Published: 25 June, 2010
by HANNAH PARRY

A TEAM of cyclists were greeted by family, friends and locals when they arrived in Morzine, France, last week after a 700-mile charity bike ride that began at Islington Green

The cyclists managed to raise more than £45,000 for the Lavender Trust Breast Cancer Charity in memory of Heidi Beer from Islington who lost her life to breast cancer aged 29.

Nick Miles, Heidi’s partner and the organiser of the event, said: “It was an epic adventure, everything I expected and more.

Heading off into the unknown has brought us all closer and we have found out more about ourselves and what we can do.

There was a real mixture of emotions on the ride, laughing and crying, but we knew we would get there. It was an amazing journey in memory of an incredible person.”

The four riders covered difficult terrain and extreme weather over their eight-day journey riding vintage-style bikes and wearing 1920s cycling gear.

The team said their biggest challenge was on the final day when their route covered the high alpine stage of the Tour de France and a technical problem meant they thought one of the bikes may need to be walked through.

However, all bikes were eventually ridden across the finish line.

The team have already decided that they will be doing another adventure in the future but for now they are letting their success sink in and having a well-earned rest.