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Combined age of 150 years for bike and rider completing 50 mile challenge
29/06/2021
Former Banbury Town Mayor will take part in the Broughton Castle Sportive on a 1940 bicycle
A cyclist and his bike, with a combined age of around 150 years, will be peddling to raise money for the Let’s Play Project at this year’s Broughton Castle Sportive.
Former Banbury Town Mayor Alastair Milne Home plans to complete the event’s 50-mile route on a bike that he discovered in a skip. 78-year-old Mr Milne Home found the late 1940s bicycle discarded, with its rear wheel covered in ivy.
“It’s a cocky bike because you have to cock your knee out to get the handlebar round to go round a corner,” said Mr Milne Home, who regularly uses the bicycle to collect his newspapers.
After saving the bike from an uncertain future Mr Milne Home got it back into working order, but the state of the local roads does not always make it the most comfortable of rides. “Suspension – what’s that!”, he said. “I think the tyres might be the originals.”
Mr Milne Home is hoping people will sponsor him for the challenge with all the money he raises going to The Let’s Play Project, which he feels is deserving of his support and the publicity. He has previously completed the 20 mile route at the Rotary Club of Banbury Cherwell organised event. Last year the Broughton Castle Sportive did not take place but Mr Milne Home undertook his own 50 mile ride – a challenge which he is hoping to repeat at this year’s event on July 11.
Citing the Whichford Hill as one of the big challenges on the route, Mr Milne Home is getting plenty of support from his family and will not be cycling alone. He said: “I think this year my son-in-law is going to come round with me. The family are happy with any form of fund raising and exercise for grandad.
“It’s a very worthy cause and it really ought to get a lot more publicity.”
The state of the road for cyclists is another challenge for the intrepid fund-raiser, who says whilst he knows the route, he’s never quite sure where the pot holes will be! They appear to be just a minor inconvenience for the former driving instructor who can’t wait for the event to begin.
“I always look forward to it”, he said. “I look forward to everything.”
You can support Mr Milne Home’s fund-raising ride for the Let’s Play project here.
Full details of this year’s Broughton Castle Sportive are available here.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam