Cyclist to ride Wales’ length in eco-modern slavery drive
A GUINNESS World Record-breaking cyclist is to don his Lycra again to ride the length of Wales to raise awareness of climate change’s link to modern slavery.
Gordon Miller, 60, is to follow the national Lon Las Cymru cycling route, where he will cycle from Cardiff to Holyhead via Brecon, Rhayader, Corris and Porthmadog this week, finishing on Friday.
He said he is “very excited” for the 254mile cycle.
Yesterday, on day one of the ride, he was joined by Ffion James, a former professional road cyclist who is now a development officer for Welsh Cycling.
“It’ll be my first time (cycling with Ms James),” Mr Miller, who lives in London, said. “It’s a real privilege to ride with one of the Welsh nation’s best-known cyclists.”
He added Welsh Cycling has supported the ride from the start and helped forge “many connec- tions who are engaging with us on and off the bike”.
He is to also spend time at Radnor Primary School in Cardiff on day one, where he will speak about the link between climate change and modern slavery, as well as Ride For Freedom, the non-profit organisation he founded and leads which supports victims of modern slavery through cycling.
“We’ll then have a cycling session for the children to get a sense of the freedom survivor service users experience when they ride bicycles during our Freewheel programme and afterwards when they get to keep the donated bikes,” he added.
He will also meet and cycle with women who are part of Welsh Cycling’s Breeze initiative, which offers free bike rides for women of all abilities across the UK. Speaking about climate change’s link to human trafficking, he said: “There are several ways it occurs, for example, individuals are forced to migrate due to climate change rendering their homes and neighbourhoods unsustainable. “This exposes them to elevated risks of exploitation in the forms of human trafficking and forced labour, which are forms of modern slavery.”
Mr Miller has achieved many cycling feats over the years, including achieving the Guinness World Record for “the greatest distance covered by an electric bicycle in one week” in 2021 and taking on his own version of the Tour de France in June 2023.
He said the idea behind cycling the length of Wales was “sowed” during the June cycle.
“I met several Welsh people who expressed how beautiful the landscape is and that there is a really enthusiastic and inclusive cycling culture who recognise the power of the bicycle to bring about positive social impact,” he said.
The aim is to set up a legacy programme in schools across Wales to help educate young people about modern slavery through talks.
More information about the ride and how to make a donation can be found at https://donorbox.org/wales-tour/fundraiser/gordon-miller.