After months of relentless training, the guys are ready for the first test of their abilities.

Tomorrow (Saturday 12 May), Roland Directors Tim and Simon are set to take part in the Carten 100. This is a grueling 100-mile ride along the coast from Cardiff to Tenby – and they only have one day to do it.

With months of training behind them, they’ve got every reason to be confident and if they make it all the way to Tenby, there’s a promise of a well-earned pint with the other riders. If all else fails, that should be enough to keep them going.

Tough as it is, the Carten100 is just a taste of things to come. In August, the team will cycle the 926 miles from John O’ Groats to Lands End. They will have to complete an exhausting 92.6 miles every day. For 10 days!

Of course it’s all for a good cause, and you can sponsor Three Men On a Bike, by clicking on the donate bar to the right. All donations will be split between Music for All and Children in Need.

Find out more about the Carten100, click here www.carten100.co.uk

And if you’re in the area, why not pop out and cheer the Roland boys on?

Children in Need and Music for All to benefit from Roland fundraising

Roland’s Directors have chosen the charities they will collect for on their 926-mile bike ride as Music for All and Children in Need.

In 2010, Tim Walter (Managing Director), Simon Griffiths (Finance Director) and Peter Heath (Business Development Director) raised £22000 for Charity when they rode from Land’s End to London. This year they’re taking on an even longer journey and hope to raise £30,000 for their chosen causes.

To donate to a great cause go here.

The directors will take part in the Carten100 ride from Cardiff to Tenby on Saturday 12th May

As the deadline for the Three Men on a Bike challenge approaches, Roland’s Directors have started training in earnest. To prove they’re confidence is growing (as their waistlines shrink), Tim Walter, Simon Griffiths and Peter Heath have signed up to take part in the Carten 100 on 12 May.

The team will have just one day to cycle 100 miles from Cardiff to Tenby. Joining hundreds of fellow cyclists, the challenge should give them a taste of what awaits in August, when they’ll cycle from John O’ Groats to Land’s End – a total of 600 miles.

As they’ve all been putting in plenty of time in the saddle, the scenic ride should reveal a team at the height of the powers – and if it proves thirsty work, the day traditionally ends with a well-earned pint in Tenby.

The team hopes to raise £30,000 for musical instrument charity, Music For All and Children In Need when it hit the road in August.

For more information on the Cartten 100, visit www.carten100.co.uk

Last year’s inaugural ‘Three Men on a Bike’ fundraiser was a resounding success, raising £22,000 for the Music for All charity and the British Heart Foundation. The Three Men team, led by Roland UK’s Board of Directors, cycled 430 miles from Land’s End to London, supported by  some of the music industry’s finest (and fittest) people.

Since then however, things have gone downhill. The glory has faded, the bikes are in storage and Tim, Simon and Peter are far removed from the Lycra-clad vision of days gone by: too much time in meetings, not enough time in the saddle. So, out of a desire to give something back (especially the recently-gained stone or three) the Three Men are announcing their toughest challenge yet.

In August 2012, the team will set off from John O’ Groats to Land’s End, aiming to raise an inflation-busting £30,000 on behalf of the Music for All charity. Larger cycling shorts have been ordered and the bikes have been strengthened, ready for training to begin in January 2012.

With 2012 being the year of the Olympics, a ‘Music for All’ torch will be carried throughout the ride, being passed between the guest riders taking part in the various stages. Already confirmed are Si and Tel from PMT and Alex Martin from Red Dog. If you’re a Managing Director within the music industry, we’d love you to join our elite group of torch bearers, so please get in touch.

And so once again, the call to the saddle goes forth. The Three Men are looking for like-minded souls to join the team, and get involved in a brilliant and worthwhile cause. And maybe, just maybe, become more attractive to the opposite sex in the process – it’s all about the glutes apparently.

If you’re interested in getting on your bike, please e-mail Janine@roland.co.uk

October 1st 2010 three unfit (but getting fitter) directors from Roland UK and a bunch of other music industry colleagues set off on a 430 mile bike ride from Lands End to London to raise money for Music for All & the British Heart Foundation

So far we have raised almost £22,000 with further support still coming in.  Please support us however you can via sponsorship or a donation via our secure Just Giving pages

420 miles seemed like an impossibility, but as I sit in a car driving out of London, Tower Bridge and now the Houses of Parliament on the right it’s only just dawning on us all what we have just achieved.

More on this later. For now we need to finish off Day 7.

Dinner at Redhill Premier Inn turned into an awards night for three men on a bike. Categories such as best road, best hill, worst hotel, most expensive bike, hardest looking rider, smelliest helmet and best road kill were some of the many that were debated and awarded. Simon (G) modelled Peter’s man bag with and without shirt, we’re still not sure which he carried off best.   It was one of the funniest nights I’ve ever had and topped an extraordinary week of endurance, challenge and friendship.

Perhaps to bed a little late, it was a quiet start the next morning; well, until the Boyz from PMT reappeared. Invigorated by their 70 mile ride on the south coast a couple of days ago, they decided to come back to finish it off. With Whitesnake blaring from the shopping basket on the tandem we set off into town.

Our first stop was at the Oasis Academy in Croydon where we were to present a cheque to the students for £5k to buy musical instruments. The students were lining the drive and cheered us all of the way into a packed hall. We literally rode to the front through hundreds of screaming students while DJ Dean pumped The Bike Song through the PA. The atmosphere was electric and surreal after the solitude of the road. After speeches from the head boy and Paul McManus for Music for All, the cheque was presented. The crowd went wild and the Headmaster then gave a moving speech about selfless behaviour. Simon (G) said that it was the first time he’d been called selfless. Joking apart it really brought home the reality of what we’d done and sacrificed to raise money to help others. Rose had a tear in her eye…..

David Barnard introduced the Roland Band and so began the Roland Education road show with Craig, Alex and Luke.

The three men team still had more miles to do so we left them to it and pedalled on into town.

Optomisticweather.com had come up trumps again and the sun shone as we weaved our way through the London traffic. Some 15 miles later after a brief stop at McDonalds (for coffee!) and an interesting spell in the Rotherhithe Tunnel we arrived in Stratford and the Olympic site. Kriss Akabusi was there to meet us and we became an instant tourist attraction.

After photos galore and hugs and congratulations all round, so ended our Lands End to London marathon. Feelings were mixed, absolute elation at the achievement but almost instant sadness that it was now all over. It really has been one of the most extraordinary weeks of our lives and we all have incredibly fond memories that we will never forget.

To Yellow Jersey James and Sergeant Major Lewis, you kept us safe and on track throughout. To our adopted cycling parents Terry and Rose, thank you so much for your care and support, we could not have done this without you. Alyn our support vehicle driver, chief photographer, friend of Ollie and thoroughly good bloke was a welcome sight at the end of any ride. To my colleagues Peter and Simon, it has been a privilege to ride with you. You couldn’t ask for two better guys to have on a team.

Behind the three men on a bike scenes there have been so many people that have helped and supported us, it would be impossible to mention them all. Helen and her marketing team and Janine, Helena, Dean and Simon Kenning have been absolute rocks and brilliant at organising everything and letting us concentrate on the cycling. We also cannot forget all of our collective friends and family who have put up with us, our training, our lycra and bike jokes for the last six months. I hope everyone feels it was all worth it. Seeing those kids today and realising that what we have done can change people’s lives is humbling. The support from across the industry has also enabled us to really put the Music for All Charity on the map.

For me it has proved that with real determination anything is possible. I am incredibly proud of the team and what we have achieved. An unforgettable journey over many months and miles. Lands End to London, we bloody well done it!!

Tim

Tony White (Bonners) was our guest rider for the day – perhaps we should come clean now and call them victims? Tony took us on cycle route 21 for the first 8 miles of the run, locally known as the Cuckoo Trail. James was hugely excited at the prospect of seeing some birds. Peter and Simon were equally enthusiastic, but I think they were on the lookout for a different type of wildlife. We did see a bird (flying) but it could have been anything. Simon (G) suggested an albatross.

It was beautiful countryside and the weather was very kind. We stopped at 15 miles for a breather in a lay-by and James decided to do some stunts for us.  Within seconds he’d found a large pot hole and did a somersault to prove it. Pride hurt and a damaged brake cable later we all helped him celebrate the honour of being the only one to fall off so far. So that’s the most punctures and now he’s fallen off….(maybe he should stick with riding Ollie).

Simon (L) was a little under the weather today. The chest / sore throat infection that Peter had earlier in the week has now passed across. (Simon swears blind he’d told Peter no tongues.) He made up for it though by driving us hard for the first leg this morning and then did a great job supporting Tony up two particularly interesting hills that my legs are still reminding me about.

Lunch was a stop at a pub (for coffee) and ‘Ruth’s rolls’ final appearance this week. We have eaten well this week, it has to be said. All of the things that have been banned for the last six months have strangely been available all week. Snickers and Mars Bars, Fat Coke, biscuits and Cake. Rose says we can eat anything we want as we’re burning so many calories. Simon (G) swears he’s put on weight this week. I think it’s the particularly gay coffees that he drinks with full fat milk et al that have been his problem.

As the ride nears its end, attention has begun to turn to what next? Of the many conversations, I particularly liked the idea of Jet Skiing around the British Isles – Three Men on a Jet Ski has a kind of ring to it?!! Ideas on a postcard please.

One thing I can confirm is that our fund raising will continue until the MIA Awards event in London on November 24th. Our total is around £19K now and we have pledges that should take us well over £20K. We’re keen to try and get that total to £25K by November, so our activities will continue for a while. Our plan is to launch the ‘Three Men on a Bike Revealed’ Calendar. With month pages sponsored by the industry all we need are the pictures. Strong contenders include the PMT Pot Hole incident and Dean does his washing. Someone suggested that at least one page should be 3 Men and their helmets. The mind boggles……

Tim

Dinner after the Nevada gig had been booked at Zizzi’s. Simon and Terry (the Boyz from PMT) needed to settle pre-ride nerves with some pasta and sparkling water. This was just as well, as this useless restaurant (apparently they have 50 outlets) had no chicken and no meat!? The restaurant was packed…briefly. Anyway, having found something on the menu that could be served, the staff then preceded to outperform the Premier Inn restaurant crew with service that would have made poor Mr Zizzi turn in his grave.

NB suggest you do not use this restaurant, EVER!

Early night (not) and day 6 was upon us. The Boyz were in for breakfast, slightly the worse for wear….must have slept badly!

A short drive back to Nevada to pick up the bikes was not without incident. Griffiths managed to upset white van man, coming close to a full on confrontation at some traffic lights. As the three burly blokes stepped from their van to confront him, we were relieved to see them wearing Three Men on a Bike jerseys. I think it spiced up a rather tedious rush hour in Portsmouth.

Arrival at Nevada saw us reunited with our bikes and the first sight of the PMT tandem. Appearing theatrically (complete to music) from the back of their van, it was quite an entrance. Pictures only tell half the story. This machine was amazing. From the Roland mobile cube and iPod in the shopping basket on the front, or the detailed paintwork, to the huge flag on the back, it was a masterpiece of PMT over-engineered genius.

Photo call complete and we were off. Mark and Andy from Strings and Things were also guest riders for the first 40 miles and Zen from Resolution Mag joined us later on.

This section of the ride was flat, very flat, so good progress was made by all. The Boyz longest ride on the tandem to date had been 24 miles, so there was some relief when we made it to Strings and Things offices in Shoreham, 40 miles in.

The morning’s ride had been punctuated by a quite brilliant selection of music from DJ Terry Hope. Mr Blue Sky, by ELO appeared as the clouds parted and we quite literally boogied our way across Sussex.

By now, we’re working pretty well as a cycling team. Yellow Jersey James sets the pace up front and Sergeant Major Lewis patrols the lines keeping everyone safe from the increasingly dangerous motorists out there. Tail-end Terry brings up the rear picking up all the pieces, more often than not, yours truly, although Peter and Simon (G) do go to that place, on occasion.

With the Sussex Downs fast approaching, we left Brighton behind us and some serious work had to be done. Huge respect to the Boyz who battled up all the hills, just the once on foot. Tandems at the best of times are challenging to ride, but when you’ve pimped your ride PMT style and doubled the weight, hills become mountains.

As we approached Eastbourne, Zen decided to take us on a slight detour. Perhaps he thought that Simon and Terry hadn’t seen enough hills yet, suffice to say though, that by the time we’d completed the 5 mile detour he was close to getting thrown off Beachy Head. It was beautiful I have to say, and I’m glad we did it, but I did feel big time for the Boyz.

When you go up, you can always look forward to the down. The hill down from Beachy Head was a cracker. So good in fact that it burnt the disc brakes out, on the tandem. We regrouped with a slightly pale Terry Hope requesting the nearest qwik-fit.

Arrival at Bonners was around the corner though, and the end to the longest day of the ride (70 miles). Simon and Terry earned every pound of the money they’ve raised, and probably lost a few too. We’ll get the weigh-in results today, no doubt.

For the Three Men on a Bike team it gets us 350 miles away from Lands End and only 70 to go to get to London.

Thanks to Tony and the guys at Bonners for their support. Also to Dean, who finally shaved his head for the charity last night. We also should spare a thought for the waiter in the Premier Balti who endured a tough negotiation session from various Roland members of staff, keen to put their recent training into practice. We got the result we needed, but are now members of the Premier Balti Eastbourne club. I’m not entirely clear what this means, except that we have to eat here again at least once in the next 12 months.

Things could be worse. We could be cycling 420 miles from Lands End to London and have incredibly sore…..

Tim

We were late to bed and to be doubly secure, I can report another first for me this week – I slept with my bike. There was a rumour that I’d chained it to my toilet seat. It was in fact the only secure point in the room but by the time I got in anyway, the bike was asleep.

Simon’s Optomisticweather.com this morning had promised blue sky and some sun. As usual it was slightly wrong but at least it wasn’t raining.

No guest riders today, so just six of us to do a not hilly, but substantial 63 miles, and it was long, long, long. With quads (yes, I have some now) busting at the sight of any incline it was hard work. There were also lots of roundabouts and nutter drivers, more often at the same time!

While we did our morning workout, the first ever great laundry escapade was happening behind the scenes. Janine, my PA at Roland is helping out this week and is quite brilliant at most things. I gather though, that nails and laundry don’t mix, so Dean was summoned to the rescue. Quite why there is a picture of him in his underwear at the launderette remains a mystery. I just hope that he raised some money doing it.

Lunch was a stop in picturesque Beaulieu. Sunshine, water, ducks, great food (donuts today) and then the “Simon and the Vicar incident….”

Perhaps he didn’t like the beard, but he was certainly upset at Simon’s (G) presence outside his church. Having got no sense out of Simon, a slightly irate vicar turned his attention to Simon Lewis. Using his best negotiation skills, Simon (L) soon had the vicar eating out of his hand and booking a run of six months advertising in MusicTech. Well, that was the goal clearly, I’m not quite sure he achieved his goals as with a squeal of tyres the vicar left to collect re-enforcements.

Rolls were dropped and donuts discarded and we all left in something of a hurry.

A tired and somewhat lethargic Three Men team battled on through traffic lights, dual carriageways and more of those nutter car drivers. Perhaps they just don’t like our lycra?!

At long last a rip roaring welcome from the Nevada team brought us into Portsmouth. Thanks Jenny and Mike for your support. Another gig tonight and then tomorrow……

….The Boyz are in town. Let’s hope we don’t make the national news.

A reprieve came in the form of Janine and Dean who whisked our kit off to the nearest laundrette to save our blushes for the next few days of the ride, only for Dean to whisk his own kit off a la Nick Kamen in the Levis 501 advert.

We’ll let you decide whether Dean is a match for Nick or not!