Alan Shearer Gets on His Bike

spen666

Cycling Gets Positive Publicity

Shearer's going to Newcastle

BBC presenter Adrian Chiles will be cycling 350 miles in one-and-a-half days for Sport Relief 2008, which launches today. The Match Of The Day 2 and One Show host will join other celebs to support the charity which has raised £50million for underprivileged children. Here Adrian, 40, explains why he’s making the gruelling trip with Newcastle and England legend Alan Shearer.

PROFESSIONAL cyclists have my utmost sympathy.

I’ve discovered that biking for long periods has an adverse effect on the male reproductive organ – it goes numb.

I’m also walking like John Wayne and have come to appreciate the truth behind that term “saddle sore”.

Although several hours of training a week for a 350-mile ride from Newcastle to London is tough, it’s all for Sport Relief.

At the last event in 2006, a massive £18million was raised for charity, so I’m really pleased to be on board.

The idea for the bike ride came when Alan Shearer and I were filming Match Of The Day 2.

Alan’s in good shape and he was telling me about how he’d taken up cycling.

I suggested we both do a long trip for Sport Relief and he was really excited about it.


Hell

Somehow everything came together and we’ll set off at 8am on Thursday, March 13 from St James’ Park in Newcastle, which is obviously one of Shearer’s old haunts.

We aim to arrive in the Sport Relief studio in London during the TV broadcast of the event on Friday, March 14.

I think there’s a five-hour sleeping break scheduled somewhere along the way, but otherwise we’ll be flat out.

Thanks to Sport Relief, I’m also travelling to Liberia in west Africa where I’ll be visiting projects which help the kids of the war-torn region.



When I studied English at Westfield College in London, a good friend called Ged Naughton left the UK to go to work there. He had all sorts of stories about what children were going through – from fighting in the army to getting limbs amputated. It sounded like hell on earth.

Naturally you don’t have to cycle 350 miles or fly to Liberia to help out. Participants are needed for the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile, which will raise much-needed cash.

Just £2 feeds an Indian street kid for a week. £15 schools a Zambian kid for a year.

Closer to home, £8.75 gives a young carer an hour’s tuition to increase their confidence.

So whether you’re paying with the soles of your feet or your hard-earned cash, get involved and let’s get the ball rolling for Sport Relief 2008.

Meredydd

He didn't say whether or not he falls off a lot.

stephec

Maybe he wouldn't expect anyone to ask stupid questions like that, especially if they looked at his knees as they asked it!

spen666

seems to be popular amongst former footballers - eg Shearer, Ian w, Jeff Thomas etc

Perhaps CTC, BC etc could build on this popularity amongst "respected" sporting celebrities.

Then of course there are the motor racing drivers who cycle

Ashley_R

Reckon Adrian will do it in double quick time, the thought of 350 miles with Shearer's droning voice as company is enough to make you get it over with ASAP!

Ste_S

Although several hours of training a week for a 350-mile ride from Newcastle to London is tough, it’s all for Sport Relief.

I hope that should be several hours of training a day and not a week, if not he's going to suffer.

ChrisLS

...that's a fair distance in a day and half, good luck to them both...

shockedsoshocked

I'd pay to see a race between Ian Wright and Shearer

Nuggs

ShockedSoShocked wrote:

I'd pay to see a race between Ian Wright and Shearer

Agreed!

I reckon Wrighty would have the edge on the climbs but Shearer would drop like a stone downhill...

wakemalcolm

Are both riding the full distance or is it a relay situation?