‘Old farts’ get on their bikes to help good causes
FOUR months ago they were unfit and hadn’t ridden a bike for three decades. Today, they are cycling 70 miles a week and can’t move for Lycra.
A group of friends in their 50s from Cardiff have saddled up again to raise funds for local causes associated with St Joseph’s and St Peter’s rugby clubs.
The Old Farts Cycling Club, launched by four former rugby players from the clubs, are pedalling 115 miles from Cardiff to Tenby next month and have already raised more than £3,000 of their £9,000 target.
“The majority of us are retired rugby players who, four months ago, were unfit and, generally speaking, overweight,” admitted member John Mulqueen, 50.
Last time they rode bikes regularly, Choppers were all the rage and Bradley Wiggins wasn’t born.
Now, engineer John and his mates Paul Ring, 52, Alan Bozzola, 53, Garry Nyhan, 51, and Andrew Walsh, who’s also over 50, have state-of-the-art road bikes and all the latest equipment.
“I don’t think any of us had ridden a bike since we were 15,” John said.
“We were rivals on the pitch but we’re friends now and were looking for something to do for good causes.
“If you saw us the first time we went out it was like when we were 15, we turned up in trainers on old bikes. Now you can’t move for Lycra, we’re all taking the right nutrition and bought new equipment.
“We used to ride Choppers and bikes you’d be lucky to have gears on. Now, we have bikes with 30 gears.”
Training about 70 miles a week, the friends have opened up the club to other older cyclists in their bid to raise £9,000 when they cycle to Tenby on June 10. More than 30 people are expected on the ride which will have its own doctor and support team.
All money raised from the Old Farts Cardiff to Tenby Cycle will be divided equally between three causes associated with the rugby clubs’ founder members are retired from.
They aims to raise funds to send 20-year-old muscular dystrophy patient Ross Taylor on holiday. Ross, the son of John Taylor, who also played for both rugby clubs, can’t fly any more so they hope to pay for him and his family to go on a cruise.
Money will also be raised for THRIVE, a charity that helps disabled children through gardening and play, on behalf of Mackenzie Foley who has learning difficulties and whose father Marc is a former St Joseph’s player.
The third cause is on behalf of Cath Simpson whose father Steve Cooper is an ex-St Peter’s player.
Cath has recently developed motor neurone disease and some money raised from ride will be given to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
“It’s all got bigger than we intended and we are getting really excited about it now and training every weekend,” said John.
■ For more information and to donate visit www.gofundme.com/bqn9mu5s