Lifecyclists undeterred despite vehicle failure

Lifecyclists rested at Brasov in Romania last night after cycling their first 185 kilometres in a challenge of 2,345 kilometres, from Bucharest.

Although the wake-up call was at 6 a.m., the cyclists woke up earlier, eager to start on the HSBC LifeCycle Challenge Where Only Eagles Dare which is taking them from Romania to Germany through Ukraine and Poland in the annual bid to raise funds for the renal unit.

The camp was buzzing with excitement as the cyclists had breakfast and gathered for the day's briefing and morning prayer, the organisers said.

The challenge started officially at 8 a.m. with groups of three leaving every 12 minutes.

About seven kilometres from the starting point, one of the route vehicles encountered a technical problem and could not go any further.

The vehicle stopped at a busy and heavily congested junction, right near the railway lines.

After four hours of waiting and several phone calls, the vehicle was towed to a garage for repairs. In the meantime, another support vehicle was called in to help at the check-points. 

Backup team member Louise Bugeja said the weather was warm with cloudless skies, similar to or hotter than Malta.

Tim Peco, another backup team member, described yesterday as a "could be better day" saying that although there were considerable problems with the vehicle and with traffic, the 25 cyclists finished the route with only minor injuries.

The early part of the route yesterday was an insight into Eastern European industrialisation with a drab and flat landscape.

However, by the second checkpoint, the riders were already enjoying an insight into Romanian rural life and with only one major climb of five kilometres, the day was a reasonable start to what is now being described as "the ride of all rides".

Today, the cyclists are doing 212 kilometres from Brasov to Sibiu.

The team left Malta on Wednesday arriving at 6.15 p.m. at the American International School of Bucharest, where they spent the night.

There, they were greeted by the nine back-up team members who arrived three days earlier to transport the bikes and food and make the necessary arrangements for transport and accommodation.

On arrival at the school, the cyclists went eagerly looking for their bikes to re-assemble them in preparation for the challenge.

The team was invited to a free healthy buffet dinner, a gesture greatly savoured, especially since this experience was not likely to repeat itself and, from now on, they were unlikely to sit at table for dinner, save for the celebratory meal at the end of the challenge.

Donations can be made in the LifeCycle accounts at HSBC - 0611 987 920 50 or at Bank of Valletta - 148 1452 1017, or by sending an SMS to 5061 7356 for a Lm1 donation, 5061 8921 for Lm3 or 5061 9218 for Lm5.

Donations to the LifeCycle Organisation can also be sent c/o Renal Unit, St Luke's Hospital, Guardamangia.

www.lifecyclechallenge.com