On yer bike Vincenzo!

Vincenzo Lannidinardi riding to raise money for Wellchild;

Vincenzo Lannidinardi from Rochdale was one of more than 20,000 cyclists who braved torrential rain, thunderstorms, flooded roads and hurricane winds on Sunday 10 August to ride in the 'Prudential London Surrey 100'. The weather was so bad that a 14 mile stretch had to be avoided and the course was cut down to 86 miles.

Vincenzo was riding to raise money for Wellchild; the national children’s charity. He said: “I have never cycled in conditions like that, at one point I rode through a flooded bit of road and the water came up past my ankles – both pedals were under water”.

The day started with some light drizzle but less than twenty miles into the ride the tail end of a hurricane brought downpours all around the circuit. It didn’t dampen Vincenzo’s enthusiasm.

Asked about the missing fourteen miles Vincenzo replied: “I managed to miss my transport back to the hotel because my phone died in the rain. I ended up riding back through London clocking up fifteen miles in the process. So I actually did a hundred and one.

“At the end of the day it’s for a great cause so it was all worthwhile, I am thankful for people’s generosity, the support along the route and the help given by 'Cycle Addicts' and 'Fitness For Life' in Rochdale.

“I am not going to complain; riding past some of London’s most famous landmarks on closed streets was amazing, even in wet conditions”

So far Vincenzo has raised just under £800 for Wellchild and is hoping to finish up at about £1,000; you can still donate by visiting:

www.justgiving.com/vincenzo-iannidinardi