EACH's Press & Media Officer Lindsey Newton shares her experience of taking part in Ride for Life this year...
I’ve spent the past few months writing countless articles and press releases urging people to sign-up for the EDP Ride For Life. I’ve set up photocalls and made people get on bikes (many of whom haven’t been in the saddle for years), encouraged families who access EACH services, and EACH staff, to tell their stories, pestered event organisers for quotes and information at the last minute and even got them into the studio for radio interviews at ungodly hours.
The hard work paid off, as more than 1,100 people took part in the EDP Ride For Life on May 15, 2011, but I felt it was only fair if I practiced what I had been preaching, and got in the saddle too.
I decided to take on the 19 mile on-road route, and bought a bike-rack for the occasion, pumped up my tyres and put on my bike helmet (which all participants should wear). After a briefing about the ride, which included a route map, safety and registration information, a group of four of us headed off at 8:40am. 
A staggered start meant there was plenty of room, which was handy in my case as my spatial awareness probably isn’t always as good as it should be. After passing the spectators on the village green, we crossed the bridge over the Little Ouse River and were instantly in the open countryside.
The ride was diverse; we cycled routes through fields, the forest, village centres and farms and saw pigs with their piglets, pheasants, rabbits and many other birds along the way.
The route was well-signposted, with signs and arrows at the side of the road and on the road itself.
The marshals were excellent- pointing us in the right direction, smiling and giving words of encouragement. The route mainly followed small country roads, with little if any traffic, but there were a couple of the bigger roads. In the main, motorists were courteous, and waited for us to peddle along before over-taking. One patient driver, who we thought was parked at the side of the road, waited for 10mins while we crawled up the hill, before 
continuing with their journey- so thank you!
Half-way through we stopped at the drinks station where a marshal checked us in. This information was then relayed to the registration team, so they could keep track of us.
We made good time- cycling the route in 1:45 mins. And despite telling the rest of the group, all of which were men except me, that it wasn’t a race, they sprinted to the finish-line leaving me trailing, even though I had led the pack for the other 18 and a half miles.
I then collected my medal, which I wore the rest of the day, and went back to the registration marquee so they knew we were back safely. After a refreshment break, and a change of clothes, I assumed my Press and Media role once more, and went about taking photos and helping out where needed.
I had a 'wheeley' good time, and I shall definitely be back next year!
