On 11th September 2011 six brave ladies stepped up and represented St. Margaret’s in a once in a lifetime cycling experience. The event, aptly named Cycletta, is a challenging though equally rewarding 40 km cycle ride, starting and finishing at Whipsnade zoo just 20 minutes north of London. The race’s turnout was admirable, with 800 confident women arriving on the day, dressed head to toe in the latest cycling accessories, all eager to test what two or three months of hard work and preparation would amount to. There was a distinct sense of apprehension in the air though, as 80 percent of the participants were entering a cycling event for the very first time. All of the St. Margaret’s team were amateur entrants themselves, although they were not strangers to challenging cycles, regularly battling Richmond Park, often once or twice a week.

The race began at 9 am sharp and everyone set off quickly. They soon slowed down though; realising 40 km was in fact a marathon and not a sprint. The race went off without a hitch (aside from a few bumps and bruises) and was thoroughly enjoyed by the majority of participants. It was a picturesque course winding through small towns and villages and up and down the undulating hills of England’s ancient landscape. There were many invaluable sites to be seen; the best possibly from the top of a steep hill near the end of the course, all the more rewarding after the treacherous cycle up there.

Overall the event was an extremely rewarding experience, especially for the St. Margaret’s team, who came home elated but very tired, having raised an exceptional £1000 for charity.