You are here: Home > Cycling > 3431 mile challenge
I got the idea at a Leeds Palestinian Film Festival event - why not do a virtual ride to Gaza? Leeds to Gaza is 3431 miles, so I thought, well, 10 miles a day, if I start in January, I'll finish in December, just riding around locally. I've done long rides before - in 2015, I rode 927 miles over three months, to remember the British and Empire dead of WW1. Since 2021, each year, I have done a four or five day ride, 200 to 300 miles. In 2024, I raised money for Medical Aid for Palestinians ; I wanted to do that again - the need is so acute.
Throughout the year so far, the Gaza ceasefire has come and gone, and the parlous situation of the Palestinians there has only worsened, but MAP has been able to keep on working. Public awareness has increased, and I still hope for the senseless slaughter to stop soon.
I have a number of bikes, with 8 in working order, so decided that if possible, I would use a different bike from the one I used the day before. This stops me from using my electric bike all the time - I have to pedal but it is way easier!
How has it been? Well, to date, I have only missed 2 days of 230 - attending A&E (not me!) and travelling. I have to say, I'm not always super motivated to ride, but once I'm on the bike, it's ok; if my legs aren't happy, I just go slowly! Sometime in April, I realised that if I increased my daily mileage a little, I could finish on my 77th birthday, 5th October; I am on track for this. As you would expect from a retired maths teacher, I have a spreadsheet to record everything, and it is programmed to tell me the expected finish date. And here is a graph to show my progress so far - I'm at 2809 miles so far.
The fundraising is going well - I was confident that I would meet my target of £1000, and yes - it's now (7th August) at just over £4,500 with Gift Aid. I had a stall at Pudsey Carnival, which was excellent publicity and good for fundraising. I had the pleasure there of a visit from the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Abigail Katung!
I have publicised the ride on social media, on the local online newspaper, West Leeds Dispatch, the Canary website, and on BCB Radio. The bikes always have one or more A4 sized posters about the ride, and I have business cards printed with the ride details.
When I have a snack break, say on a towpath bench, the posters and the cards are a nice way to get the information across quickly. The bikes have mostly behaved some punctures, lots of broken spokes and a dead motor on the ebike (but I have a spare!), and a stolen saddle on my ancient road bike! I frequently ride on the Leeds Liverpool canal towpath - it's pleasant and safer than the roads! I have had numerous 'close passes' - don't drivers know they should be 5 feet away from me if they overtake? (Highway Code, rule 163!). To reach the towpath I have to go downhill - so to get home I have to climb back up! Obviously that is easy on the ebike, but harder on the others! I have only had to walk once, pushing the ebike when it had a puncture.s
Along the way I have met many well wishers, in person and on line they have been a great encouragement!
Saskia: So nice to meet you on the canal today, such an important cause - good luck with the rest!
Eirinn and Michael: Sorry our dog licked your ankles! But at least it made us see your sign.
Javeria Bibi: Keep up the great work and your voice for those suffering.
Tim Devereux, 7/08/25
Update, 12/09/25
Miles done: 3142.5 Miles remaining: 288.5 Days until 5th October: 23 Money raised: £5,348.33 (including Gift Aid)