15 minutes | Monday, 27 February 2023
Episode five starts the penultimate day of a six-day, 320-mile ‘Iron to Iron’ bike ride which saw 17 amateur cyclists follow a route discovering engineering heritage between Meldon Viaduct in Devon and Bennerley Viaduct on the border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Tired from their longest day riding yesterday, a more leisurely 50 miles were ahead of them as the home stretch was in sight.
A return to Ironbridge by daylight, the cyclists learned of the engineering significance of this early example of – if not the first – bridge constructed from iron, with a talk led by former chair of English Heritage, Sir Neil Cossans OBE.
With the route heading through Cannock, Forestry England’s Gary Kelsey spoke of the landscaping and protection of the natural habitat, whilst encouraging cyclists to visit and a track featuring as part of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Reflections on the week from the cyclists after arriving for their final overnight stay at Moira in Leicestershire, with bitter-sweet feelings that the ride was due to come to an end after forming close friendships and encouraging each other along when things were getting tough.