Colorado Mountain Bike Expedition 2006

The new expedition website for the Cascades 2008 Expedition has just been launched.

This is the 2nd Leading Edge Expedition to the Cascade Mountains, USA and the first to include canoeing in British Columbia, Canada. The Expediton will take place in July and August 2008. This expedition see’s the reuniting of Ollie Bray, Mark Salmon and Clive Burgess for the first time since the expedition to Mount McKinley (Alaska).
Use the Cascades 2008 Expedition website to find out more information about the trip.

On 4th November 2007 I’ll be taking part in the New York City Marathon.

Having finally forgotten the pain of last years London Marathon I’ve decided its time for me to do another one! Last year I raised money for the Dorset Expeditionary Society but this year I am raising money for the charity Get Kids Going!

Get Kids Going helps disabled and disadvantaged children get into sport. My aim is to raise a minimum of £2,500, enough to by a lightweight sports wheelchair.

Any help with sponsorship is more than welcome so please visit my sponsorship page and give generously.

27/28th January saw the first Dynamic Adventure Race of 2007 take place on the Dorset hill surrounding Cerne Abbas. Leading Edge was well represented this year with 2 teams entered into the Endurance event and 2 in the Challenge.

In all 3 members of the Colorado Expedition competed, Mark Salmon, Paul Seys and James Monypenny.

The weather stayed fine and mild throughout the weekend which came as a blessing to all the teams. The events were well organised and challenging. Well done to all who entered, including Emily Andrews, Cat Freeman and Ed Flower.

For more information on the race series or to download the results tables visit the Dynamic Adventure Race website

A mere 3 months after the expedition ended and I have finally got my act together and finished the expedition DVD!

It looks great, even if I do say so myself. The DVD was produced as a limited run, the idea being that each member of the expedition would have a copy with 1 or 2 left over for major sponsors. If you’re linked to the expedition in some way and would be interested in getting a copy please get in touch as there might always be the chance of a second run!

Thanks to CDRUK for helping with the production of the DVD. The service was great and highly recommended.

More photos from Colorado have been added to Flickr.

With the imminent arrival of the Expedition DVD, containing all the photos taken by the members of the expedition, some more photos have been added to Flickr. The new collection includes the team shot taken moments after the final days riding, an awesome 25 mile descent into Durango, was completed.

To see the photos visit Flickr.

The expedition report is finished and the DVD is almost complete!

Soon the expedition report will be downloadable from this website, if you would like to be notified once it is available please register to receive email updates on the home page.

Dorset Evening Echo, 5 August 2006 by Paul Greave

BLUES music producer Tom Hopkins is planning a 600-mile charity cycle trip in memory of a Weymouth schoolgirl killed on holiday. Tom, 60, will cycle through the Canadian Rockies later this month to raise funds for the Cara Weaver Fund. Cara, 14, died in a cable car accident in 2001 while on holiday with her parents and brother in South Africa. The Wey Valley School pupil had visited the first of Tom’s blues summer schools for talented young musicians and following her death a fund was set up to provide bursaries for other youngsters to attend.

Tom, who has just retired from his job as a higher education consultant, said: “Cara was a talented musician, her death was an enormous blow to her family and friends, and a loss to the local music community.

“The Cara Weaver Fund was founded with the aim of raising money to support young people in achieving their ambitions - musical, sporting and educational.

“I’ve wanted to do this ride since I first saw people cycling in the Rockies while driving through them in 1989. I’d now like to use my bike to try and put some money back into the fund so that it can help more young people.”

Tom will personally meet the £2,000 costs of the nine-day trip but is looking for people to sponsor him.

The Cara Weaver Fund has provided bursaries for young people to attend blues summer schools over the last five years and helped launch the Big Girls Blues’ singing project for local women in 2005. All money raised will go directly to the fund.

If you are interested in sponsoring Tom email Gilly.Weaver@ btinternet.com

What a tour ! There’s no doubt but this has been one of the toughest expeditions. The Colorado Trail is uncompromising. Added to that, the group took a deviation to cross two of Colorado’s highest passes, namely Engineer and Imogene. Some people will go to great lengths to try the Telluride bakery bagels and coffee.

Everyone we’ve met on our great adventure has been singularly impressed. It’s hard for people at home to fully appreciate what these guys have achieved. Just the daily routine of up at 5 / 5.30 am, bike for up to 12 hours, pitch tent, eat then sleep as early as possible ( the record is 6pm !) would make the average person shake their heads in disbelief. Add the hidden extras such as the bugs, the storms, the massive ascents and descents then it makes the expedition even more demanding.

Mark will have plenty to say about the trip, but to conclude my blogs, what I have appreciated is the beauty of the wilderness. The mountains, the crystal clear rivers and creeks, the flora and fauna. But above all, it has been a pleasure to have seen so the young people grow in stature. They have been great fun and an inspiration

After the trials and tribulations of Engineer Pass one may have expected a more genteel ride. Not so ! It would have been rude not to have accepted the challenge of Imogene Pass from Ouray into the wonderful town affectionately and aptly know as To Hell You Ride (Telluride). This is the home to some pretty extreme skiing (and mountain biking !!). I was here some 8 years ago and things have changed considerably. It’s all a bit swish. Then our guide’s pet ferret would amble down the ’sidewalks’ being greeted by everyone. However, the BAKERY is still here. I’ve promised the guys a blueberry bagel if they get into Telluride by 11am. Imogene is at 13200′ so the altitude may slow them down, not to mention last night’s meal. The gauntlet was thrown down however.

Mark worked out the elevation gained from the start of the Trail. He’ll fill you in but I’ve got to say how impressive it it. Today’s climb will only add to the tally. The remaining days will see the groups heading down to Durango and the finish. They have all done remarkably well.

After a day or so in Durango we’ll ship back to Denver pack the bikes, have a good dinner together, sightsee in downtown Denver then do battle with NorthWest airlines on the 18th August.

We will next make contact from Durango.

Clive

I saw the groups off this morning bright and early

I tried walking up to meet the groups at Engineer Pass. I soon gave up. It was impossibly steep. And what goes up must come down. I heard the crackle on the radio. It was Paul informing me that they were on their way down. I wondered how fast some would be travelling. They were going from 13000′ to 9000′ in what seemed seconds. James Pymm and Tom George arrived in a blur of dust. They had to release their parachutes to stop !! Mark’s voice came on the radio. Dan Gale had just blown a tyre. Hardly surprising on that terrain. I was relieved to see everyone arrive safe and sound.

There were stories to tell of the day’s 54 miles over Slumgullion Pass,down into Lake City (a one horse town ), over and down Engineer Pass. Andnow in Ouray there’s a chance to rest, check bikes for tomorrow’s big push over Cinammon Pass and down to Silverton.

The Team

Monypenny ……MP to his buddies. Always up late. Battle hardened as he’s the only one not wearing cylce shorts. He’s soon to be singing soprano in the local choir.

Arnie …..Now known as Spock because of the swollen ears caused by mossie bites.

Chris……Mr Smoothie, aka Lance.Distinguishes himself by being around the jeep whenever food’s being dished out.

Hannah…..Got to top of Engineer Pass without stopping and wearing maskara ! She’s getting blonder the team has remarked.

Roxanne…..Battered and bruised but smiling all the time. Paul has said that she’s become a mountain biker. She’s delighted with that news !

Rosie…..Silent but deadly.Never stops. Grandad’s bike is still going strong. Loves going up. Very steady going down.

Aless…Now so independent he was seen sowing a massive tear in his shorts. Get’s off his bike to walk down the mountain. ( that’s just for mum..he doesn’t really !)

Alex…..Has been eating for Scotland. She may now be too heavy to dance again. No chance burning up around 10000 calories per day. Her hair is blonder as well !!

Dan….Five minutes to go up a mountain but two weeks to get down. Perhaps he’s worried about messing up his hair. His hair is blonder as well !! (I’m only jealous !)

Tom George…..Wrapped himself around a tree at speed. The tree’s fine !! Now known as tree hugger !

Tom Wright ….Mum’s bike will never be the same again !! Will need a shave soon. Has had a few close sheves though !!

James Pymm…Two weeks to get up the mountain 5 seconds to get down !! Dan and James…Yin and Yang !! 

Clive

Wednesday