Those of you who know me personally, will know that I rarely (much to the annoyance of many and against every bit of advice I dish out) take a proper break. But last week I did! And spent it supporting – in the car, I hasten to add! – a team of 28 amateur cyclists as they made their way from Cardiff Castle to Edinburgh Castle over a period of five days.
It’s been quite a week, and not least of all an emotional roller-coaster as the reason for doing it – to raise much-needed funds for Velindre Cancer Centre and Latch Children’s Cancer Charity – is very close to my heart.
Family and friends – sadly too many to mention – lost to this cruel disease, were never far from my mind, particularly of course, my Dad – missed every day for the past 14 years. I smiled, thinking about those – fortunately too many to mention – who have fought and beaten it. And my thoughts are with those who continue to take it on, showing incredible strength and bravery as they face the unknown.
In between all that there were many lessons learnt which apply equally to the world of work…
Planning: As the saying goes, fail to plan, and you plan to fail, and 18 months of lists, lists and more lists meant that the trip went as seamlessly as possible. The route was planned down to the last inch! Satnavs programmed to take them down every wiggly road, and up some ridiculously steep mountains. Rest breaks were scheduled at regular intervals. Food, drink, and essential “rider-y” stuff – from rehydrating powder to spanners and puncture kits – and even a couple of guitars and a few spare bikes “just in case” were packed onto support vans. Nothing was left to chance. Oh – other than the rider who forgot to pack his pants… !
Flexibility: Even with the most thorough planning, things can change – often at short notice. A rest stop on a pedestrianised high street was never going to work, so the first car to arrive quickly identified an alternative. Owners at the final meeting stop before heading to the Castle in Edinburgh weren’t impressed by 28 (by now very sweaty) riders rocking up on a sunny bank holiday weekend, so a couple of friendly local policemen helped us find a different venue and even phoned ahead to warn them! Even after long days in the saddle, nobody was fazed by a little last minute re-routing.
Communication: Key to being able to change our plans was good communication. Our cyclists rode in five groups – each with a nominated person with a location tracker enabled, and a second with a phone on so that we could pass messages to advise of any changes. It worked perfectly – we knew if teams were delayed (whether due to a mechanical hitch or more often than not, an unscheduled beer stop) and it ensured that everyone was accounted for and safe at all times.
Teamwork: Individual teams rode as a group and stayed as a group, supporting and encouraging each other throughout the day’s (literal) peaks and troughs. Early morning motivational messages from sporting heroes and evening “messages from home” lifted spirits. And at the end of each day, everyone came together sharing laughter, stories, singing… and comparing wounds!
Yes, it was a bike ride. Yes, gallons of beer were consumed. Yes, it was a lot of fun. But more than that, it was a masterclass in collaboration. The riders did the hard graft. Those with other talents worked behind the scenes. Everyone pulled together, keeping their eyes on the purpose that brought us all together to raise such an incredible amount of money.
If you’d like to donate, please visit https://www.sponsorme.co.uk/c2cycling/c2e22.aspx