Our cycle challenges are an extremely effective way of fundraising and raising awareness - they are tremendous fun and most importantly raise significant sums of money. They are not open to anyone who is suffering from an eating disorder as that would clearly be detrimental to their health. They are aimed at those who want a challenge and who have a sense of adventure some of whom will specifically want to support the cause, but if, at the outset, they are naïve about it, by the end of the event they will have learned much. Previous challenges include Cycle Vietnam & Cycle Chile.

Support Research Into Eating Disorders
Cycle Madagascar 2005

Day 1


All arrived here safe and sound plus all our luggage much to our relief
and surprise! Flight very efficient but bumpy. Woke this morning to
glorious sunshine and the bike fitting is moving on apace. Hopefully
everyone's nuts and bolts will be in place by lunchtime so that we can all
enjoy the delights of down town Tana this afternoon.


Tomorrow we hit the potholes and are feeling quite excited if a little
apprehensive. Watch this space ......

Day 3 68km (20km off road) Tana - Lake Mantasoa

Police escort through Tana, jumping gears, grinding chains of new
bikes. Short off road to visit Royal tomb dating back to 17th
Centrury housed in what we thought was a wooden beach hut.

Clearly no MOT for vehicles as a speeding car 100 yards ahead shed its
wheel into paddy fields. Thankfully no one injured. Just around
corner tarmac still red hot from large truck that had completely
burned out.

Reminder of why we trained by very steep hill to lunch by noisy
quarry. Downhill after lunch until final 15km rough off road to hotel
at Lake Mantasoa.

Day 4 104km (19km off road) Lake Mantasoa - Andasibe

One of our longest days began in rain and mist over 13km of tough off
road - steep nippy hills. Thereafter mainly tarmac winding through
lush forest and bamboo in heavy drizzle. Locals intrigued by
phenomenon of digital cameras, lycra and space age cycle helmets.

Arrived at Coq D'or Restaurant - steaming. Delicious lunch of
vegetable soup and chinese chicken and rice followed by custard tart.
Sun finally emerged and we experienced gentle undulations through lush
countryside for 25km which whizzed by. After regrouping we had 8km of
tough off road to our hotel where, with a couple of involuntary
dismounts at dodgy wooden bridge ending with a vicious little hill,
rum cocktails at the bar of Hotel Vakona were very welcome!

Before supper we embarked on a lemur hunt in the National Park. Mouse
lemurs were hard to find - the Cornish farmer was the first to spot
one with the help of a full moon. The guides pointed out stick
insects, chameleons (the smallest in the world!) and tree frogs firmly
stuck to leaves and twigs.

Day 5 Andasibe - Lake Rasoa 89 km (10km tough off road)

Day dawned in glorious sunshine. After an early breakfast we retraced
our off road ride to Andasibe Nature Reserve for a one and a half hour
trek through rain forest in search of Indri Lemurs. We spotted 4 high
up in the trees and towards the end of the trek 2 western woolly
lemurs huddled together for their day time sleep. Highlight of the
morning was the sight of a large chameleon who posed patiently for
photos.

Our journey continued with a descent of 1900 metres through lush
countryside dotted with Ravinella Palm and eucalyptus. Very sharp
bends and on one particularly steep corner a driver had misjudged it
and over turned his lorry!

Picnic lunch in typical Malagasy back yard sitting on piles of logs
and leaning against mounds of ripening bananas.

Bikes were loaded onto a lorry for transfer to avoid dismal town of
Brickaville.

To complete the day's ride we rode over rough, sandy undulating off
road for 7km to Lake Rosoa. On arrival at the hotel bikes were
abandoned and many people threw caution to the wind and plunged in!
The water was much warmer than the showers we had later on!

We slept in delightful, traditional Malagasy cabins together with
intermittent electricity, cold water and fun!! Local musicians
serenaded us at dinner!

Day 6 104km (7km off road) Lake Rosoa - Toamasina

Torrential rain greeted the dawn with a long hard grind of tough up
and down off road. Still drizzling we pounded the tarmac, heads down,
teeth gritted. First refreshments at local school where we caused
great excitement giving novelty balloons and filming.

A tiny wooden church, with christmas decorations still up, provided
seating for lunch.

Rain ceased and burning sun escorted us over undulating tarmac road to
Toamasina. We regrouped at a garage on the outskirts and we cycled
through the bustling port to our faded colonial hotel next to the
beach that had seen better times.

No swimming in the sea because of sharks but an incongruous olympic
sized pool enabled us to cool down in safety.

Day 7 68km (8km off road) Toamasina - Foulpointe(Mahavelona)

Quieter day starting with a visit to Zoological Park to see more
lemurs, some in captivity for breeding project.

Our journey continued with a hot ride along a coastal road,
negotiating floating bridges to our lunch stop on the beach - no
swimming because of sharks and huge waves - before finally heading to
our resting place at Manda Beach Hotel. Still enough energy for table
tennis competition which was won by the feisty Scotts lass!

Day 8 45km Foulpointe - Fenerive

Half day enabled some to play golf, Madagascian style, balls and golf
clubs pre-war, total membership 18, others to snorkle or relax by the
pool.

After delicious buffet lunch 40km of flat tarmac which took us to very
basic accommodation by the beach. Outside showers and loos with
intermittent electricity. Lots of candle lit rummaging as we made up
our 8 kilo bags for next stage of ride on Ile St. Marie.

Our al fresco dinner, interrupted by rain, meant we had to relocate
rapidly to a small internal dinning room!! Retired to bed in bag
liners with bed bugs and cock roaches!!

Day 9 81 km (15km off road)

A very early start, accompanied by heavy drizzle, to be certain to
catch our afternoon ferry to Ile St. Marie. The fast pace enabled us
to cover the 66km in record time of 3 hours. This high level of
fitness gave us ample time to explore the seaside village where we had
our picnic amongst locals who were intrigued by Colin's magic tricks
to the spell bound children.

The bikes were precariously loaded onto a boat for transfer to Ile St.
Marie. Our boat negotiated large breakers to reach open sea, a
drenching worthwhile experience. Arrived at Ambodifotatra where we
reclaimed our bikes and cycled beside the sea to our relatively
comfortable accommodation on the beach. Hollowed out coconuts filled
with a delicious drink, decorated with hibiscus flowers greeted us.
Tempting sea, but caution required as sea bed covered in urchins. Rum
cocktails started off Nina's birthday celebrations!

Day 10 45km all off road Mahavelo circuit

Started in rain on very rough, bumpy sand and rocks. This rough
terrain caused several tumbles. Our very fit doctor fell twice but
insisted that the only things damaged were his ego and pride! The
Cornish farmer managed a tumble of 360 degrees which he almost
landed!! Andy, the professional threw up a 20ft spray of sand in his
attempts to get through it but to no avail, he had to resort to
pushing his bike like the rest of us!. Visited our local guides
plantation of spices and trees. Finally hitting tarmac we cycled for
a couple more kms before congregating to prepare for the final and
emotional completion of the challenge.

Champagne and flags, "grand prix" style greeted us at the top of the
very very last nippy hill. Lunch and a swim in an idyllic setting by
the sea was followed by a boat trip to whale watch and ultimately take
us back to our hotel at Mahevelo. A celebratory dinner including
hilarious entertainment by some members of the group ended the
challenge!

call Nina Jackson on 020 8748 5669 or

email: ried.madagascar@bikerider.com