Hardy #ride5000miles members begin to make big plans for New Year

While many head to the gym or start a ‘dry January’, in the New Year, #ride5000miles members are already setting their sights on realistic 2020 targets that will make a more lasting difference to their lives.

Iron Butt UK President, Phil Weston, 69, plans to pass the 200,000-mile mark on his five-year-old Triumph Tiger 800 to mark his 70th birthday.

With 31,000 miles left to go the Bristol-based freelance building manager has a number of European trips planned to reach his bum-numbing total.

These include Iron Butt ‘Ride to Eat’ events, where members from across Europe converge for a meal before returning home. Destinations vary from a trip to Holland in February to one to Solvenia in June.

“I tried to crack the 200k mile mark this year, but it was a bit too ambitious,” Phil told MCN. “I’ve done 25,000 miles this year and it’s now at 167,000. I’ll do a couple of thousand miles around the New Year, which leaves me around 31,000 miles to do in 2020.”

Phil is also hoping to raise £1000 for Children’s Hospice South West with, adding: “I’ve visited the hospice and the work they do is incredible.”

Another rider aiming to broaden his biking experiences in 2020 is Dr Steve Johnson, from Yorkshire, who bought his Triumph Tiger 800 XRX late last year after a lay off from bikes.

“It was just a sunny day towards the end of August or the beginning of September and I was overtaken by a number of bikes and I thought ‘I really miss that’,” he told MCN.

“I’m not very tall at all, so I took a Tiger out for a test ride and thought ‘This is perfect.’”

Now firmly back on two wheels, Steve plans to complete his RoSPA advanced motorcycle training, as well as take a two-up tour through France to The Pyrenees with his wife.

To donate to Phil’s cause, click here.

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