For this inaugural event we have limited the field of riders to 70; 50 will be riding solo, and 20 as a pair.
For those riders who have chosen to be GPS tracked, you can follow them live at www.trackcourse.com.
SOLO RIDERS
Mark Smith
#APNrider01
I have had a bike in one form or another for most of my life, however I only really started cycling any distance 5 years ago, before that I pushed my bike up most hills. Which meant a lot more walking than cycling in Sheffield.
In 2016 I did LEJOG, LEL 2017 & TAW 2018 The Racing Collective’s Xduroengland18 event along with lots of audaxes over the past 4 years. More than anything I just like to ride,
sometimes solo and sometimes socially.
Adam Taylor
#APNrider02As a resident of Sheffield, recently relocated from London; and as an avid fan of long distance cycling adventures… I couldn’t not take on the challenge of All Points North!
I have been cycling for a number of years now. I’ve dabbled in a bit of cyclocross racing. I’ve been on a LEJOG trip. I had a lot of fun riding around London with Twickenham CC and around the Peaks with 7 Hills CC. Will it all be enough? I’ll soon find out!
Nicky Shaw
#APNrider03I originally hail from ‘up North’, but then I moved South, and then North North (Glasgow) so now I’m back to explore my home roads on this epic journey of All Points North. I’m no stranger to ultra distance, the pure simplicity of you and the bike and the road ahead; all worries fall away. I’m also not one for hanging around… let’s see if I can crack this in one go 😉
I can’t wait to get rolling on this incredible journey.
Roger Kittle
#APNrider04Likes. Going out to play on my bike, real ale and alpine uplifts.
Dislikes. Commuting by car, brussel sprouts and ignorant cyclists who don’t say hello.
Old enough to know better when thought entering APN was a good idea in November, now it is here suddenly realise that hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Put no science into training or preparation so target finish time is May!!
Alice Thomson
#APNrider05I’m Alice and All Points North will be my first multi-day event! I’m still pretty new to all this, just approaching my 2 year anniversary with cycling so my set up/approach for the event will be the opposite of tried and tested but hopefully a good first attempt!
I’m looking forward to seeing some more of the north, testing my legs and mind on something longer, and meeting some of the women who inspired me to give this a go.
I love cafes that do all day breakfast, my re-strap snack pod and I’m already looking forward to a bath at the end.
Barry Clay
#APNrider06Age: 31
I first got in to bikes at a younger age riding trials. Later a dear friend suggested “try a road bike I think you’ll like it”. Luke was right… and whilst I still ride trials. Presently I find myself less on one wheel and more on two wheels, rolling further, but still up and over bumps. Since I’ve enjoyed: cyclocross, track, hill climbs and fixed gear crits. So, usually short and sweet of nature. But I’m excited to go further riding APN.
I love a plan, being out of the comfort zone and I’m obsessive, so once I’ve had a thought, I can’t not – hence here I am.
Bikes I immediately associate with friends and good times.
This will be solo. But all those I hold dear have got me this far, can only go further.
Philippa Battye
#APNrider07
David Tribe
#APNrider09
Ede Harrison
#APNrider1030 years old, I started cycling seriously around 5 years ago, with the aim of adding some much-needed exercise into my life, along with the opportunity to travel around a bit.
I did some solo trips around Europe and a big one across the USA. Totally love that headspace you get into after hours and hours of solitary cycling. The lows are tough but the highs make it all worthwhile.
After a year of Audaxes and intrigued to find the next challenge, I signed up for – and finished my first race – TCR no6.
Can’t wait for another season of riding all day and night.
Ben Rickaby
#APNrider11
Jordan Matthews
#APNrider12
Rob Waugh
#APNrider14Rob : 46 Years Old
From : Newcastle upon Tyne
Cycling Club : North Tyneside Riders
Steed : Genesis Datum
Smilyan Pavlov
#APNrider15
Age: 31 years old
From: Sofia, Bulgaria
Bike: Kinesis RTD
Profession: Software engineer and designer
No experience of racing, events or audaxes, but enough of touring and spending a lot of time on the bike. I just love to ride, to be outside and find new places and meet new people.
Love the cold and not so much the wet.
I obsess over preparation, gear, planning.
Have mostly camped with a tent or rough sleeping through various countries, although cannot deny a hot shower and a cozy bed.
Secret weapon – my better half.
Even though most of the cycling I’ve done has been outside of the UK, “The North” has been my home for the past ten years. I have seen much of it but most I haven’t and am very much excited to do so on a bike.
Most importantly I want to meet the other riders and share some stories with a beer at the end.
Richard Gate
#APNrider16A lifelong cyclist but recent newcomer to ultra distance riding. Plunged in at the deep end in 2018 by completing TCRNo6.
Living in Leeds, married with two grown up lads.
Riding with albaRosa CC, keen on Cyclocross, racing the Yorkshire League and soon to have a 5th ride in the Three Peaks CX.
Always heading into the Mountains and keen to explore. Known to obsess over route planning and kit.
Bed or Bivvy? Bed or Bivvy….?
Helena Knightley
#APNrider17Helena Knightley – riding her first multi-day endurance cycling event. By no means new to endurance events thou – previously an ultra runner and now transferring her knowledge of how she deals with these things to the bike.
An Ecom Manager 9-5 and cyclist 5-9! She is never happier than on two wheels.
Hoping she’ll be able to find regular coffee stops with hearty slices of cake and some friendly conversations to break up what could be a lonely few days.
Ian Walker
#APNrider18Ian has been riding long-distance races for around 3 years, after coming from a background of ultradistance running. He has previously ridden the Transcontinental Race and North Cape 4000. Later this summer he is attempting to break the record for crossing Europe – a topic he is becoming increasingly anxious about…
Ivan Cornell
#APNrider19Growing up on a small boat sailing around the world with my family, I started bike touring in my gap year before university to achieve the same sense of freedom. Switched over to audaxing and other ultra-distance events 25 years later, the last few years exclusively on fixed-gear including Transatlantic Way in 2017.
Katie Butler
#APNrider20I love a good audax and our bloody beaut hills in the North so what better combination than APN (will I still be saying that at the end…??!! haha).
I rode LEJOG and San Francisco to LA last year but they were both supported. So this will be my first attempt at planning my own route and riding it alone.
So excited to get going – and share stories with my fellow APNers afterwards.
Gavin Scott
#APNrider21By day I work at the University of Nottingham by night I’m a wanna be vagabond. In search of something, not sure why I enjoy doing these long rides, not sure I want to find out as the day I do may be the day I stop.
Been fortunate to ride in lots of beautiful places and looking forwards to exploring northernshire.
Partial to coffee and the odd pint of beer or two, like to #goniceplacesdogoodshit.
Thomas Chateau
#APNrider22
Thomas Chateau is a French cyclist who loves long distance rides. In the nineties, he started riding a mountain bike as a teenager, which gave him an early taste for exploring, discovering new paths, orienteering and rambling on multi-day rides in Brittany. After 15 years off, as far as two-wheels are concerned, which was a forced immobilization due to a shoulder fracture led him to read dozens of blogs of Transcontinental riders and many articles about ultra distance cycling. As a result, he decided to build his own road bike around a steel frame and components for riding far.
Several solo trips through France, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy reinforced his conviction that the right rhythm comes from long distance and endurance, and not in a search for sprints or high average speeds for which he is far from having the necessary skills. His pleasure arises from the physical performance only if it is combined with the quest for landscapes, the challenge of navigation, having autonomy in the management of gear/kit and especially satisfying his love for food !
More and more events embody these sporting values, and he has participated in the Chilkoot Born to Ride 2017 and 2018 (twice non-finisher after 900km) and Normandicat 2018 (950km). Most of all, he was very proud to finish The Transcontinental Race N°5 & N°6, twice in the solo general classification after riding 4000 km in 16-17 days.
Since 2019, he belongs to ExcelsiorCycloClub Team, a bunch of indie rock inspired all road night riders in Sarthe area.
Bike : Genesis “Black” Croix de fer
Town : Le Mans/Paris (France)
Age : 43
David Palmer
#APNrider2335 years old and living in sunny Sheffield. A keen fell runner and cyclist, although only recently delved into the world of road cycling. I can normally be found riding the local mountain bike trails within the Peak District, or exploring Europe on two wheels…slowly.
Looking forward to the event, but will I make it back in time for food?…
Laurence Cole
#APNrider24I’m a plant powered cyclist who is in way over his head. I’m just hoping to make it back to Sheffield in time for some sleep, a shower and a strong coffee before the time comes to rehabilitate myself back into civilised society. Any aspirations that I may have held above that have long since given way to a now deep-set feeling of anxious anticipation, but I’m still really excited to be taking part.
My training has been shamefully sporadic and my preparation has extended to pessimistically purchasing some waterproof socks, and optimistically assuming that they will work.
Lee Grieve
#APNrider25
Aubin Laurent
#APNrider26I’m a French cyclist, riding fixed gear Criterium with the TosiTeam from Cycles Tosi, Paris.
Enjoying riding for self-surpassing and the beauty of a rainy landscape (I still prefer when it’s sunny though!).
Photographer on my own, I created the Go North concept, a bikepacking experience, where photography report is the completion of the journey.
Luke Allen
#APNrider27
Ken Woodhouse
#APNrider29
Ashley Sharp
#APNrider30I live in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire and love riding hills in the Dales, Forest of Bowland and beyond. I’ve raced the Transcontinental in 2015, Trans Am in 2018 and just finished the Race Around The Netherlands.
Linking some of the most beautiful areas of the North in a single event is something I’m very excited about.
Chris Murkin
#APNrider31Took up cycling seven years ago, starting with short rides whilst at university on a free mountain bike, and gradually letting my hobby get out of hand. In the last few years, I’ve completed an Audax Super Randonneur Series, completed the Mille Pennines, and last year The Transcontinental Race. I’ve also done a little time trialling and hill climb racing.
Off the bike I enjoy cooking and making hugely calorific puddings, much to the envy of my non-cycling friends!
Max Folkett
#APNrider32Started riding bikes properly a few years ago when babies got in the way of climbing.
Riding APN to explore the bits of the North I’ve not made it to yet and to see if riding can ever be as hard as alpine climbing. My legs are telling me it may be…
Daniel Jones
#APNrider33Daniel Jones; 33 years young and rider number 33, owner of Random Adventure, a cycling and adventure promoter, curator of Local Bike Shop Day in the UK, sometimes DJ and AV specialist and a Senior HCA on a Surgical Assessment Unit at Royal Preston Hospital riding my first long distance cycling event.
Riding a Cannondale Topstone.
Sponsors: Random Adventure, Indiprint, Broadgate Cycles & Happy Bottom Bum Butter
Neil Matthews
#APNrider34Is 45 and based in Manchester and is never to far away from his bike having only returned to cycling in 2012 after a skiing accident ruled out weight training.
After several years of ever growing distance seeking, he somehow thought it a good idea to enter the TCR no6 last year. On his first attempt he did actually complete it all but in last place as the Lanterne Rouge. Well after that baptism of fire he seems to think he may finally have figured out this bikepacking malarkey.
If he’s not on his bike then he can be found taking photographs so what better way to combine the two on this awesome race!
Nick Willis
#APNrider35
Jack Peterson
#APNrider36TransRockies, TransWales, TransScotland, TransProvence, Transcontinental, TransAtlanticWay, The 4300 mile TransAm. Race around the Netherlands with Pan Celtic and Trans Iberica to come. Now a full time cycling hobo living in ditches.
Nick Howarth
#APNrider37Ayup. I am Nick Howarth. 46 years old, Sheffielder now living on the outskirts of Rotherham. Married to Antoinette and dad to Izzy and Jae. A joiner, carpenter and site manager who 10 years ago moved careers to become a park ranger.
I ride most types of bikes, but class myself a mountain biker! Love big days out exploring and hunting for new places, even better if it involves a night under the stars. I’ve done quite a bit of XC racing and 24 hour endurance races.
This will be my first bikepacking race, and I’m really looking forward to it. You have to start somewhere! Bring it on!
Pawel Pulawski
#APNrider39
I’m bicycle messenger from Wroclaw, Poland, riding daily my beloved Bullitt.
I do have some experience with long distance racing and after anti-brexit fixed gear ride from UK to Poland in 2016 I’ve entered The Transcontinental Race no 5 and finished it with Black Jersey. I’m also fastest fixed gear rider of Indian Pacific Wheel Race and TransatlanticWay Race 2018 8th rider on the finish line.
Riding “Up North” was on my bucket list for some time, so doing APN is a “must”.
Currently riding handmade Hultaj gravel bike. I’m a Bullitt lover and family guy.
Sam Cooke
#APNrider40From Sheffield. Best described as a novice. Rides bikes but not far. Big fan of dogs, presta valves and the colour orange.
Stephen Haines
#APNrider41An average cyclist with a penchant for riding his bike a long way.
Having completed various sportives and then audax rides of increasing lengths, I moved into bike packing races and in 2016 completing the inaugural TransAtlantic Way race. Since then the bike has taken me through bits of Thailand, across Europe and America and around The Netherlands.
Graham Parry
#APNrider42I’ve been playing on bikes and in the mountains for almost as long as I can remember. Now I’m over 50 with the financial (ish) and temporal freedom of grown up kids, I’ve been able to venture further afield. In the last few years I’ve shared bike adventures in some incredible places around the world with a bunch of very special people.
Why have I entered APN?
I’d already had a few pints when I was told about it and there was no backing down the next morning.
It’s based just around the corner from my house, so I’m confident of at least making it to the start.
It’s far further than I ever ridden in three days and I love a trip with an uncertain outcome.
Joe France
#APNrider43Age 43.
Married to Felicity, with 2 fab kids Charlie (17) and Lola (13).
We live just outside Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
I’m a carpenter and joiner by trade but do most types of building work.
I spent 7 years in the Royal Navy from the age of 21 as a marine engineer, where I met my wife in the first week of training. We have just celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary.
I love riding bikes of any kind, road cycling with my local club Out of the saddle, fat biking on sand or snow and gravel biking. I’ve done a little bit of racing in each of these and also a few decent single day events like Dirty Reiver, Bear Bones 200, Lakes 200 and Yorkshire Dales 300.
I love a bit of type 2 fun and after hardly riding last year because of work and family commitments, I entered APN as a way of getting back fit and have wanted to do a multi day event for some time now.
I also like beer… 😉
Checkpoints visited:
- I’ve been to Tan Hill a few times, drinking not cycling.
- Twice to Kielder, for the Dirty Reiver
- Then recently I rode to Flamborough and Brimham Rocks
Jenny Tough
#APNrider44
Vince Donohoe
#APNrider4654, mathematics teacher, referee, director of sport and cruise ship croupier. Proud dad of two sons (PhD in BioChemistry and Masters in Chiropractic)
Sheffield now, formerly Bournemouth.
Bike is a Trek Domane.
Love all things bike, pilates and chiropractors as they have saved the knees and back.
First time bike packing…
If there is such a thing ….. I buy too much bike stuff…
Samuel Thompson
#APNrider48
David Lane
#APNrider49This is the first long-distance ride since having a major operation in 2017. The aim is to get round – and hope to enjoy the view en route.
A member of Ravensthorpe Cycling Club I’ve been riding for 8 years, initially as part of a weight-loss programme. That worked and I moved onto longer distance riding. Two years ago I pre-rode the southern half of London-Edinburgh-London two weeks’ before the event as a practice. It worked better than the event itself, which I did manage to finish, so I’m having a similar approach for this event.
I’ll tend to be found riding at night, usually somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Some of the checkpoints I’ve visited on past rides, although most will be new. Navigating using old-school technology I’m hoping the skies are clear and sun is out.
My bike’s a home-built Rigdgeback Platinum that’s set up for long-distance riding: it’s carried me through Paris-Brest-Paris in 2015 and LEL in 2017 so I’m hoping the bike keeps going. And my legs keep turning.
Mark Townsend
#APNrider50PAIRS
Adrian Phillipson
#APNpair51A
Tom Probert
#APNpair51BI’ve been doing self supported races for a couple of years now, including the past two TCRs, The Holyland Challenge in Israel, Transkernow, and some of the events run by The Racing Collective.
This will be the first time riding as a pair for both myself and pairs partner Adrian, hopefully it doesn’t make us hate each other because we’re signed up as a pair for this year’s TCR!
APN will hopefully be the maiden voyage for my Enigma Evoke and Spin On These wheels. I’ll be making sure to document the whole race on Instagram, so stay tuned!
Charlotte Wrigley
#APNpair52ASheffield born and bred. The blonder, more sensible half of APN Pair 52. A lover of all things cycling… road, cross, mtb, track and even my commute to work makes my job almost bearable! Currently racing for Beeston Queen Bees. I can’t wait to get back to doing 25km crit races instead of epic recce training rides for APN!
My cycling experiences have taken me around Europe and as far as Australia yet I still love my local playground of the Peak District. Although I’ve been cycling now for 10 years, I’m fairly new to bike-packing and multi-day events so I’m relying on Karen for that expertise!
Our aim for APN is to just ‘finish’. There will not doubt be a lot of singing, swearing and crying involved but I’m looking forward to completing my biggest ever cycling challenge with a fab friend and my trusty steed!
Karen McDonald
#APNpair52B
Alex De’ath
#APNpair53ANo better way to see places than on yer bike in my humble opinion.
Travelled Scandinavia, The Canneries, North India and Palestine to name a few big trips.
Never done a race before another than a few allycats as an Ex London messenger.
Strength is supposed to be hill climbing.
Riding as a pair of Brothers. #APNpair53
Aim for this first Audax is to finish before train leaves back to London – Tuesday midday. C’mon!
Kieren De’ath
#APNpair53B
Alan Morton
#APNpair54A
Tim McInnes
#APNpair54B
Alex Hill
#APNpair55AAdventurer and audaxer, turned ultra-endurance addict. Usually carrying a camera on my back to capture the places I ride in and the people I meet.
Looking forward to seeing the North, a place I haven’t spent much time exploring!
Michal Serafin
#APNpair55BBorn Polish.
European and British at heart.
I am explorer of here and now, using my two wheels to keep myself sane and broaden horizons.
I recently escaped from the Big Smoke to the west of the country and am absolutely in love with Wales and its remote, rugged scenery and best surface roads in the entire United Kingdom.
I am also very much enjoying Audaxing since my first ride completed in September 2018.
I am a connoisseur of Welsh cakes, Scottish whisky and UK Jazz music.
Georgina Cleere
#APNpair56AI’ve been cycling for 5 years, took it up after sadly having my horse put to sleep. Originally was just planning to commute to work but very quickly became an addiction. Discovered I had an aptitude for long distance cycling and haven’t looked back.
To date I’ve cycled over 70,000 miles. I finished LEL 2017 in 96hrs 2 mins (probably shouldn’t have stopped for the half in the pub en route home, could have shaved off those 2 minutes!) I’ve won Le Mans 24 hour solo female two years on the trot and had two wins (2016 and 2018) at Brands Hatch Revolve 24 as a soloist.
Last year I toured Europe unsupported and did 2,400 miles with 140,000 ft of climbing in 21 days. I am however suited to flat riding, coming from Essex we have no hills, so I’m really looking forward to the challenge with my legendary team mate, Lee Velo. He is the brains behind the operation (route planning etc) and I am the designated wind break!!
A huge thank you to my sponsors – All First Aid Training, Tower Nutrition and Fit your Bike.
Lee Tooey
#APNPAIR56BI began cycling in 2014, initially just to lose some weight and save some money riding to work.
I then organised a charity ride from Tilbury to Paris and shortly after got into long distance cycling with Audax UK. I then became Vegan in 2015.
I’ve been cycling with Gina for years now over thousands of miles but this will be out first multi day event together. A loose test to see if we are ready for a pairs entry to the Transcontinental race.
Completed 200km, 300km, 400km, 600km Audax as well as the 1400km London-Edinburgh London Audax in 107 hours. Not currently sponsored so all my adventures are self funded. I’m representing Eat Plants Not Pigs cycling club and the TILNAR cycle challenge.
Jim Stewart
#APNpair57AAn avid cyclist based in the Peak District. Grew up riding mountain bikes before moving to road cycling as a convenient means of getting to work. Love exploring by bike, riding new roads and racking up the miles.
Me and pairs partner Rach live together, work together, ride together. We got the bug for long distance riding after touring through the French Alps, then came audaxes and before we knew it we were lining up at the start of TCR No. 6 to race as a pair!
APN is the start of an action-packed year on the bike with the event being the first of three big ones for the year: APN, TCR No. 7 and TPR No. 1.
Rachel Batt
#APNPAIR57BI’ve not really been riding a bike for much of my adult life having only got into it in 2013 to commute to work. What started as a means to keep fit for rock climbing and mountaineering soon took over and now all I do is cycle!
I joined Buxton cc with Jim Stewart in 2015 and it wasn’t long before we were TTing, rides were getting longer and longer and we discovered audax. Living in Buxton we’re used to hills and in 2017 we rode unsupported from Thonon les bains on lake Geneva to Menton on the Med and back along the route de Grandes Alpes in a 14 day trip.
A mate had mentioned TCR to us. I’d never heard of it (!) but Jim was immediately keen so in 2018 we completed TCRNo7 in about 15 days. The memory of the pain wore off way too quickly so we’ve entered again this year. All Points North is like a mini UK TCR and we’re really excited to be part of the first event.
Paul Monson
#APNpair58A
Peter Knight
#APNpair58BI live and work in Sheffield and live at the top of a lovely big hill which is ideal training for these sorts of event.
I’m the small half of Pair 58, so I will be of no use when it comes to taking a turn at the front – Sorry Paul!
I like a challenge! Which is why I’m doing the All Ppoints North Event! This will be the furthest I have ridden in this timescale. I rode over 750km of the Millies 1000km Audax 2 years ago (don’t ask what happened to the other 250km!!). Last year rode 1500km at a slightly more leisurely pace from Leeds to Zell Am Zee in Austria which we finished with a flourish by riding up the Grossglockner for fun!?
I enjoy getting on my bike, especially in Spring and Summer. I do a fair bit of running as well and better known round these parts as the ‘bottleman’ on account of the fact I do a number of running events dressed as a large beer bottle. Bradfield Brewery bought me a new costume this year so fresh from the London Marathon dressed as a beer glass into this event! I’m already dreaming about that bottle of beer at the end!!
Darren Speight
#APNpair59A
Paul Mellon
#APNpair59B
Jay Hemingway
#APNpair60AComing from Yorkshire where we are spoilt with hills, scenery and a brilliant cycling community has been a real motivation for me with my riding, and I think it’s fair to say I’ve become fascinated by ultra distance cycling and the mental as well as physical challenge it presents.
Audax gave me the bug to ride further, so having done a few SR’s and RRTY’s, I got the bug to ride further, faster.
The love of riding through the night, in all weathers carrying everything on the bike or sleeping where you can in bivvy bags on multi day rides has made me want to take part in longer distance events, starting with APN, then the Inverness 1200 & PBP all coming over this Summer. Next year big plans for longer events are definitely in the making.
Really though I just love riding bikes, any bikes but I just wish I knew how to mend them.
Michael Collins
#APNpair60B