Gearing up for US challenge
A supermarket worker is bidding to become the first British solo female rider to complete one of the world’s toughest cycling races.
Miss Emma Bradbury, 29, who works as a customer assistant at Tesco’s Ollerton store, is aiming to compete in the Race Across America, a 3,000-mile ride west to east across the US.
As part of her build-up, Miss Bradbury, of Crompton Road, Bilsthorpe, is training to ride from Abersoch, Wales, to Skegness in under 24 hours in June for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.
She will then compete in the 1,350-mile Race Around Ireland in 2012, which will qualify her for the American competition.
She said: “The Ireland race will qualify me for two years, so I am aiming to do the American race in 2013 or 2014, depending on preparation and funding.
“Just to get over there and do the race would be massive. I would feel like I had achieved something even then.”
Miss Bradbury said a few American women had done the race, but many had the support network of a team. No British woman has ever attempted to ride it solo.
Miss Bradbury said her preparation for the first stage of her quest — the Abersoch to Skegness ride — was going well.
She said: “I am a keen cyclist but I am still feeling a little bit of trepidation because I know how tough it is.
“The bad weather over winter set me back a little because it was impossible to get out in that snow.
“I had to spend hours on the indoor trainer, but I am only a week behind in my training.”
Miss Bradbury said it would be tough because of the time limit. The ride includes a big climb, the Cat And Fiddle Road from Macclesfield to Buxton.
She intends to ride for 20 hours at an average pace of 13mph, and will have rests at the 70, 140 and 190-mile points.
The final rest will be at Ollerton, where she hopes to be spurred on for the rest of her journey by friends and colleagues at Tesco.
She will be supported on her ride by Mr Allan Land, 67, who will drive a support car.
Miss Bradbury said she decided to ride for the air ambulance because she used to work in agriculture and knew how important the service could be in rural areas.
“The work they do is phenomenal,” she said. “We live on the flight path in Bilsthorpe and the number of times it comes over is unbelievable.
“I used to work in farming and I know how valuable the service can be for people off the beaten track.”
She said the coast-to-coast ride would be an important part of her build-up to the Irish and American races.
“It is obviously a huge challenge, but it will be an achievement worth remembering if I can manage to do it,” Miss Bradbury said.
“This will help me get used to keeping up a good pace for a long distance.”
She is aiming to raise £1,000 and has already been pledged £250 by the Edwinstowe and Dukeries Lions Club.
There will be collections at Tesco, Forest Road, Ollerton, on April 1 and May 13.
Collection boxes are also at Twice A Lady, Southwell, Forest Café, off Ollerton Roundabout, and Wilde’s Chemist, Bilsthorpe.
To sponsor Miss Bradbury, visit www. justgiving.com/24hr-coast-to-coast
For more information, Miss Bradbury can be contacted on ebradbury1982@hotmail. co.uk
