More Than 40 Old Farts Pedal From South Wales To Torquay This Weekend

The European Champions League final has come to Cardiff this weekend, but the Old Farts are pedaling out of town.

Gareth Bale and his Real Madrid team-mates take on Juventus, where John Charles is still idolised, will be in South Wales, while the Old Farts head over the Severn Bridge and keep cycling towards Torquay.

The group was formed in 2016 to set challenges and raise money for good causes, particularly local charities.

The Old Farts raised more than £25,000 cycling from Cardiff to Tenby (115 miles) a year ago – and now they are taking on a new and tougher challenge.

More than 40 riders, including three ladies in Kate Darcy, Liz Burge and Jess Morrick, will set off from Roath Park Rec at 6.30am on Friday morning, aiming to reach Torquay in two days (173 miles).

A big thank you from the Old Farts goes to Don Skene Cycles, Damian Harris and Cyclopedia for helping to ensure everybody’s bikes are safe.

Skene Cycles have donated 32 gels for the riders, while Overhang have given 44 drinks to the cause.

Tredz Cycles are also supporting the ride, while the Farts offer big thanks to Mark Bolwell and Jane Davies from Rumney Physiotherapy clinic for their help over the last few months .

More than 40 riders signed up to ride 173 miles from Cardiff to Torquay – the Old Farts are hitting the road again. The group includes a doctor, electricians, plumbers, tilers, carpenters and more.

St Joseph’s, St Albans and St Peters rugby clubs are all represented on the challenge.

Their ride is split over two days – almost 100 miles from Roath Park Lake to Taunton on the Friday and then the final 73 to Torquay the next day.

The four friends who started the OF challenge in 2016 are Alan Bozzola, 54, Garry Nyhan, 52, John Mulqueen, 51, and Paul Ring, 53. All of them are on the ride to Torquay.

They were unfit, overweight and hadn’t ridden a bike for three decades when they decided to go for that first challenge, but planned a 115-mile ride from Cardiff to Tenby – and achieved their goal of cycling down the main street in the West Wales town.

“A few of us decided we needed to get fitter and have a challenge in life,” said Paul Ring. “I suggested we aim for the cycle challenge but little did we know how it would grow. We called ourselves ‘The Old Farts’ because we were all over 50 and hadn’t cycled for many years.”

Little did the four pals know what they were starting when they chatted over a pint almost 18 months ago.