14 April 2009

A firefighter from Aylesbury Fire Station is planning to cycle more than 90 miles on Saturday – without actually going anywhere!

Watch Manager Howard Pipkin, pictured above, will be riding a stationary bicycle at Friars Square Shopping Centre in Aylesbury to generate extra support for his forthcoming 1,500-mile sponsored cycle ride.

In June, Howard will set off from Aylesbury and travel through France and Andorra, finishing up in Torrevieja in Spain. The money he raises will be shared between The Fire Fighters Charity, Stoke Mandeville Hospital Eye Unit Appeal and the Andrew Peel Family Fund. Andrew was a friend of his who died suddenly last year, leaving behind a wife and two children.

On Saturday he will be riding his stationary bicycle from 10am to 4.30pm outside House of Fraser and BHS. “Just follow the whirring noise!” said Howard.

He added: “Stationary cycling not only helps raise awareness, but also helps with my training regime.

“Since September I have been cycling almost every day to help develop the right muscles to enable me to complete the challenge.

“I'm now thinking about trying to bring the mileage down a little, and will only be cycling every other day to ensure I’m at my peak in June and to give my legs a rest - they are very much looking forward to July!”

Howard recently cycled from Aylesbury to the Fire Service College in Gloucestershire - a journey of about 90 miles, including a number of hills - in six hours 45 minutes. He is confident that he will be able to beat this distance on Saturday - even though he won't actually be leaving the shopping centre!

If you aren't able to make it to Friars Square, Howard will be completing another stationary cycle ride on Saturday 9 May in Aylesbury’s Hale Leys Shopping Centre.

Howard has an online sponsorship page at www.justgiving.com/howardpipkin