CYCLING enthusiasts are offering their expertise to ensure a huge charity bike ride runs smoothly.
Huddersfield Town officials and fans will cycle 260 miles to Brighton to raise cash for the club’s Keep It Up campaign in April.
Organisers have revealed they hope to raise over £100,000 for the charity scheme.
But the team will need some help tackling the London leg of the trip – they are due to hit the capital on the day of the royal wedding!
So organisers have enlisted the help of local cycling ‘guru’ Martyn Bolt to deal with the William and Katie Factor.
The Mirfield councillor, a cycling development officer for the national cyclists’ organisation the CTC, will be planning the route.
He said the organisation will also be offering training advice to help participants prepare for the challenge.
Clr Bolt, who hopes to participate in the charity event himself, said: “A lot of the route that the cyclists will be taking has already been mapped out – it’s the same route as the protest ride we did from Castle Hall School to Whitehall.
“We’ll be working on a route that keeps off the main roads so people have an enjoyable ride.
“Also my job is getting people cycling regularly so they will be prepared to take on the challenge of 260 miles.”
The four day cycle ride – named Pedal for Pounds 2 – will set off from the Galpharm Stadium on April 26, with the plan to arrive in Brighton on April 30 in time to see Town play at the Withdean Stadium.
But organisers had to rethink the route around London after realising the cyclists will arrive there on April 29, the date of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding.
They had planned to cycle over Tower Bridge, but that will now be closed by police.
Clr Bolt added: “The route around London will present an added challenge –apparently somebody decided to have a royal wedding on the day!
“We have been liaising with Transport for London so we should be able to tailor the route when we know what closures will be in place.
“But it will be a fantastic opportunity to take in the atmosphere and I’m sure we’ll be able to take in some of London’s iconic landmarks along the way!”
Money raised from the cycle ride will be shared between Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Town’s Youth Academy.
It looks set to be a huge event, with 80 people already saying they will join the club’s chairman Dean Hoyle, commercial director Sean Jarvis and star player Andy Booth as they pedal for cash.
The club hopes the event will help it beat the £120,000 raised for the Keep It Up Campaign at the end of last season.
To sign up for the ride email info@keepitup.org.uk
