelayo during a dream whilst sleeping
in a cave. For the Spanish nation the cave (La Santa Cueva)
and the holy Basilica, built to commemorate the victory, are
of huge historic and religious significance. |
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Perhaps
more important to cyclists, is the 12 mile climb up (and fast descent
down), the mountain road to the Los Lagos (the lakes) de Covadonga.
This route regularly features in the cycling road race classic, the
Vuelta a Espaņa!
You can view
the route of this day's climb into the mountains, and click
at the bottom left of the route map to see the Altitude graph. It
shows an accumulative climb of 5,197 feet. Ben Nevis, our highest
mountain, is only 4,408 ft
Choose the hybrid or terrain view of the Mapometer route to get some
idea of the mountainous terrain! |
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After
a visit to La Santa Cueva and the Basilica they will continue
up into the mountains and to Los Lagos de Covadonga. From
here they have the option of hiking into the mountains, or
continuing to ride following the many mountain bike trails.
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But we must
not forget the purpose of this ride. Medical research has established
that regular cycling can significantly reduce the likelihood of
contracting most cancers. So we are the lucky ones. Please give
something for the less fortunate.
Thanks,
from the Picos Riders.
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The
Anerley Bicycle Club was
founded in 1881. By the 1890s club members were cycling
in foreign lands so we have a wealth of experience. This is
Des Donohoe, the tour leader, on a previous Anerley tour to
Galicia in North West Spain in 2005.
Follow our monthly reports about all the necessary preparations
and training for this Picos Ride. Or if you want some cycling
action, why not join us for a Sunday
Ride! |
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