Yes, they’re still smiling after 50 miles!

The team with Daley Thompson, Olympic Gold Medallist, on arrival in Bristol after the first 50 miles!

Friday’s leg – update from the route

Day 2 – Bristol to Bracknell .  A mere 100 mile saunter on the bikes!

At 12 noon, Robin Leaver, Greggs Retail Operations Manager and 900 miler writes:

“In Devises, near Bath, 40 miles down, 60 to go.  Got a sore bum”

At 14:42, Robin writes:

“Just short of Hungerford, 62 miles gone.  Bum REALLY sore now!”

Filled with Pride…and bananas!

Ken Mcmeikan, Greggs Chief Executive writes:

Wow, what a special day yesterday was! The team at Treforest Bakery did a remarkable job in preparing a magnificent send off and even managed to organise bright sunshine and temperatures of 22 degrees.

As the enthusiastic cyclists, all in their white riding shirts, set off in a line I just felt the most enormous sense of pride and appreciation for our people. They are wonderful and those who weren’t joining us on a bike were cheering and encouraging us on so brilliantly that you just felt you mustn’t let them down.

As we gently set off on the bikes laughing and joking about the challenge ahead the severity of the first hill hadn’t really dawned on us. Needless to say the reality of the bike ride really sunk in half way up the steep first hill when the heart rate had rocketted and the lungs were screaming to stop!

Having conquered the first hill though and eaten a banana (Richard having told us to eat little and often or else!) I felt re-energised and full of belief that I could complete the whole first leg to Bristol. After 37 miles the sight of the bridge leading us back into England was like “an oasis in the desert” and as a Scotsman I’d never have thought I’d be saying that! but with the bridge in sight and the wind behind our backs pushing us on we finally made it for a photocall on the bridge.

At this point a number of the riders had completed their personal challenges and left a small core of riders to complete the final 12 miles to Bristol. It was a moment of mixed feelings – shared joy that we’d all made it to the bridge but sad that we were now saying goodbye to our cycling comrades!

Unfortunately for me this now meant that the cycling machine that is Robin Leaver decided it was time we accelerated the pace and whilst Scott and I desperately tried to stay with Robin he went so fast that all three of us missed a vital turning and cycled on for 2 or 3 miles before the support car came hurtling after us and told us we’d gone the wrong way! Not the news we wanted to hear but I’d already had another banana so at least the energy levels were still high even if momentarily the spirit was low.

We turned back, got on the right road and tried to catch the others up! Richard, being the gentleman and great support that he always is had waited for us a few miles on but as we cycled towards him he did have that look on his face that you see from time to time that says “I know I am smiling and saying to you it doesn’t matter that you went the wrong way BUT you are a load of wallies!” So off we went with only 3 miles left to go and I have to admit it was the longest 3 miles ever!

Finally we arrived at the finish line to be greeted byRichard’s warm, smiling MUM and DAD two of the nicest people you are ever likely to meet. I told them what a wonderful son they have and that he has inspired us all to undertake the Great Bakery Bike Ride and that we were all proud of him. What I didnt say was that my back, my legs, my neck, my wrists and a couple of other parts of my anatomy were not so thankful! 

I said to Robin and Richard as I parted for my car that I wasn’t going to wish them good luck because I know they don’t need it. They are both in great shape and I know they can do the full distance. What I did say was that I simply wanted them to look after themselves and each other and that I would see them in Leeds next Wednesday for the next leg that I would be joining them on – GOD HELP ME!

The first leg…

Roisin Currie, Greggs People Director writes:

Well what a day it was!

I woke with butterflies in my tummy that didn’t leave until I finally set off at 3pm on The Great Bakery Bike Ride!

I was really worried that I would struggle to get up the hill outside our Treforest bakery so would have to declare defeat before I’d even set off.  I started to feel cross with myself for not having completed more training since I bought my bike 5 weeks ago! 

…but the challenge was set so I had to just get on and try my best! 

What did the day turn out to be like:

I met and cycled with the most fantastic group of people from Greggs!  The organisation and teamwork at the bakery was absolutely amazing!  The kids from the local Greggs Breakfast Club school were just lovely and very supportive. 

We had the most amazing support teams along the bike ride that made sucha difference to our motivation and energy levels by always encouraging us and handing out bananas and water, including Talia, who volunteered to drive my car to the Severn bridge, saving me an hour on my journey home!

I received 1 to 1 coaching from Daley Thomson on using my gears properly on the bike to make the ride as easy as possible, as well as some lovely chats with him along the route!

I received bucket loads of encouragement from everyone I met!….. and because of all this, I completed the 38 miles to The Severn Bridge, and felt I could have continued all the way to Bristol!

What did I learn from yesterday’s first ride?  For me, it proved that with support of a great team and with everyone willing to play a key role, anything is possible. It proved that Greggs is a business where the people TRULY live the Values!  I couldn’t be prouder or feel more privileged to be part of the Greggs team!

Thank you to everyone who has been involved, supported, organised, donated or cycled in the first leg, and GOOD LUCK to those cycling in the next 9 days.  I can’t wait to take part in the Cumbrian leg of the cycle – wow, what a difference a day makes! 

Roisin

Day 1 – The start line

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The start line….only 900 miles to go!

And they’re off…!!

After weeks of practice rides, route planning, munching on protein bars (no chocolate ones left, blame Ken, the Chief Executive) and a logistics plan from Richard Penna that would rival the Olympics,  the cyclists start their journey!!

And didn’t our team at our Treforest Bakery do us proud…a huge THANK YOU for the amazing start line party.  We had 65 children from the Cefn Primary School, Glyncoch, one of our Greggs Breakfast Clubs; a ‘fun bus’ London bus with games and activities; face painting; clown balloon modelling; lots of delicious Greggs food and a raffle of 3 mountain bikes, kindly donated by Coca Cola. 

Very special thank you’s to Adam Yates, Dale Humphries, Andrew Picton, Rhian Hill, John Peters, Alex Marchant and Russell Gower for all your hard work in organising the start line party.

Greggs also welcomed Olympic Gold medallist, Daley Thompson, for the first leg (50 miles) with the team.  Daley said “I am really looking forward to the ride.  It’s a great idea and the least I could do to help out and hopefully help raise money for these fantastic charities.”  When asked if holding an Olympic Gold medal gave Daley any significant advantage over the Greggs team he replied “Well gold is heavier so I’ll probably be slower than the Greggs guys!” 

The cyclists left Treforest at 3 pm, cheered on by the schoolchildren and serenaded by our TV ad theme tune ‘If I knew you were coming I’d have baked a cake…’

But will they still be singing after 300 miles in the next 3 days?  Watch this space to find out!!

Finance Director takes cost control to the extreme

It’s going to take longer than 10 days….

2 days to go and still smiling….

The Great Bakery Bike Ride team:

l-r: back: Robin Leaver (Retail Operations Manager), Rod Wood (Trading Director), Raymond Reynolds (Retail Director), Jonathan Jowett (Company Secretary), Richard Hutton (Finance Director), Scott Jefferson (Customer & Marketing Director), Martin Kibler (Business Development Director)

l-r: front: Pudsey, Nigel Oldham (Supply Chain Director), Ken McMeikan (Chief Executive)

Roisin Currie (People Director) is out practising to get a head start!

Something funny happened on the way to…

Jonathan Jowett, Greggs Company Secretary writes:

Something funny happened on the way to…

Damascus? No, my lightning bolt stuck on the Biddulph Valley Way en route to Congleton. The first time I had been on a traffic free cycle route, and it forms a part of the route that the team will follow on day 5. Cycling through the woods at 0800 last Saturday morning, I thought to myself “bloody hell….I’m enjoying this”. Mind you, I had yet to tackle the “hills” that lowland Cheshire has to offer on the route around said Congleton and Macclesfield.

Its funny what you think about when you are left to your own devices on the open road. Not all the thoughts are pleasant, as the flies started to gather in my mouth”! (Note to self – breath through nose when cycling), and my mind wandered to a track from an all time favourite album. The line from the track is “And I’m hovering like a fly, waiting for the windshield on a freeway!”. (I will donate £10 to the ride fund if anyone can name the band and album and year (without the aid of a search engine)).

So there I was cycling through sunny Cheshire, having coped with the hill out of Congleton Park, and heading for Macc. To my shame, I then got a bit lost in Macc, but I blame the signage for the National Cycle Route 55. Eventually I found the Middleton Way, an 8 mile disused railway to Marple (the end of day 5 stop over). I positively whizzed along, and for the very first time I OVERTOOK SOME OTHER CYCLISTS!) AT SPEED!.

My plan was to turn around, come back down the Middleton Way, stop off at Tesco for a sandwich, then head back to Holmes Chapel. By the time I got to Tesco in Macc, I had done 48 miles, and was feeling the pace. To make matters worse, a headwind got up as I headed west. And the doubts set in, and I wondered, “WHY”?

Its fair to say, by the time I got home, I was absolutely shattered, but nonetheless pleased with myself having done 60.3 miles (the 0.3 is as important as the 60!!).

Last Monday, I had the opportunity to find out “WHY”, when I visited my first Breakfast Club. The kids were an absolute delight, and the pleasure they got from having breakfast together in a secure environment was a pleasure to behold in itself.

So if you think we are mad (particularly Richard), we are, but it is in a very very good cause. So come on, PLEASE SPONSOR US IF YOU HAVENT ALREADY.”

The final training ride…

Richard Hutton, Greggs Finance Director writes:

Here’s to the Northern Rock Cyclone, my final training ride on Saturday. What a beast that was, 104 miles that seemingly picked out every decent hill in Northumberland. And cattle grids – not what you need after 70+ miles in the saddle! Anyway, it really was the most beautiful route and well done to everyone who took part. My recovery began with a steak and mushroom bake, thank goodness for Greggs late opening at Stamfordham Road, Newcastle.  Felt really drained that evening but settled down to watch the England game. I saw the first goal go in and then fell fast asleep for the rest of the match. Did I miss anything?