John O’Groats to Lands End Quad Tandem Challenge 2008
Thank you and well done to the Quad Tandem team for completing their challege!
The Challenge
On August 23rd Dr Mike Spiro, Dr Mark Lambert, Dr Matt Prime and Dr David Cox began a unique and gruelling world record attempt cycling from John O’Groats to Lands End on a Quad-Tandem. "We are undertaking this 1000-mile challenge for the British Lung Foundation (BLF) and hope to raise more than £30,000."
Team Quad
We met at UCL Medical School London, graduated in 2005 and continue to work as doctors in London. During our medical training and now working as doctors we have seen the devastating consequences of lung diseases. We strongly believe in the work that the BLF does and are keen to support them as best we can.
Dr Mark “The Chin” Lambert (Anaesthetic specialty trainee registrar in North London)
Mark has the most riding experience of all of us, both road and mountain biking. He is the mastermind having had the idea when he saw a Quad at the London Bike show in 2006. We shall all blame him if/when things go wrong!!
Dr Mike “Scorpio” Spiro (Anaesthetic specialty trainee registrar in North London)
Mike is a keen sportsman and has strong links with the BLF through his father Professor Stephen Spiro, a chest physician who has had a great deal of involvement with the BLF. Mike has never attempted such an endurance event, but is training hard!
Dr David “Coxy” Cox (Specialty trainee registrar in Paediatrics in North London)
Dave is the “engine room” of the bike, an all round athlete, as well as a talented footballer tennis and squash player. He is obscenely fit and is so committed to the event he has been going to work with leg weights on to increase stamina.
Mr Matt “Primer” Prime (Specialty trainee registrar in Surgery in North London)
Matt is a proven endurance athlete having completed marathons in Europe and the USA as well as a skilled rugby player. The largest guy in the group and also the most powerful.
Peter Bird (The Tandem Shop in Ironbridge)
Peter is the font of all knowledge regarding tandem bikes and has helped us enormously with the project. Thank you so much for the help and the huge discount to the bike cost.
Professor Steven Spiro (Chest Physician and fundraiser in chief).
The Prof, himself a fine athlete, has helped us approach people affected by lung disease for fundraising. There has been an overwhelming response and we have all been staggered by their generosity and support.
The Bike
Yet to be named but current favourite names include: Delilah or Bob. 
Custom built in Oregon USA by Co-motion Tandems, this is a very unusual bike. The general public will not have seen one like it before! We don't know, as yet, how difficult it will be to ride the bike because it is only being delivered shortly before the event. Fingers crossed it will be straightforward, but we’re not looking forward to roundabouts much!
Currently we are training on standard road bikes and getting used to Lycra and bike saddles.
The route:
John O'Groats to Lands End - the furthest straight line distance that can be achieved in mainland Britain. The journey will more than 1000 miles, taking us through ScotlandEngland, along the Welsh boarders and into the Westcountry. We will encounter a varied terrain, multiple long climbs and descents as we cross the UK. We hope to cover an average of 90 miles a day. This very achievable on single road bikes, but the quad presents an extreme and unusual challenge.
This is a fantastic opportunity to raise money for the British Lung Foundation. We hope to publicise all the good work it does and inform people about how debilitating lung disease is and how important further research is; and how vital and life changing medical and nursing care can be.
Please check out our blog: http://www.quadtandem2008.blogspot.com/
You can support us by giving online
www.justgiving.com/quadtandem
or by cheques made payable to the BLF:
British Lung Foundation
73-75 Goswell Road
EC1V 7ER
Many thanks,
Mike, Mark, Matt and Dave
