DB's Trans-Europa Challenge 2025

Good morning everyone.
Last night I had to make the painful decision to discontinue the ride. I've developed some unpleasant blisters on my backside over the last few days. I've had medical treatment with little improvement. Simply sitting on the bike is very painful, riding it more so (and makes the blisters worse). I'm currently in St-Louis near Basel, and will fly back tomorrow.
Can't begin to say how disappointed I am. Updates to follow. If anyone feels they need more info, please send me a message.

Day 2 round-up... a tough one today, mentally and physically. Very windy at times, warm and humid with only a little half-arsed rain for relief. Three significant diversions needed as the cycleways were being fettled. Then the crowning glory, the lunch stop researched beforehand and confirmed last night as open on Sunday, was shut. Managed to find somewhere about 5k further on and refill water for the rest of the day.
However, great to have a long-overdue look at the Market Garden monuments round Oosterbeek, find my bijou accommodation and head out for chicken and pasta. Legs are in one piece, even though I managed to find the only hills in Holland.
And finally visited the province of Gelderland (Yes! Gelderland...) though Ulrich von Lichtenstein was not to be found.
Early start tomorrow. Cologne or bust.

While I'm just sat on my t**h watching Grimsby ooze past off the starboard beam, a good time to shout out a huge thank you...
To everyone who's donated to the total so far, closing in on £3500...
To Zoe, Emma, Ellie and Alice for the lovely posts they've shared which have really boosted donations...
To Clare for organising a fundraiser at work, leading to a hefty donation from WYP Control Room...
To Martin, Paul and Andrea for seeing me off this morning and/or surprising me at Howden...
To Badger & Bean for offering me free coffee and cake...
To Dan and Jo at Reach PT for helping me shed 20lb ahead of the start...
And of course to Ciaran, Martha and Zoe for their love, support and encouragement throughout.
I don't know if Danny's watching, but in case he is, I'll be talking to him every day.
Goodnight everyone 😴

It's official... departure date set and ferry booked. Looks like I'm actually going then. 😱🙂🙃

Latest news update on the JG page here. There's been an 'offline' fundraiser going on and I should be able to update on that after the weekend. Meanwhile, here's a short snippet about the trying week I've had.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/transeuropa25?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=000&share=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%3D

Donations have gone through the £2000 barrier this week thanks to some very generous people (you know who you are!). As always, we're full of gratitude for the kindness of others.
Unfortunately, Dave is currently without a bike and is unable to do either of this weekend's training rides including the York-Lincoln-York event with Velo29. Bike is booked into the workshop next Wednesday so hopefully we'll be back up and pedalling before too long.

Lovely to visit the BBC Leeds studio this morning at to meet Rima and her colleagues. Hope you enjoyed the flapjacks!
Link below to the segment... my bit starts around the 03:12:30 mark and lasts about 10 minutes.

Rima Ahmed - 21/05/2025 - BBC Sounds Waking you up each weekday morning, it's Rima Ahmed.

This is why this charity is so very important.

GOOD MORNING bike fans! It's bright and sunny (for now) and I'm just heading into Leeds to be interviewed on the wireless. Radio Leeds breakfast show from 0900....