East2West


In June of 2011, with the encouragement of a friend, I put my name forward to join 8 other slightly crazed individuals to cycle 600 miles in 6 days, from the East coast of England to the West Coast of Ireland.

Our purpose? To raise awareness of male cancer, and to tackle the prevailing culture of embarrassment that discourages men from discussing and resolving problems related to intimate parts of their body. Our 'Near Naked Man' suits were the perfect tool to generate discussion in the towns and villages that we passed through on our epic route.

I carried a small point and shoot camera with me for the full 6 days - here's a selection of photographs from the journey.

You can find out more about the Male Cancer Awareness Campaign by visiting their website

Prepping the bikes before the first stage.
Prepping the bikes before the first stage.
Patrick cooking a huge pasta feast in his
Patrick cooking a huge pasta feast in his 'Near Naked Man' apron.
Mark, rolling.
Mark, rolling.
Man chest.
Man chest.
Mark doing his
Mark doing his 'Near Naked Bumble Bee' impression.
Lunch in Canary Wharf, 55 miles into the first day.
Lunch in Canary Wharf, 55 miles into the first day.
A celebratory pint in Windsor after 101 miles on the road.
A celebratory pint in Windsor after 101 miles on the road.
Breakfast sausages.
Breakfast sausages.
Day 2 passed through the stunning Wiltshire countryside in between Windsor and Bath.
Day 2 passed through the stunning Wiltshire countryside in between Windsor and Bath.
The peloton.
The peloton.
A typically chaotic lunch break.
A typically chaotic lunch break.
Special tomatoes.
Special tomatoes.
Patrick.
Patrick.
Luke had an extensive repertoire of outlandish stretches.
Luke had an extensive repertoire of outlandish stretches.
Rhod.
Rhod.
Beers for Patrick after a long day in the saddle.
Beers for Patrick after a long day in the saddle.
Maintenance at the end of Day 3.
Maintenance at the end of Day 3.
Breakfast Porridge.
Breakfast Porridge.
After lunch on Day 4 things got really tough; this was the top of the first of a seemingly endless series of hills. (spot the
After lunch on Day 4 things got really tough; this was the top of the first of a seemingly endless series of hills. (spot the 'Near Naked Woman'!)
Rhod feeling the pain.
Rhod feeling the pain.
The
The 'Near Naked Men' in convoy.
Luke
Luke
Packing the bikes away in Porthcawl.
Packing the bikes away in Porthcawl.
Graham showing off his now infamous
Graham showing off his now infamous 'Map of Africa' sweat stain.
A marvelous massage for Jim at the end of Day 4.
A marvelous massage for Jim at the end of Day 4.
This is what the pain of a deep tissue massage looks like after 400 miles of cycling in 4 days.
This is what the pain of a deep tissue massage looks like after 400 miles of cycling in 4 days.
It
It's not about the bike.
It
It's all about the bike.
The team ready to hit the road in Rosslare.
The team ready to hit the road in Rosslare.
A makeshift Irish breakfast.
A makeshift Irish breakfast.
Jim taking on fuel.
Jim taking on fuel.
Reveling in the quietness of the Irish roads.
Reveling in the quietness of the Irish roads.
Pit stop.
Pit stop.
A final energy drink before hitting the home straight into Galway.
A final energy drink before hitting the home straight into Galway.
Yours truly, yet to master the art of sun cream application.
Yours truly, yet to master the art of sun cream application.
5 miles to Galway.
5 miles to Galway.
A Near Naked assault on downtown Galway.
A Near Naked assault on downtown Galway.
6 Days, 600 Miles. A jubilant and emotional Luke.
6 Days, 600 Miles. A jubilant and emotional Luke.