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Bristol woman to cycle around the UK and US with giant 90kg piggy bank

Rosie Mai Iredale’s journey will begin with a ride from Bristol to Brighton, departing on Monday 21st August, before a planned cycle around the UK and across the USA in 2018.

The 2m tall, 90kg gold piggy bank will be attached to Rosie’s bike on a trailer, and the challenge is part of her wider goal to raise £200,000 to build a non-profit children’s home. 

Riding will begin with a trip from Bristol to Brighton and back on Monday 21st August, which will take approximately 10 days, before numerous smaller journeys around the UK, a potential Land's End to John o' Groats ride before eventually taking the pig to America in 2018, riding across the entire country; which will likely take six months or more. 

The Bristol to Brighton trip is primarily a test of the water for the bigger challenges ahead, and with issues such as hills, suitable roads (the pig won't be allowed on cycle paths) and punctures to deal with, the determined fundraiser admits the first ride will be a learning curve: “I’m kind of winging it at the moment but have done some initial testing up hills. I've got people to help me build the piggy bank and offer advice, but while I’m out there my support crew will be the general public!" 

 

Image: Macarena Costan

Logistical issues such as hills, road suitability and equipment are a work in progress, according to the Bristol-based fundraiser

Rosie made headlines in 2015 after pushing a bed modified with wheels from Lands End to John O' Groats while sleeping in it each night, a feat which took over three months. The bed was transported to the start point of the challenge by Pall-Ex, the haulage company owned by Dragon's Den star Hillary Davey, and Rosie is hoping to book her bike and giant pig onto a container to get it to America: "I’m hoping to get in touch with a freight company to see if I can get the pig shipped over, but will also look into the possibility of getting another one built over there.”  

The support worker is studying for a Level 5 qualification in children's home management in preparation to fulfil her dream, and plans to take a career break in order to complete her journey across the US next year. You can visit Rosie's Full Reach Children's Projects websiteFacebook and Twitter pages to find out more info and donate to the cause. 

 

 

Jack has been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of the website including tech, news and video, and also contributed to eBikeTips before being named Editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master's degree in print journalism and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it's a long story). 

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16 comments

Avatar
Ramz | 7 years ago
1 like

Too many people hamming it up in the comments on the trot

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keninoz | 7 years ago
0 likes

It's good to see people doing things like this for others. I wish she was coming to Australia.

 

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Butty | 7 years ago
2 likes

I can see car drivers getting apoplectic with rage with her hogging the road.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Butty | 7 years ago
1 like

Butty wrote:

I can see car drivers getting apoplectic with rage with her hogging the road.

Especially around Bristle - they can get sow disgruntled round there.

Avatar
kevvjj | 7 years ago
2 likes

Let's hope the pig doesn't steal the limleight by hamming it up too  much.

 

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Flying Scot replied to kevvjj | 7 years ago
4 likes

kevvjj wrote:

Let's hope the pig doesn't hog the limleight by hamming it up too  much.

 

 

Fixed that for you !

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hawkinspeter replied to Flying Scot | 7 years ago
0 likes

I hope there's snout wrong with her brakes.

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Velovoyeur | 7 years ago
2 likes

She could not have made a rasher decision than this trip. Good luck 

Is there a political/work metafor here? The fat pig rides around offering no assistance while the much smaller person labours hard at the front.......Hmmmm

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brooksby | 7 years ago
0 likes

I can't get rid of the image of her going downhill and being overtaken by the pig like something out of a certain seventies sitcom...

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Bmblbzzz | 7 years ago
0 likes

Hope she's got more than just the one bungee holding the pig on the trailer!

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shutuplegz | 7 years ago
1 like

That thing must handle like a .... well .... like a pig.

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Flying Scot | 7 years ago
1 like

Looks like a tough gig/pig.

Still, I reckon the V brakes there are a good choice, hope its a flat route, its one thing hauling that uphill, quite another it pushing you downhill

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Dr_Lex | 7 years ago
4 likes

Quote:

I’m kind of winging it at the moment

Must... resist...

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PhillBrown replied to Dr_Lex | 7 years ago
0 likes

Dr_Lex wrote:

Quote:

I’m kind of winging it at the moment

Must... resist...

You'll be able to resist when pigs fly...

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balmybaldwin | 7 years ago
1 like

I hope she's fitted decent brakes to that Pig

 

At least traffic won't have an excuse for not seeing her!

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Woldsman replied to balmybaldwin | 7 years ago
3 likes

Quote:

"... while I’m out there my support crew will be the general public!" 

How about a nice sandwich - pulled pork? 

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