Mike Rivett

Age: 48

Occupation: Teacher

Home Town: Birkenhead; now live and work in South Manchester

Cycling Experience:
1st Bike stolen from me when I was 4 years old by two thugs aged about 10!
2nd Bike lovingly constructed with a mechanically gifted pal - cow horn handlebars, frame rescued from a tip, etc. This was also stolen - by my dad who used it to get from the car park to his workshop at Stanlow Oil Refinery.
3rd bike was new and got me to and from school between 1973-1977. It was then 'retired' (to my parents' garage) until rescued from oblivion for my first (and only) major bike ride - London to Stockport over a weekend in May 1993.
I have recently given up my mountain bike (3 years old) to replace it with my brand new Claud Butler Chinook

Other Hobbies:
Football (retired) but I still support Everton...
Cricket (retired)... never really started, to be honest...
Walking (just about) both for fun and for the Charity, CLIMB

Reason for Cycling to Berlin:
Hazy and nostalgic memories of 1993 when Derek Wilcock and I cycled just over 230 miles from London to Stockport on a glorious May weekend (ie, the wind was Southerly).
An impending 50th birthday (March 2009) has set the 'mid-life cycling' deadline for a major physical challenge.

Top Cycling Tip:
Apart from avoiding cycling at the very front, or being left astray at the very back...wear sunglasses to avoided the dreaded 'flies in the eyes' scenario.

Click here to read Mike's Blog

Derek Wilcock

Age: Forty something, like... nearly fifty something

Occupation: Uncivil Servant

Home Town: Wigan, famous for George Formby, Limahl, the Pier and Uncle Joe's Mint balls

Cycling Experience:
Mostly to the shops and back.

Other Hobbies:
Sometime fair weather aviator

Reason for Cycling to Berlin:
My Dad recommended it. He was there in 1945 but he was behind the steering wheel of a Lancaster bomber at 20,000 feet and could only stay a few minutes.

Top Cycling Tip:
That thing they tell you to do with an unripe banana to prevent saddle soreness - don't.

Declan Wilcock

Age: tba

Occupation: Student/Paperboy/Bike Mechanic

Home Town: Cheadle Hulme

Cycling Experience:
Declans cycling background will be updated shortly.

Other Hobbies:
tba

Reason for Cycling to Berlin:
tba

Top Cycling Tip:
tba

Chris Airey

Age: 38

Occupation: Wireless Technology Company

Home Town: Wigan; but grew up in South Manchester

Cycling Experience:
Started off with a Raleigh Budgie with stabilisers, then progressed to a Grifter (which weighed a tonne!). We then spent most of my teenage years building our own bikes out of bits and pieces - "cowhorn" handlebars, racing frame, straight forks, reinforced wheels, knobbly tyres, and a single, tiny front chainset. They were brilliant - forerunners to the mountainbike!
Jane, my wife bought me a Specialized Hardrock mountainbike in 1997, which got me back on my bike. After crashing it into a tree on a National Downhill Course, I replaced it with a 1999 Specialized Rockhopper A1 FS Comp & went from there! I have been mountainbiking since then, entering a few Mountainbike Challenges over the years but I particularly enjoy throwing myself down steep, rocky hills.
I have even had a go at track cycling at Manchester Veolodrome and now have experience of falling off onto splinter-ridden banked track at high speed. Scary, but well worth a go!
In 2005, I cycled the C2C route from Whitehaven to Sunderland, after 12 months preparation. The 225km route was cycled within a 24h period (1pm Sat-1pm Sunday). Although supported enormously by Derek and Jane on the ride, it really took a lot out of me & I haven't cycled regularly since then!

Other Hobbies:
Football - I dont know a lot about football, so I'm a Man City supporter
Basketball - I run a team, but we're glad to be allowed to play - thats our level
Volkswagens - had many many VWs: Golfs, Campervans and my '71 Beetle is still being restored

Reason for Cycling to Berlin:
After the C2C ride, I got off my bike and didnt really cycle again for ages. Having started a company and now become a very proud Dad to Charlie, I got out of a routine. When the bike ride was suggested to me, it reminded me of how much I enjoyed cycling and how much of a stress reliever I find it.

Top Cycling Tip:
Pedal lighter gears more quickly and dont worry about falling off - its only pain!

Click here to read Chris's Blog

Dave Badley

Age: tba

Occupation: tba

Home Town: tba

Cycling Experience:
Daves cycling background will be updated shortly.

Other Hobbies:
tba

Reason for Cycling to Berlin:
tba

Top Cycling Tip:
tba

John Jeskins

Age: tba

Occupation: tba

Home Town: tba

Cycling Experience:
Johns cycling background will be updated shortly.

Other Hobbies:
tba

Reason for Cycling to Berlin:
tba

Top Cycling Tip:
tba

Andy & Jeanette Royle

Age: Jeannette: 44, Andy: tba

Occupation: Jeannette: Head of Facilities Management for Wirral Children & Young People's Department

Home Town: Oxton, Wirral

Cycling Experience:
Jeannette: Very little until agreeing to the Berlin cycle ride. I would probably describe myself as an "improving cyclist" with the more miles I am putting in. Previous bikes have been allowed to rust due to lack of use but I am happy to say that currently this is not the case and am enjoying every minute of it!!.

Other Hobbies:
Golf, Golf anf more Golf!

Reason for Cycling to Berlin:
Jeannette: Seem to vaguely remember agreeing to the ride after a few glasses of red wine at a Rivett party. Once I got used to the idea of cycling an absurd amount of miles, the training has focused my trips to the gym and has even curtailed my golf playing.

Top Cycling Tip:
Don't forget to unclip your shoes before stopping at a junction!