KEEP CALM

and

Pedal4Progress

Once again we ride. Pedal4Progress the Morning Star cycling team are taking to the road in the 3^rd Edition of the annual cycling challenge that has already seen us raise over £15,000 for the paper by pedalling from ‘Coast To Coast’ and last year’s London to Paris epic.

Organiser and rider Les Doherty explained. ‘I’m really excited about this year’s challenge. There is more to it than in previous years. The format has been developed, we have a theme which runs through each stage, we’ve widened the participation and unlike previous editions we have mapped our own routes’.

The core group of riders have already completed some valuable team training by cycling the 150K round trip to the Big Red Picnic at the Clarion Café earlier this month and all putting in some tough hill climbing in preparation for the challenge.

This year’s format is a two part sportive over consecutive weekends in July and includes a two day ride from Liverpool to Durham a one day ride down from Bradford to Manchester. A third stage in London is still under discussion and the team hope our efforts will inspire London based riders and Morning Star supporters to organise something similar.

Each stage pays tribute to some of the labour movement’s key battles and honours some of our outstanding class fighters. Liverpool to Durham will conclude at the Durham Miners Gala 30 years on from the NUM’s historic battle against pit closures and pay tribute to Merseyside ‘Giant’ Sam Watts, one of the papers most respected organisers. Les went on to say ‘we’ve designed a 240K route which will be a real challenge for the team, even seasoned riders may struggle, especially the second day with the cruel terrain of the Yorkshire Dales to negotiate’

The Bradford to Manchester stage rides in the name of the ‘Harry Pollitt Brigade’ in recognising his outstanding contribution to the class struggle as leader of the Communist Party. The route will pick up on the roads around Oldham which were used by workers who march into Manchester on the way to their slaughter at Peterloo. This route is less demanding, it is only around 80K in total and has a 25K section along a canal tow path. ‘We have had lots of interest from people wanting to join us this year and the Sam Watts Brigade was oversubscribed. It was right to broaden participation for this stage and design a route that would encourage riders of all abilities and fitness levels to join us for the day.

The two rides have been organised in co-operation between Merseyside, Manchester and Bradford Morning Star Supporters groups and have once again captured the themes through the progressive artworks of Hazel Roberts

Sam Watts Brigade will roll out from the Unite headquarters in Liverpool on Thursday 9^th July and follow a short tribute ride around some of Sam’s only Morning Star route before riding on to Carnforth for an overnight stop. The following day will see the team arrive in Durham in time for pre-gala reception host by the Institute of Employment Rights at the NUM office.

On 18^th July the Harry Pollitt Brigade will assemble at the steps of Bradford Town Hall. This was where the cycling communist Walter Greaves completed his world endurance record in 1936. The group will then follow the Calder Valley through to Manchester. Completing the 3^rd Edition with a rally at the Working Class Movement Library and a social at the Kings Arms Salford.

We are all ready to go and looking forward to riding in support of the Morning Star again. This year we set a modest target of £3,000 to raise for the paper and look like we are well on the way to meet this. However if more riders can join us for all or part of the Bradford – Manchester and if we can finalise a Third stage in London then we can surpass this target and help keep our paper going for another 85 years. We recognise the valuable role the paper plays and want to give something back. These cycle challenges are our way of doing that.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the group can contact us through twitter @pedal4progress or pedal4progress@wordpress.com for further details. If you are interested in joining us on the Harry Pollitt Brigade or our London ride contact Les Doherty on 07733 266 307 by 6^th July to secure a place on the ride.