An individual doesn’t need to be an experienced professional cyclist to embark upon a charity cycling challenge. Just ask Edouard Bale. TOM OGG reports
THERE are many people who take part in cycling challenges, whether to raise funds for charity, for their own personal health and fitness, or both.
More often than not such individuals will be cycling pros, as likely to be found whizzing around the Island in skin-tight lycra gear as they are riding from Lands’ End to John o’ Groats on a cutting-edge aerodynamic road bike.
Edouard Bale, however, is, by his own admission, something of an exception to the rule.
The Jersey-born twentysomething has this week set off on a mammoth fundraising challenge, cycling solo from Jersey to Istanbul over a period of months, and raising a proposed £2,200 for Alzheimer’s Research UK in the process.
Yet Edouard – or Ed as he is known – is far from a diehard cycling enthusiast, replying “nah, not really” when asked if bikes are a personal passion. Instead, he is embarking upon the challenge with an endearing play-it-by-ear mentality, as if he were cycling to St Ouen and back rather than travelling almost 2,000 miles to the largest city in Turkey.
“The furthest I have ever previously ridden in one go is about 70 kilometres,” he says, chatting from France immediately prior to setting off on his Jersey to Istanbul challenge.
“Initially, I was planning to cycle to Croatia, which would be about 2,000km, but then I thought, well, that is basically halfway to Istanbul so if I’m going that far then I might as well just keep going. I thought it’ll be nice cycling across Europe once I get into the rhythm of it – so why not just go for it?”
The first week of the challenge will see Ed “easing himself into it” by stopping with friends and relatives in and around France (“I’m half-French and so my grandma and other people I know live over there”), after which he will be more or less improvising, often using warmshowers.org in order to seek out overnight accommodation in the various countries, towns, cities and villages through which he cycles.
“Warmshowers is an online app that people who are travelling can use to find hosts and somewhere safe to stay, although I’m going to be doing a fair amount of wild camping as well,” he says.
“I’m aiming to be back in Jersey by Christmas, or at least that’s the current goal. [laughs] I haven’t fully worked out the whole route, but I think it going to be around 4,000km – assuming I don’t get too lost.”
As this implies, Ed isn’t a hugely experienced traveller, while cycling has hitherto been an occasional hobby rather than a dedicated lifestyle choice.
“This has been the first time I have ever even bought a proper pair of cycling shorts,” he says with a laugh.
“I did a little bit of cycling during Covid-19 lockdown, but nothing more than maybe 20 or 30km a day. No more than that.”
Likewise, the bike on which Ed will be cycling to Istanbul is one that his parents bought him for his 16th birthday: “It’s probably not the right bike to do a challenge like this but I’m going to repurpose it, maybe make a few DIY adjustments, and try to make it into more of a road bike. Something I can rely on to get me there.”
Raised in St Clement, Ed spent his teenage years attending Sherborne Boys School in Dorset, and it was here that the seeds of his future cycling challenge were first formed.
“I was in the school’s Lyon House and some of the students there did a cycle ride from Lyon to Léon in France, and all in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital.
“I was, I think, 14 at the time, and so I was too young to take part, but I remember thinking even then that it was a really cool idea. I thought ‘I’d like to give that a go’. Of course, they did it with a lot of support and with hotel stays and so on, whereas I’m doing it all solo.”
Despite his laidback approach to the challenge, Ed is wholly aware of the severity of the task that lies ahead.
“Oh, I know this is definitely going to be one of the hardest things I’ll ever have to do. It will be enjoyable to see how far I can push my body, but it’s also going to be tough.”
As mentioned, the Jersey to Istanbul challenge will see Ed raising funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK, a charity which he describes as “very close to my heart”.
“My grandmother – who passed away earlier this year – suffered from Alzheimer’s, and it’s such a terrible illness. It is more than just memory loss – it takes away independence, relationships and dignity. Like so many others, I’ve seen how it affects families. Seeing my grandmother so confused was awful, although I will forever be grateful that she didn’t forget us.
“My grandad also suffers from Alzheimer’s and to watch his brain gradually deteriorate has been hard on the whole family. The confusion gets worse day by day and all we can do is watch.”
To this end, Ed has set up a page on Gofundme.com – Jersey to Istanbul by Bike for Alzheimer’s Research – to which those who want to support him can donate.
“I’ll be honest, I was a little bit nervous earlier in the week, just thinking about how it is suddenly right around the corner,” he says. “But mostly I’m feeling pretty good about the challenge. I’m all packed and ready to go.”
