Steve Butcher
Age: I am 55 but think I can ride like a 20 something | Occupation: When I am not riding bikes, I am thinking about riding bikes. Sometimes my wife makes me do the washing up
What was your reason for wanting to ride the Trafalgar Way?
A challenge and training/ fitness test for TransIberica
How would you sum up your ride of the Trafalgar Way to a friend?
Tough through West Country, Devon, the last 100 odd km wasn’t my thing, a very boring road.
What was your most memorable part of the ride?
Sitting in McDonalds so exhausted that I couldn’t finish my Mc egg burger after riding through the night. The finish into London was nice. Good company on the ride from my new friend Tony!
What are your top 3 tips for anyone thinking of riding the Trafalgar Way?
1. don’t do it in 26 hours, it’s horrific.
2. have a decent amount of fitness and determination.
3. be prepared for a shock to the system as there is a lot of climbing and it isn’t over after Cornwall, the hills become shorter and steeper in Devon.
What are your top bits of equipment or kit you wouldn’t want to ride the Trafalgar Way without?
Wahoo Elemnt Sat Nav, superb piece of kit(they don’t pay me either), don’t use a Garmin as they are unreliable.
Chamois cream, definitely and a good pair of padded cycle shorts.
A good pair of strong legs (something I need to work on).
If riding overnight be prepared for cold/wet weather, I wore a Rab down gilet at one point.
What bike (make and model) and chainset / cassette set up did you ride the Trafalgar Way with (if available)?
Giant defy advanced 3, 50/34 and 12/28