The One Million Pedal Journey
Ray Wookey
- Organisation:
- Energise E-bikes
- Region:
- South East
- Notice Period:
- Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Lifestyle/Professional
- Fee:
- Free
- Category:
- Travel
- Updated:
- 31st March 2023
- Tagged:
- United Kingdom | Cycling | Electric Bikes | Charity
What was the first thing you did after the first COVID-19 lockdown was ended?
For Ray, it was to sign up for Land's End to John o' Groats cycle ride; a journey of over 1000 miles.
The journey would mean that the 72 year old would have to do around 8 hours of cycling every day for two weeks with no rest days, averaging around 72 miles a day.
For the challenge, which he took on to raise money for Maggie's, the cancer charity, Ray rode an electric bike which would amplify the power of each of his estimated one million pedal strokes.
Is it true that the electric bike used less than £2 of electricity for the whole journey? What was it like to be riding for miles and miles in the open country after months of being stuck indoors? How did using an electric bike affect the experience? How did the non-electric bike riders react to a fellow rider getting pedal-assistance? Can any electric bike stand up to the challenge? Would Ray do it again?
25 mins, Q & A welcome. Also available via Zoom.
Views: 395 | Enquiries: 2About Ray Wookey
Between lockdowns in 2020, Ray, aged 72, cycled over 1000 miles between Lands End and John O'Groats, raising over £7000 for Maggie's, the cancer charity.
He achieved the feat in 14 days, cycling at least 72 miles every day with zero rest days. It is estimated that he turned his pedals 1,000,000 times.
To complete the challenge, he rode an electric bike - possibly the most misunderstood type of transport in the world - but as the founder of Energise E-bikes, he is in a unique position to bust all the myths and falsehoods that have arisen about them, and to explain how electric bikes have been transforming lives all around the world, as well as why global environmental organisations think electric bikes will be a major solution to the climate crisis.
He has since cycled across the country from the Irish Sea to the North Sea via the Lake District and the Pennines, this time joined by his wife who also used an electric bike.
Ray has taken speaker engagements throughout the pandemic, including interview spots on BBC London, BBC Surrey, BBC Kent, BBC Five Live and Sky News.
Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Ray Wookey
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