Aylesham cyclists on their way to Japan

Away at first light on Wednesday 12th June on the first leg of their cycling challenge to Japan in time for the rugby World Cup was the Aylesham based Bikerugbyjapan Nothing Can Go Wrong cycling team.

They had left the village for the 1,000 mile journey in the early hours  for a ferry from Dover before heading across Europe. Sadly, the team was a man down after Dave Austen crashed his bike during a training ride and broke his collarbone – but he is making a good recovery.

The other five, Carl Moses, Cathal Bartello, Linford, Keith and Dale House, with Roger Hadfield in the support van, were hoping to make good progress to reach the Polish city of Krakow in eight days – a distance of 1,000 miles.

But from there, the adventure will take them on a whole new path as Linford, Keith and Dale steel themselves for another 7,000 miles to reach Japan in time for the Rugby World Cup in September.

The trio will cycle, unsupported, through Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, to Shanghai in China for a ferry to Osaka in Japan. Once there, they plan to watch at least one Rugby World Cup game. In all, the punishing 100+ miles a day schedule sees them ride a total of about 8,100 miles.

The team has set itself a target of raising £6,000 evenly divided between the Alzheimer’s Society, eye research campaign Fight For Sight and Kent based charity Slide Away which supports children who have been bereaved by the loss of a friend or family member.

The team gathers outside Calais Town Hall on Wednesday morning before setting off.

The team has never done a bike packing tour before and usually rides with a support van. When they leave Krakow bound for Shanghai, it will be the first time they carry their gear with them.

The team is supported by R&B Air Conditioning Services, DA Tree Surgeons, East Kent Foods and McGinley Support Services.

If you would like to contribute towards the team’s fundraising target – it has amassed about £2,000 so far – please visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/BikeRugbyJapan

You can also learn more about the ride details by visiting bikerugbyjapan.com

The other five, Carl Moses, Cathal Bartello, Linford, Keith and Dale House, with Roger Hadfield in the support van, were hoping to make good progress to reach the Polish city of Krakow in eight days – a distance of 1,000 miles.

But from there, the adventure will take them on a whole new path as Linford, Keith and Dale steel themselves for another 7,000 miles to reach Japan in time for the Rugby World Cup in September.

The trio will cycle, unsupported, through Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, to Shanghai in China for a ferry to Osaka in Japan. Once there, they plan to watch at least one Rugby World Cup game. In all, the punishing 100+ miles a day schedule sees them ride a total of about 8,100 miles.

The team has set itself a target of raising £6,000 evenly divided between the Alzheimer’s Society, eye research campaign Fight For Sight and Kent based charity Slide Away which supports children who have been bereaved by the loss of a friend or family member.

The team has never done a bike packing tour before and usually rides with a support van. When they leave Krakow bound for Shanghai, it will be the first time they carry their gear with them.

The team is supported by R&B Air Conditioning Services, DA Tree Surgeons, East Kent Foods and McGinley Support Services.

If you would like to contribute towards the team’s fundraising target – it has amassed about £2,000 so far – please visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/BikeRugbyJapan

You can also learn more about the ride details by visiting www.bikerugbyjapan.com

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