Deloitte Duo Took on the Ride Across Britain
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A year after their hopes of taking on the challenge were dashed due to injury, cycling duo Zach Foy and Ryno Nothnagel have completed the Deloitte Ride Across Britain (RAB).
Mr Nothnagel raised £1,328.89 for Jersey Mind, surpassing his original target of £900.
The nine-day endurance challenge saw hundreds of cyclists pedal 969 miles from Cornwall’s most southwesterly point to the north east tip of Scotland.
The training partners originally entered the ride in 2016; sadly an unfortunate incident left Mr Nothnagel with a broken arm only four days before they were set to depart. Mr Foy decided to go on alone, representing the both of them.
But undeterred and fully recovered from his injury, Mr Nothnagel felt ready to take on the challenge again.
Last year's training and Mr Foy's previous ride experience, meant both men knew the scale of the challenge that lay ahead of them and they stepped up their training regime for 2017. Their preparation included taking part in the London Revolution - cycling 185 miles around London over two days. On their return to the island, they participated in the Jersey Triathlon.
The Ride Across Britain is known as one of the UK’s toughest cycle challenges. Cyclists faced an incline of 15,000ft during the first few days with the longest single day of riding being a gruelling 126 miles.
Training can only take you so far, something Mr Foy knows too well: ‘Having cycled it once before, I knew how deceptive the hill climbs are that first day through Cornwall. However the excitement of cycling through and seeing the beauty of Glencoe, Scotland again definitely countered the dread!’
‘If I was to sum it up in three words, it was wet, windy and cold! But still, an absolutely fantastic experience and Scotland did not disappoint with the views over Glencoe and the lochs. A Deloitte colleague and I cycled with Mark Cavendish for 15 minutes - a brief, but major highlight!’
Both avid cyclers, Mr Nothnagel has been cycling for 17 years, and had a similar experience back in his native South Africa, cycling the 1,000 Miler Joburg to Cape Town ride, in 2005.
For Mr Nothnagel, the race was the highlight of the year as the nine days were not only a chance to challenge himself physically but also mentally. ‘Your body is stronger than you think’ was a key motivational message that helped keep him going, on what were some of the coldest days of his life, pushing his body to its limit.
Speaking of his experience Mr Nothnagel: ‘When I think back, there were numerous memories and highlights. The Scottish scenery was absolutely beautiful, the lakes, rivers, mountains and small villages are a must see. The food was outstanding, and at times it felt like I couldn’t stop eating, especially the desert. That feeling when I crossed the finish line is indescribable - it's the moment you realise this is an accomplishment that will be with me for the rest of my life.’
Deloitte in Jersey has been a big supporter of the event during the last five years, and approximately £35,000 has been raised to date for various charities.
This year’s fundraising will benefit Jersey Mind. Deloitte is working with Mind in the Channel Islands to support the charity’s vision of a society that has a positive attitude towards mental wellbeing. The business services firm has recently backed Mind’s research project and has made a three-year commitment to the mental health charity.
Mr Nothnagel concludes: ‘The experience was a privilege that I will never forget. It was nine days of reflection, training, camping, meeting new people, motivation sessions, sightseeing, and eating - just pure enjoyment!’
Since its inception in 2010, Deloitte Ride Across Britain cyclists have raised over 1.8 million pounds for the British Paralympic Association, clocking up over 2,500,000 fundraising miles that have helped disabled athletes succeed at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics.
