News from Maurice Carroll, charity 'pedlathon'

15 September 2005

English Traffic Beats Former Bike Racer

Drivers not queuing for fuel this week may have come across and aged cyclist peddling between race circuits raising money for Arthritis research for children.

Maurice Carroll (60) is a former Grand Prix motor cycle rider who gave up racing in 1974 after breaking both feet at the Isle of Man TT. More than his fair share of thrills and spills has resulted in Osteoarthritis, but he recently took of cycle road racing at his home in France.

Bike riding has put him back on his feet after years of difficulty walking or even standing. Now he is riding laps of all the Grand Prix circuits where he raced and is even pedalling along some of the roads in between.

Half way though his marathon ride, he has completed the circuits at Castle Combe, Thruxton, Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Mallory Park, but, he says, that is just the easy part.

Said Maurice: "All the circuit owners have been fantastic and given me loads of support. At Silverstone, the Renault F1 team manager persuaded drivers, Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella to sign a charity hat for auction.

"The hard part is on the roads. In France, all drivers give every cyclist a wide berth, but here in UK the majority of drivers are impatient and just won't give cyclists space. It was particularly bad riding from Maidenhead to Oxford. After several near misses with 4x4s, I gave up and put the bike in the support car."

To make up for less time on the roads, Maurice will be increasing the number of laps at some circuits, after battling wind and rain at Snetterton on Wednesday evening. He now faces the tracks at Cadwell Park, Olivers Mount, Croft and Oulton Park.

For more details, see www.winerider.com.

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Further information from:
Maurice Carroll
tel: +33 (0) 5 49 29 47 05
Mobile: 079000 56591
maurice@winerider.com

Event sponsors:
Arthritis Research Campaign
Corinne Dennis Performance Cycle Clothing
Healthspan
Hoverspeed
TORQ Fitness
winedrive.com

The Squirrel Inn, Godalming, Surrey
Weston Manor Hotel, Weston on the Green, Oxfordshire
The Castle Hotel, Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire
Crosskeys Hotel, Hilgay, Nr Downham Market, Norfolk
Kenwick Park Hotel, Kenwick, Louth, Lincolnshire
The Cayeley Arms, Pickering, Yorks
Whashton Springs Farm, Richmond, York
Winsford Lodge, Winsford, Cheshire