Music pair outdo the Proclaimers!
Published 19 Sep 2012 09:05
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THE Proclaimers might have sung that they would walk 500 miles but Dunfermline-born Mark Douglas and Ben Lambert were determined to go one better and have completed the massive 1000-mile Deloitte Ride Across Britain challenge.
The riders, who work for music licence organisation PPL, started their epic journey on Friday 7th September at Land's End, joining more than 700 other amateur riders.
The pair averaged 110 miles each day, climbing a total height of 42,000ft (that is around 13 times up Alpe d'Huez), in just nine days, finally reaching John O'Groats on Sunday.
Mark and Ben put in hours of training in the weeks ahead of the challenge. It was this training that saw Mark drop a massive three stone in weight in preparation for the gruelling journey.
He said, "Having never done such a big physical challenge before I wanted to make sure I was ready for it. Both Ben and I knew that the ride would be hard and it was really tough but the training paid off and our team spirit kept us going.
"Coming into Scotland was the best part for me - it was like coming home. This truly was a unique way to experience Britain."
The plucky pair have already raised more than £15,000 for the firm's corporate charity partner, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and their two individual charities - Motor Neurone Disease Scotland and North Devon Hospice.
Ben added, "It was a tough ride but knowing we were doing it for such worthy causes helped keep us going. Throughout the ride I kept humming the music that I trained to in order to keep my energy levels up.
"Mark and I don't share the same taste in music, so I'm not sure if he was peddling harder just to get away from my singing!"
Music to train by ...
Music plays a big part in the duo's life at PPL, which provides licences for businesses to play music, and have come up with their top 10 training track lists. Surprisingly, Queen's Bicycle doesn't even feature!
Mark:
1 Green Day - American Idiot.
2 The Fratellis - Henrietta.
3 Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling.
4 The Kaiser Chiefs - Never Miss A Beat.
5 Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At.
6 Blue - Song2.
7 U2 - Vertigo.
8 Ramones - Blitzkrieg Pop.
9 The Hives - Here We Go Again.
10 Dexys Midnight Runners - The Horse.
Ben:
1 Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.
2 Jack White - I'm Shakin'.
3 LCD Soundsystem - North American Scum.
4 Bloc Party - Banquet.
5 Hot Hot Heat - Bandages.
6 The Caesars - Jerk It Out.
7 We Are Scientists - Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt.
8 The White Stripes - The Hardest Button to Button.
9 Fatboy Slim - The Rockefeller Skank.
10 Bon Jovi - Blaze of Glory.
What are your top training songs?
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