Crezz holding his Route Map
An active Member of GoldWings North West, Adrian Cresswell, known as Crezz (soon to Iron Butt Crezz) will be leading a team from GoldWings North West to take part in the second RBLR 1000 mile endurance ride in support of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
In October 2008, the Royal British Legion Riders Branch (RBLR) came up with the idea of breaking the world record for the largest number of riders completing a 1000 miles ride in less than 24 hours, all starting and finishing at the same place. The RBLR1000 was born and it’s being repeated this year!
The inaugural Event started from Squires Cafe, near Leeds, in June 2009. The 1000 mile ride was done using one of two routes, a Northern Route into Scotland or a Southern Route taking in the West Country. There were 162 riders and 9 pillions who completed the ride, which would have smashed the world record if the Americans hadn’t pipped them to the post. However the Event did break both the European and UK records and so far has raised over £33,000 for the Poppy Appeal.
This year there is the same gruelling requirement to complete 1,000 miles in less than 24 hours using either a Northern or Southern circular route starting and finishing at Squires Cafe, the popular biker’s meeting place, just north east of Leeds in Yorkshire, which will get you an Iron Butt Certificate as well as the opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause. Riders are encouraged to raise sponsorship from their friends as well as registering themselves.
Crezz's 1000 mile Route
Endurance riding of this kind has become popular in UK in recent years, following a style pioneered in the States. There is now an Iron Butt Association in UK and riding the RBLR1000 will qualify you for one of their Certificates.
GoldWings which have been properly serviced can easily cope with a challenge of this sort, even the older ones, but can the riders?
Riding in company helps and there is plenty of advice on the RBLR1000 Website, which includes a Forum, about how plan your ride and keep going. The Event is timed for the longest day of the year and therefore also the shortest period of darkness, but even so riding safely through the unavoidable 6 hours or so of darkness you will encounter is said to be one of the more difficult aspects – and planning your start time to avoid riding on roads where you might encounter deer wandering into your path is also part of the challenge. Crezz is planning to take one of the Northern Routes, which takes you up to John O’Groats and back.
This Event is not for the feint-hearted and nor for those with tender nether regions – at least unless they have the luxury of a GoldWing to do it on. This is therefore an opportunity for Wingers to extract real envy from riders of mere sports bikes. Be charitable Wingers, give the sports bike jockeys a nice wave as you ride on by while they stand at the roadside, rubbing frantically to get the circulation back into their buttocks.
Have you got what it takes? Would you like to ride this challenge or support it by sponsoring Crezz or his team? Either way Crezz would be delighted to hear from any Winger who would like to ride along or offer sponsorship and you can ring him on 07874 222 352.
And you’re right –...
So I am now in a gang. Well I never!! I will look at All the solo’s when they are tired trying to hold their bikes up – when I just carry on ….3 wheels will never fall over! I will take some Preparation H for any rider needing it. Yes, the GoldWing is the right tool for the job. Do we need patches making to be in Crezz’s Gang/Team?
You’re very quick off the mark with your Comment – and in my view very brave to want to do this Ride. You’ll have to ask Crezz whether there are any uniform rules or initiation ceremonies. I’m just the guy who’s helping to publicise it but isn’t brave enough to do it himself. It’s the risk of dozing off during the small hours that frightens me; I know from car driving when I’m tired that I can’t rely on recognizing when it’s about to happen and I wouldn’t want that to happen to me on a bike or a trike. I suppose you could brief Toni to clout you round the ear if you start snoring as well as wandering but that will only work if she’s not already asleep!
Even if you aren’t able to join us, then maybe anyone interested could sponsor us, donations more than welcome for the very worthy Poppy Appeal.
“The Legion’s mission is to safeguard the welfare, interests and memory of those who are serving or have served in the Armed Forces”
OK, you’re on. I’ll sponsor you – and I’ll throw in a tube of Preparation H just in case.
Thank you Stuart but with Toni, yes she will hit me but its the ribs!! a sharp punch will get the desired effect plus she is a VERY GOOD map reader/follower so will be in good hands. Why don’t you organise to ride with us part of the way is that an idea?? sort of a send off or welcome back….
If anyone wants to donate then follow this link:
http://www.justgiving.com/Adrian-Crezz-Cresswell
Thanks.
We are still looking for people to sponsor us, please.
http://www.justgiving.com/Adrian-Crezz-Cresswell
We are still looking for more sponsorship please
http://www.justgiving.com/Adrian-Crezz-Cresswell
Don’t be shy guys.
If people are still unsure what the Poppy appeal does, watch this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tIz3iYKdT0&feature=player_embedded#!
Three weeks tomorrow and then we do it, can’t wait.
Still hoping for some more sponsors please.
Well we have just one week to go before we take on this epic ride.
All our plans seem to have come together, well hopefully and everyone is now geared up to do what will be a fantastic journey, not just physically, but mentally.
I know you will all be sick of me saying, but if you haven’t sponsored us then please consider doing it now.
Many thanks,
The Team
We have done it.
Sorry for the delay in updating everyone, but been to bed for a few hours then when got up went for a BBQ and just come back.
We left at 0532hrs on Sat 19 Jun, and got back at , wait for it………..05………….02hrs on Sun. Just 30 minutes to spare, it was close.
It will be take a while for me to explain what happened, and I will in the next few days, just need to get my head round it all.
Just like to finish with thanks for all the support I have had from you all here.
God bless.
Well done Crezz and Team! Steve Fox & Lynne, Dave & Toni, Jimmy Melia and Ted Rogerson riding with Chris Beatie as his passenger.
Ted turned up at Scorton just after lunch on Sunday and we arranged for him to do a lap of honour of the Show Ring. He did quite well for extra sponsorship too because we were able to make an announcement on the PA. He graciously and modestly accepted the attention of hordes of fawning nubile wenches on behalf of all of you. His nickname has now changed to Tactile Ted.
So a terrific effort, especially to stay together, supporting each other, all the way around.
Thanks Stuart for your kind words.
Looking forward to next year and doing it all again.
Please uncle Crezz can we go south next year.
Pleaseeeeee
On Sat 18th June I will be doing this all over again, along with Mike my son in law riding pillion. It doesn’t seem like 5 minutes ago since we last did it.
This time I will be the only one from Goldwings Northwest undertaking this ride. If anyone is interested in sponsoring us then visit here to make a donation http://www.justgiving.com/Crezz-RIDERS-RBLR1000-JUNE2011 Thanks.
Hopefully you’ll have the company of other Wingers at some stage and I’m sure we all wish you every success.
Hi All, I also did this ride (Anti-clockwise) on my GL1800. Actually completed it in just over 18 hours and raised around £400 for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. This was my second year of doing it, last year being on a ST1300 and completing it in around 20 hours…..says a lot for the Wing! She was a lot more comfortable and obviously did not require the number of stops that I had last year. One guy actually did it on a Honda C90. Fantastic! (Might have to trade my trusty wing in for one of them next year – I think not, you don’t get the music system ha ha). Anyway there were a total of 7 Goldwings that completed it this year, so come on guys lets show the Royal British Legion Riders what we can do next year!