Fat Kid On A Bike: Race To RWC

Eden Park 13 Nov 2022 to Twickenham 24 Aug 2023 ✅

286 days, 20,000km or so.

A lot (of incredibly good things) have happened in the last 10 days....more to follow.

But first, next up...rest for 10 days, then 3 riding days to Paris and

All for

Thanks for everything

Day 264 of 300 (Wed).

And into Dublin💥!

Ridiculously spectacular landscapes through the Wicklow Mountains and down to, and along the coast south of Dublin...but a pretty wild day weather wise. Cold, wet, and very windy...to be fair though, it would seem wrong to cycle Ireland and not experience some 'real' Irish weather 🌧️!

Massive thanks again to Richi and Matt for the huge effort in joining me for the Waterford to Dublin leg... massively appreciated and great fun to share the road with them.

A few days off now, focusing on some fundraising events for ChildFund Rugby 🏉.

Day 263 of 300 (Tuesday).

The Americas were absolutely amazing.

And now that I'm in Ireland, and on European soil with Paris and the start of within touching distance, the excitement levels are really building, and I'm just absolutely loving cycling through Ireland's 'Ancient East' region on the way from Waterford to Dublin (the first stage of the Irish adventure!)

The small country lanes, rolling hills, ridiculously wild history, tiny villages and towns, classic old pubs, as well as the pretty good weather, all mean the last few days have been some of my favourite riding days for quite a while. Been an extra treat to share them with Rich and Matt, and enjoying an all-round rather sedate schedule on the way to Dublin (arrival planned for tomorrow), and looking forward to a busy and productive few days ahead with , as well as the lovely folk at for 2 planned fundraising events...a Q&A and fireside chat at The Merry Cobbler on Thursday night (more the merrier, pull in!), and a ride from Dublin to Dundalk on Sunday...after enjoying an evening watching Ireland take on Italy at the Aviva stadium.

Can't wait...and so grateful to .rumbles for all his help in making all this happen!

Belated thanks to and the rest of the crew in Westport, Connecticut for hosting the most wonderful evening and 'fireside chat' in aid of on my last night in the US last week. Couldn't have asked for a more uplifting send off! What a team!! Thanks 🙏 all.

Day 259 of 300 (Friday).

Thank you to all the wonderful humans, friends old and new, who came out to the (officially NYC's premier rugby pub at that!) last night to hear me bore them with stories from the last 10 years of riding around the world to various 's!

Most importantly though, huge appreciation for the all donations made to on the evening...your contribution will make an enormous impact.

It was the most fitting way to spend my last night in NYC. Wonderful memories.

Thanks again to Erich and everyone else who made the evening possible...and once again to Mike and Yuko for the incredibly kind and generous hospitality. Going to miss you guys!

One last night on US soil tonight...in CT with the one and only and his crew. What could possibly go wrong.

See you on Sunday Dublin!

Day 259 of 300 (Friday).

Thank you to all the wonderful humans, friends old and new, who came out to the (officially NYC's premier rugby pub at that!) last night to hear me bore them with stories from the last 10 years of riding around the world to various 's!

Most importantly though, huge appreciation for the all donations made to on the evening...your contribution will make an enormous impact.

It was the most fitting way to spend my last night in NYC. Wonderful memories.

Thanks again to Erich and everyone else who made the evening possible...and once again to Mike and Yuko for the incredibly kind and generous hospitality. Going to miss you guys!

One last night on US soil tonight...in CT with the one and only and his crew. What could possibly go wrong.

See you on Sunday Dublin!

Day 258 of 300 (Thursday).

What can I say... yesterday, 252 days after pulling out of Santiago, Chile together, Tim and I arrived into NYC to bring to a close the Americas leg of RaceToRWC2023...we probably spent 70% of the last 8 months together, and it's been an absolute pleasure and privilege.

For me personally, arriving into NYC brings to an end too the final 2 continents of my adventure cycling 'career'... thank you South and North America. Memories of a lifetime to join those I've made in Africa, Europe, Asia, and Oceania over the last 10 years.

Also, huge thanks too to those incredible people that have added to making the last few days even more memorable than they would have been anyway...the Armstrong family (Philadelphia), Andrew and Danner Riebie (New Jersey), Simon Stockil (Jersey, via Winterton), and Mike and Yuko Robertson (Brooklyn)...and Bob the attorney who bought us a celebratory beer on arrival after seeing our bikes!

I have the next couple of days off the bike here in NYC before I fly to Dublin on Saturday, and will endeavour to catch up on all outstanding comms then, as well as share more reflections of the last year as they come to me...as well of course time into planning the final days ahead.

Still another 7 weeks or so of RaceToRWC to look forward to through Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England and into France, so very much looking forward to that, and of course Pedal To Paris and everything fundraising related for ChildFund Rugby...and the final whistle delivery.

Thanks again to everyone for the amazing support 🙏.

ChildFund Rugby
Rugby World Cup
World Rugby
Rugby World Cup France 2023
Springboks

Day 251 of 300 (Thurs).

Into DC!

Fun 120km into the capital...and a good day was rounded off by being accosted (in a good way!) by some locals (Navy personal mostly) who hosted us at their local for a few after work beers 🍺. Top crew!

Excited for a day off tomorrow to get some R&R off the bike, and to explore this amazing city.

Hard to believe it's only 4 riding days to NYC and the end of the Americas for - determined to make the most of it!

P.s. if I owe anyone replies and follow ups, I promise to make every effort to get on top of everything tomorrow 🙏

Thanks again Rugby World Cup World Rugby Rugby World Cup France 2023 for giving us the opportunity to support ChildFund Rugby

https://strava.app.link/thxscXelBBb

Day 250 of 300 (Wednesday).

(After a very long hiatus away from social media, with just 50 days to go until the end of and a strong desire to make sure the fundraising efforts for ChildFund Rugby are maximized, I thought it would be a good time to get back at it!).

Anyway, just like that, with a very straightforward 65km out of Richmond this afternoon, it's now only 50 days left of , and until the Pedal to Paris peloton pulls into Paris to help ensure the safe handover of the cherished whistle! The World Rugby RWC is almost upon us!

Day got off to a wonderful start with a lunchtime 'meet and greet' at ChildFund International's US H.Q....very uplifting to spend time with so many people who've dedicated themselves to helping kids around the world!

Tomorrow...into DC...and a day off on Friday which coincides nicely with celebrating surviving another a year on this planet...any suggestions on a good place for a celebratory beer and/or meal greatly received!

Day 201 of 300...and new flag day!

Thank you Mexico, that was a wild, unforgettable ride.

And hello 🇺🇸 ...looking forward to the adventures that lie ahead over the next 60 days from TX to NY👊

P.s. thank you to the absolute legends at for the new flags...different level now!

P.p.s congrats to everyone at Rugby World Cup France 2023 Rugby World Cup World Rugby and all your stakeholders on the '100 days to go' celebrations!

Me too!

Once again, I've been useless on posting updates, but I have been making progress, and I now find myself in Monterrey, Northern Mexico, 2 days out from crossing the border into the US - at Laredo, TX more specifically.

And with just over 100 days left of this 2023 , I will be posting daily (or as close to daily as possible!), especially being back in the English speaking world, all with the idea of ramping up things on the fundraising front for ChildFund Rugby (of which, by the way, I am now officially a very proud ambassador 😍), and in general leading up to Dublin, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Rugby, London, the PedalToParis fundraising ride from Twickenham to Stade de France, the whistle handover, and of course the kick off of Rugby World Cup 2023 Rugby World Cup France 2023

But first, can't wait to cross the US from TX to NYC over the next 2 months, so if you're in San Antonio, Austin or Houston in the next couple of weeks, or further along the route in LA, MS, TN, NC, VA, PA, NJ, or NY and you're up for a bit of riding, let me know...good company always appreciated!

Also keen to connect with rugby communities en route, so if anyone has any suggestions on that front, please reach out!

USA Rugby World Rugby - any contacts much appreciated!

Anyway, can't wait for the final 5,000km or so that lie ahead on this (definitely!) my final RaceToRWC! And am going to make sure I appreciate every moment. It's been far from easy, and being on the road for almost 18 months is taking its toll a bit, but spirits are up, and we've got a difference to make hey ChildFund Rugby!