Pedal The Periphery 2025 - TEAM FUSTLE
On Friday 6th June, 2025, it was time for all of the previous 6 months preparation and planning to stand up and take action, as our first dedicated FUSTLE TEAM set off on an epic 48 hour, 480mile circuit around the periphery of Northern Ireland, in aid of Pancreatic Cancer.
What is Pedal The Periphery?
This event was born back in 2023, when sisters Cathy and Andrea were set the challenge by Andreas late husband Paddy Harrower, as one of his last wishes. Paddy was well known for his comment about his diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer which may well have played a part in the events creation.
"Im not living with Cancer... Cancer is living with me... and I'm taking it for a ride!"
The girls, who were no strangers to marathon adventure and cycling events, took on the challenge by themselves, and pedalled non stop around Northern Ireland before arriving back at the finish line in just under 48 hours in an effort to raise awareness and funds for NIPANC, Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer Charity.
Pancreatic cancer has touched so many people and is often only diagnosed very late on so it has unfortunately got one of the lowest survival rates amongst. Cathy's long time school friend Natalie also fell ill to the disease and sadly passed away, and it was this heartache for both of the girls that helped them dig in throughout that ride in 2023 despite the pain, discomfort and sleep deprivation to complete the 480 miles.
PTP 2025
Leap forward to June 2025 and the event has now become a multi team relay, inviting teams from all over Northern Ireland to take part, and having dipped a toe in 2024 as part of a team of Fustle customers and University Staff, we felt strongly that we wanted to enter a dedicated Fustle team to tackle this years challenge.
We gathered our team of riders, some were experienced cyclists, and some were not. For 2 or 3 team members, this event would be the first time they had swung a leg over a bicycle in 20-30 years. No easy task when you consider the event takes place on open roads, throughout day and night, and with the ever reliable Northern Irish weather to keep you on your toes.
The great thing about events like these are that although our team started off with 10 names in a hat, plus a few brave crew, throughout the days leading up to the start, and even throughout the ride, it swelled to 11, then 12, then 13, all wanting to play their part and help complete the ride. Huge thanks to everyone who joined in and helped out along the way!
Glenn McCaffrey, Neal Boomer, Valeria McKie, Gary McKie, Cathal Bagnall, Michael Williamson, Eddie Doyle, Catriona Wheeler, Darren Tapp, Chris Burns, Sarah Grant, Julie Beckett, Alastair Beckett.
Friday 6th June
At 13:20 on Friday 6th June, 3 team members, Glenn, Cathal and Julie, set off from Lisburn Rugby Club just outside belfast and kick-started the journey around the country. The first leg takes the teams from Lisburn all the way down the ards peninsula, across the ferry in Portaferry and onwards to Check Point 1 in Newcastle. A journey of 90 miles, which we opted to split into smaller sections and draft in a few different cyclists.
FUSTLE's very own Granny Val, who had recently only taken up cycling again to train for the event after a 35 hiatus, turned out to be one of the top fund raisers and the streets were lined with donors patiently waiting for their chance to cheers her on as she pedalled from Groomsport to Ardglass. (36 Miles)
Accompanied by Neal Boomer, he took the timing chip (and our trusty mascot, Turbo the Turtle) onwards from Ardglass and put the hammer down to reach CP1 in Newcastle as dusk was starting to roll in. A quick stop for photos and to top up his water, collecting Eddie Doyle on the way through Dundrum, then onwards to the next hand-over which was in Rostrevor where Cathal and his partner were waiting with the crew car to take over for the first night stage to Dungannon. (65 Miles)
Saturday 7th June
Eddie Doyle, Cathal Bagnall put in a fantastic ride through the night from Rostrevor to Dungannon, faced with dropping temperatures, and heavy rain showers, saved only by the flask of coffee that Cathal's crew had smuggled away in their crew car. After departing Rostrevor jut before midnight, the boys delivered the tracker and 'Turbo' safely into Dungannon at 04:30am where Michael Williamson was waiting their arrival.
After waiting for daylight so that he could ride unassisted by any crew car, Michael set off from Dungannon on a mission to achieve a 100mile ride as was his target a few month prior when all of the planning was going on.
Michael faced similar rain showers and undulating roads as he travelled west towards Fivemiletown, before turning south on his way to the twisty roads around Lough Erne in Fermanagh. By this stage, Julie, Sarah and Alastair were packing the van and preparing to drive west to take over at the most westerly point of Northern Ireland.
Michael rolled into Belcoo (where the famous Lakelander Gravel Grinder event departs) around mid day on Saturday after a stellar 85 mile ride, and to help provide a tow across the final 20 miles, Alastair, Daz (Darren Tapp) and Chris Burns jumped on and rode with Michael through yet more rain showers, to arrive at CP3 in Beleek, and then onwards to Boa Island for a coffee and bun from Island Brew.
Here come the girls!
Arriving in Boa Island at shortly after 2pm, it was time for Julie and Sarah to head off and start racking up the miles after sitting in the crew van for 5 hours. Much to their surprise, the road out of Boa Island and headed North East towards Castlederg was referred to as the "Roller Coaster" thanks to it's seemingly never ending undulating hills.
The girls powered on and were feeling strong as they descended into Castlederg and onwards to Strabane, and with word of family members cheering them on from the roadside in Derry, they refused to stop until they reached it, racking up an impressive 47 miles in the process.
The time was 6:15pm, and after swapping over with the girls, Alastair set off for his 2nd leg from Derry and headed north towards the Causeway Coast, unsure of the end goal, but happy to back on 2 wheels and not worrying about driving, navigation or where the next toilet stop might be!
The Causeway Coast.
The north coast of Ireland is stunning, and gave name to our very first gravel bike, so it has a fond place in our heart always. Riding along the coastline into Downhill Beach, and onwards to Portstewart, Portrush and Bushmills as the sun was setting and the moon turned red, was definitely a unique experience and provided a quiet moment to reflect on the event and what it really meant to each and everyone who was out on the road at the same time.
There was a sense of calm to be had knowing that even though I was on the road alone, only a few miles either side would be another cyclist suffering with the same tired legs, sweaty eyeballs, and sore butt, totally in awe of the thought of Andrea and Cathy both having completed this marathon cycle all by themselves!
I reached Bushmills around 21:30pm and handed over to Sarah and Julie for the last 13 miles into Ballycastle in the dark. Again, as they made sure to communicate with their unique tone of colourful language and hand gestures, they were met with some steep climbs along the coast road past the Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-rede, before descending into Ballycastle around 23:00pm where Catriona Wheeler was waiting to take over.
Torr Head!
23:30pm on a Saturday night, and Ballycastle was jumping with live music in the pubs, and fellow cyclists retiring for rehydration in the bar across the road. The temperature was dropping rapidly, but the sky looked clear of rain clouds for the time being at least.
Catriona set off, with support driver Paul McT in tow (better known for organising the "FROG" Fun Run of the Glens cycle event) and didn't make it far before passing her first cheering squad who were a few drinks deep in the local pub in Ballyvoy after a Cycling Ulster MTB event that day.
Catriona set a blistering pace over the infamous Torr Head spurred on by the thought of a few hours of well needed sleep in Glenariffe, arriving around 00:25am on Sunday.
As the rest of the team slept with one eye open and fixated on the tracker, calculating what time we might need to head to the finish line to join up for the final pedal across the line, Catriona was up and on her way at 05:30am and making up ground as she fixated on the other teams up ahead.
News team... ASSEMBLE!
At 09:00am on Sunday morning, those who could make it had parked up at the finish line and we set off in reverse to meet both Catriona and "Navigator Neal" who were now coming through Belfast on the final approach of this epic 480 mile challenge.
The finish line didn't disappoint, with purple jerseys, flags, banners and dogs cheering and shouting as we pedalled around the corner, it all of a sudden felt like only a few hours since we rolled out of the start gate just a few miles away.
Huge thanks goes to the event organisers, planners, timing crew, support crew, volunteers and everyone that stood on the side of the road, in the rain, cheering the riders on.
This is the 3rd year that we have seen this event grow and develop, and we are so fortunate to be able to help support it and help raise awareness for those suffering from this terrible illness.
There is still an opportunity to donate and show your support for this mammoth effort:
