Well-Mad Leicester cyclist sets off round the world

A unique global cycle challenge will set off from the Clock Tower in Leicester on Saturday 2 April 2011 at 10am. The gruelling ride is expected to take 180 days, pass through 20 countries and raise £100,000 for two charities.

Ian Reeds, a former elite racing cyclist, now an archaeological technician working at the University of Leicester, will be cycling through countries as far flung as Australia, USA and China, and while ‘well-mad’ may be an apt description of such a crazy challenge, the name actually represents the two cities on his route at opposite ends of the world, Wellington (New Zealand) and Madrid (Spain).

• A press pack with further details about the ride, the bike, route, the charities, the schools project, Challenge team and sponsors, and a map of the route are available on: http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/media-centre/well-mad-ride.
• Ian hopes to raise £50,000 each for the MS Society, a UK wide charity supporting people with Multiple Sclerosis, and the Leicestershire and Rutland charity Hope Against Cancer, which currently funds 14 cancer research projects at the University of Leicester.
• His progress can be charted on http://wellmadride.org/, where there is also information on the charities and an opportunity to donate to them.
• Ian is a former racing champion who competed in most of the top UK races.  He was both regional champion and rode for England.
• He is riding a bicycle specially built for him by Websters Cycles (Leicester).
• The solar panels on his panniers will automatically recharge all his electrical equipment as he goes along.
• Ian will visit schools as he goes along, posting interviews and pictures on his website so that children worldwide can learn more about the lives and customs of others.
• Sponsors for the Well-Mad Ride global cycle challenge are:  the University of Leicester, Hullabaloo Visual Communications, Websters Cycles, Stanfords Map Shop, Pick Everard architectural and engineering partnership, Cyclemagic, Eurostar and Cotswold Outdoor.
• Contact details:
• The Challenge:  Ian Reeds, ian@wellmadride.org
• Hope Against Cancer:  Gaile Lloyd-Jones, tel: 0116 270 0101, email: Enquiries@hfcr.org
• The MS Society:   Jenna Litchfield, Senior Press Officer, tel 020 8438 0782 or email: jlitchfield@mssociety.org.uk