Royal Navy Reservist Lieutenant Commander Rob Evans will cycle from Falmouth to London to mark Armed Forces Day.
Rob, who serves with HMS Pegasus – the branch for Fleet Air Arm reservists based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset – intends to cover the 600 kilometres (373 miles) from the Cornish port, which is hosting the national Armed Forces Day event on June 24.
And before the weekend is over he hopes to arrive at Admiralty House in London – following the route taken by Lt John Richards Lapenotiere in 2005 when he carried news of victory of Trafalgar and Nelson’s death.
Lapenotiere used a series of horses and coaches to cover the distance in 37 hours.
Rob will be unsupported, carrying his own kit and sorting out any mechanical issues unaided and hopes to complete the ride inside 40 hours, having climbed 6,450 metres (more than 21,000 feet) on the hills and inclines en route.
That route will take him through Truro, Fraddon, Bodmin, Minions, Launceston and Okehampton before passing Dartmoor and descending into the cathedral city of Exeter, Honiton, Axminster, Bridport, along the Jurassic Coast to Dorchester and Blandford Forum before passing through the cathedral city of Salisbury, Andover, Overton, Basingstoke, Hartley Wintney, Camberley and Sunningdale and into central London via Parliament Square finishing at Admiralty House, Whitehall.
A dedicated cyclist, especially long-distance events known as Audax, Rob has trained extensively for this 40-hour challenge which will raise money for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
“The RNRMC means a lot to me and supported me and my family back in 2005 when my youngest daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia,” Rob explained. “Over the years I’ve taken on various challenges to keep myself healthy and motivated – and hopefully raise funds for the RNRMC along the way.
“My preparations this year have involved cycling during the wet winter - a lot of turbo training using the indoor app Zwift.”
The Armed Forces Weekend ride is sandwiched between UCI Tour of Cambridge Granfondo at the beginning of June and August’s World Cycling Championships in Glasgow, where Rob – a self-confessed ‘MAMIL (Middle-Aged Man In Lycra) – hopes to compete in the amateur Granfondo in the 50-55 age group.
If you wish to support Rob’s efforts, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/robert-evans-traf-way
