Duo take on ‘insane’ rides up mountain
Two cyclists will be scaling one of the Tour de France’s toughest peaks four times in 24 hours – on a tandem – for the Bath Rugby Foundation. Dave Bowler, 30, and Will Trick, 26, are taking on the challenge of cycling up the four different routes on Mont Ventoux on August 1. The mountain is known as the Beast of Provence in cycling circles and tackling it is the equivalent of climbing over 6,000m - the height of Mount Kilimanjaro. Dave said: “The aim is to complete what is known as the Galérien which involves us ascending and descending the three main asphalted sides of the mountain as well as ascending the forest road. “In total we will be cycling around 183km.” Will said: “When discussing the challenge with other cyclists there has been a lot of scepticism about whether what we are attempting to do is possible and a lot of questions were raised about our sanity. “I think that in itself makes up one of the reasons we have chosen this challenge.” The duo are in training and can be seen regularly cycling up and down Ralph Allen Drive in Bath, which has a similar gradient to Mont Ventoux... but is considerably shorter. Dave said: “The reason why we are putting ourselves through this is to help raise as much money as possible for the Bath Rugby Foundation. Having both helped over the years at the charity we really wanted to do something big in 2019 that would help change lives and this is why the challenge Mandem on a Tandem was born.” To sponsor the pair, visit https:// bathrugbyfoundation.com/ Appeal/mandem-on-a-tandem.