THIGHS OF STEEL

This final week of Thighs '23 was, of course, dominated by the devastating floods left after Storm Daniel passed through central Greece.

More than a year's worth of rainfall in just 24 hours.

At least 17 dead. Homes, farms and villages wrecked over an area of 730 square km.

It will take 5 years for the bread basket of Greece to recover its soil fertility. Assuming no further catastrophe. And that's a big assumption.

A sobering reminder that climate disasters - massive and accelerating drivers of displacement - are here and now.

Globally, more than 20 million people are forced to flee their homes every year due to climate catastrophes.

Here and now.

Here and now, the kindness shown to us by the people of Thessaly was humbling. Their lands and in many cases their homes and livelihoods were underwater, yet everyone we met was open and supportive.

People helped us navigate off-road between devastated vineyards and orchards, find safe places to camp at night, and opened their shops, bakeries and cafes to us travellers.

Small acts of generosity that made a huge difference to us.

The devastation made each of us feel powerless in the face of nature. The support we got from locals made us feel strongly that anyone can still make a difference.

We can still ride. We can still fundraise. We can still tell the story of solidarity with people whose lives have been turned upside down by increasingly frequent disasters like the recent cyclone that struck Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Libya.

Even when we're up against unstoppable forces, we are not powerless. Together, small acts of solidarity become signficant.

Thank you to every person reading this post in the thighs community. This is happening, right now. Bring your friends. 💚

THE FINAL DAY'S RIDE OF THIGHS OF STEEL 2024 BEGINS!

50km over a massive hill, from the island of Evia to the ancient city of Athens.

Thank you everyone for all your support.

103 people have cycled. 2,808 people have donated.

Together we've raised over £88,000 for grassroots refugee projects across Europe.

This makes a difference.

There's more we can do. If you can, please donate and share 💚💚 Link in bio https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/thighs23 💚💚

Week 6 took us on some serious highs and lows, from Trieste to Dubrovnik over the Dalmatian Alps.

Battling storms, bumpy tracks, slug-magedon, stunning roads that stunningly end in construction sites, and the general unpredictability of cycling across 4 different countries in as many days!

It was a huge achievement for all of the cyclists this week to push through and arrive to a sunny Dubrovnik for a dip in the sea and a well deserved final dinner.

Fundraising is still going strong, keep an eye out for the next current total announcement as we near our first goal of 80k for initiatives by and for people impacted by displacement and migration through .

£80,000! A great milestone as we leave Dubrovnik and set out on this week's adventure.

And by 'adventure' we truly mean that anything could happen as we ride seven days up into the mountain wilds of Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia before, jelly legged, we cruise down into Thessaloniki.

THANK YOU so much for your support this far. We have so much further still to go so let's regroup and target... £100,000?! ... for the grassroots refugee solidarity movement.

💚🦵💚

SUPPORT & DONATE HERE: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/thighs23
(Link in bio)

Every penny donated to the Thighs of Steel fundraiser goes directly to our partner charity and will help -

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Support grassroots projects that provide dignified and sustainable initiatives for migrants and asylum seekers

📢 Increase awareness of the social, economic, political and ecological factors which cause migration thereby challenging negative public perceptions on the movement of people.

MASS Action do this by redistributing 100% of the funds raised by Thighs of Steel cyclists to a bunch of grassroots solidarity projects across the UK and Europe.

Very few charities do what MASS Action do and every pound you donate makes the world a richer place. 🙏 Thank you.

Follow our info series posts for more on the so-called 'migration crisis', the UK refugee bill, the situation facing migrants in Greece, illegal pushbacks in the Mediterranean, and more.

Week 6 and we are already at 94% 🙌🥳

SUPPORT & DONATE HERE: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/thighs23
(Link in bio)

Every penny donated to the Thighs of Steel fundraiser goes directly to our partner charity and will help -

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Support grassroots projects that provide dignified and sustainable initiatives for migrants and asylum seekers

📢 Increase awareness of the social, economic, political and ecological factors which cause migration thereby challenging negative public perceptions on the movement of people.

MASS Action do this by redistributing 100% of the funds raised by Thighs of Steel cyclists to a bunch of grassroots solidarity projects across the UK and Europe.

Very few charities do what MASS Action do and every pound you donate makes the world a richer place. 🙏 Thank you.

Follow our info series posts for more on the so-called 'migration crisis', the UK refugee bill, the situation facing migrants in Greece, illegal pushbacks in the Mediterranean, and more.

The mighty dolomites have been wizzed, zoomed, screamed, cried, laughed, and fundraised their way across by a group of intrepid cyclists and their (sporadically) sturdy steeds.

Leaving from Milan we were treated to a gentle canal start which quickly became a collage of lakes, valleys, and peaks. With these came incredible views, espresso, and encounters. Shout out to Susan!

Our initial fundraising first target of 80,00 is now within reach, and we’re hopefully it’ll push over the edge before the time we reach Dubrovnik!

Huge ups to the lovely crew who made Milan to Trieste so special, we can’t wait for what’s to come.

Chapeau to all the cyclists who put their absolute all into an extremely tough week from Geneva to Milan!

Cycling over the Alps is an epic undertaking and this year there was no warm up - the cols of Colombière, Aravis, Méraillet, Roselend and Petit Saint Bernard made the first three days intense rides with over 2,000m of climbing every day.

We were either going up slowly or coming down fast - no in between - and the psychological challenge of climbing for hours at a time felt like a personal battle to be won, with cyclists spread out along the switchbacks.

We shared ridiculous alpine views and a succession of exhausted, giddy triumphs at each summit, celebrating the last croissant in France and the first gelato in Italy.

Far from marking the beginning of the end, our arrival in Italia threw up a whole bunch of new challenges.

The heat of the Aosta Valley plains hit us like a hairdryer blast to the face, a bike chain slipped and wrapped itself in knots, a routing fail sent us up a sketchy mountain goat track.

Despite all the challenges, the group stayed strong. Cycling so far and so high is really hard. It's good to remember how lucky we are to be able to take on such challenges voluntarily.

Between us, we've now raised over £72,000 for grassroots refugee solidarity projects. Grant applications for a share of this money are open until 25 August.

Please contact if your organisation or an organisation you know would like to apply for a grant of up to £10,000.

Enormous thanks to all our hosts on both sides of the Alps. Finding enough space for 17 people to camp in the mountains isn't easy and wouldn't be possible without the help of many generous souls. Thank you!

Extra big shout out (for the fourth year of thighs) to Don Mauro and everyone at Lesa Sports Club. We couldn't imagine a more beautiful final night's camp than on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Magical.

And finally, thank YOU for all your donations and your sharing of our stories. This kind of fundraising, so important for organisations working on the ground, only works because of our shared networks. Thank you for caring.

We have raised 88% of our fundraising target. How amazing is that? 🙌🥳

SUPPORT & DONATE HERE: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/thighs23
(Link in bio)

Every penny donated to the Thighs of Steel fundraiser goes directly to our partner charity and will help -

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Support grassroots projects that provide dignified and sustainable initiatives for migrants and asylum seekers

📢 Increase awareness of the social, economic, political and ecological factors which cause migration thereby challenging negative public perceptions on the movement of people.

MASS Action do this by redistributing 100% of the funds raised by Thighs of Steel cyclists to a bunch of grassroots solidarity projects across the UK and Europe.

Very few charities do what MASS Action do and every pound you donate makes the world a richer place. 🙏 Thank you.

Follow our info series posts for more on the so-called 'migration crisis', the UK refugee bill, the situation facing migrants in Greece, illegal pushbacks in the Mediterranean, and more.

SUPPORT & DONATE HERE: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/thighs23
(Link in bio)

Every penny donated to the Thighs of Steel fundraiser goes directly to our partner charity and will help -

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Support grassroots projects that provide dignified and sustainable initiatives for migrants and asylum seekers

📢 Increase awareness of the social, economic, political and ecological factors which cause migration thereby challenging negative public perceptions on the movement of people.

MASS Action do this by redistributing 100% of the funds raised by Thighs of Steel cyclists to a bunch of grassroots solidarity projects across the UK and Europe.

Very few charities do what MASS Action do and every pound you donate makes the world a richer place. 🙏 Thank you.

Follow our info series posts for more on the so-called 'migration crisis', the UK refugee bill, the situation facing migrants in Greece, illegal pushbacks in the Mediterranean, and more.

Week 2 is done!

530km from Bristol to Paris with a brilliant bunch of steely cyclists who went from total strangers to wild wee buddies in no time at all 😂

Many memories will live long, from playing human Pooh Sticks in a swift-running stream at camp on Day 1 to cycling into Paris thrashed by apocalyptic rain!

Watching the white cliffs fade away on the horizon behind us - before our mad 50km dash to camp before the sunlight disappeared and the rain dropped.

That first sight of the Eiffel Tower from the hills fifty miles away, not long after dawn, as a family of deer bounded across the road before us.

And, of course, almond chocolate croissants.

Huge huge thanks to our hosts for the week on both sides of the Channel, including the wonderful people of gorgeous Greatham and marvellous Marines, and once again the luscious Lovebrook Farm.

Thanks as well to everyone who has donated. Every penny goes to help fund small grassroots refugee and migrant solidarity projects.

Being part of the thighs community on wheels is (despite the rain) incredibly joyous - but it wouldn't be anything without our reason why.

We will keep on resisting the violence of our border and pushing for free movement for all humanity.

Big chapeau to all the cyclists for doing every mile this week with whole hearts and steely thighs.

Onwards to Week 3 and a thighs first - Geneva!

SUPPORT & DONATE HERE: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/thighs23

Every penny donated to the Thighs of Steel fundraiser goes directly to our partner charity MASS Action and will help -

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Support grassroots projects that provide dignified and sustainable initiatives for migrants and asylum seekers

📢 Increase awareness of the social, economic, political and ecological factors which cause migration thereby challenging negative public perceptions on the movement of people.

MASS Action do this by redistributing 100% of the funds raised by Thighs of Steel cyclists to a bunch of grassroots solidarity projects across the UK and Europe.

Very few charities do what MASS Action do and every pound you donate makes the world a richer place. 🙏 Thank you.

Follow our info series posts for more on the so-called 'migration crisis', the UK refugee bill, the situation facing migrants in Greece, illegal pushbacks in the Mediterranean, and more.

(ps: We made it to Paris - week two highlights / rainlights coming soon....)

We’re currently spotlighting issues facing migrants and projects supporting migrants to encourage a nuanced engagement with the often bleak, difficult, and violent context as we fundraise for projects working in solidarity with migrants and against the violent border regime! Today we’re discussing “pushbacks,” the practice of physically moving migrants out of a territory or away from a border to keep them from applying for asylum or migrating through the country. Greece has been pushing back migrants for many years, both on the land border at Evros and in the Mediterranean Sea.
The recent shipwreck at Pylos is one example of a pushback – eye witnesses report that the Hellenic Coast Guard attempted to tow the Libyan fishing trawler with an estimated 700 people on board, causing it to capsize and killing an estimated 650 people. In 2022, Aegean Boat Report registered over 988 pushback cases in the Aegean Sea, involving 26,133 people who tried to reach safety in Europe. Pushbacks also occur on the mainland, with un-uniformed officers abducting migrants near the border, brutalising them, stripping them of their belongings and sometimes clothes, and dropping them in Turkish territory or onto boats without petrol.
Over 2,000 people died attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in 2022, and over 400 died in just the first three months of 2023. Death is the intentional consequence of pushbacks. The European Commission has allocated €800 million to Greek authorities for border surveillance and migration deterrence in 2021-2027, twice as much as the last funding cycle and with less than .07% going to search and rescue efforts. Greece is not the only perpetrator here. As we watch Italy, Libya, Spain, and Malta pushback migrants from Europe, we learn that the EU would rather actively drown migrants in the Mediterranean than let them claim asylum in Europe.
(Continued in the comments)

Only 11 days before we set off from Glasgow to Athens and our hard-riding cyclists have now raised over £30,000 🙌 in solidarity with refugees, migrants, asylum seekers and all people on the move 💚

SUPPORT & DONATE HERE: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/thighs23

Every penny donated to the Thighs of Steel fundraiser goes directly to our partner charity MASS Action and will help -

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Support grassroots projects that provide dignified and sustainable initiatives for migrants and asylum seekers

📢 Increase awareness of the social, economic, political and ecological factors which cause migration thereby challenging negative public perceptions on the movement of people.

MASS Action do this by redistributing 100% of the funds raised by Thighs of Steel cyclists to a bunch of grassroots solidarity projects across the UK and Europe.

Very few charities do what MASS Action do and every pound you donate makes the world a richer place. 🙏 Thank you.

Follow our info series posts for more on the so-called 'migration crisis', the UK refugee bill, the situation facing migrants in Greece, illegal pushbacks in the Mediterranean, and more.

Thighs of Steel and our fundraiser partner are committed to taking collective action to overcome violent migration policies and border regimes. In the UK, we are living under a government that is determined to brutalise migrants. The new and deeply inhumane “Illegal Migration Bill” was approved in the commons on 26 April 2023. The 2022 Nationality and Borders Act criminalised irregular arrival to seek asylum - this bill goes further. It will revoke the right to seek asylum for people arriving in the UK via “irregular” routes. Except for limited schemes for specific nationalities, there are no “regular” and safe routes to the UK to claim asylum.
This bill has devastating impacts. In short, asylum seekers who arrive in the UK without a visa will be deemed “illegal” and prohibited from applying for asylum. Claims will be considered “inadmissible” and people will be removed to their home-country (the place they were fleeing from) - or a so-called “safe” third country. We oppose this Bill in its entirety.
We are extremely happy to see the proposed plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda shut down by the appeals court, and hope that this is the end of the preposterous, inhumane, and unethical idea to externalise the UK asylum process.
Thighs of Steel and will continue to support projects that strive to overcome violent migration policies and border regimes. Follow along as we continue to post about the context of migration in Greece, the UK, and France as we fundraise.

Today is

'Every person on this planet has a right to seek safety – whoever they are, wherever they come from and whenever they are forced to flee.'

That's one of the reasons why 100 or so Thighs cyclists are coming together this summer to raise £80,000 in solidarity with dignified and sustainable projects that support refugees, migrants and asylum seekers via MASS Action

So far, we've raised £21,527. Can you help get that total up to £23,000 today?

👉 https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/thighs23

Your donation can do more than you think. Take these examples from community centre in Athens -

🍲 £10 buys 20kg of fresh fruit and veg to serve at the Khora community kitchen, free for anyone who needs a hot meal with friendly faces

⚖️ £50 covers the costs of running the Khora Asylum Support Team for a day, providing vital, free legal support to people on the move in Athens

⚡ £100 pays the electricity, water and gas bills at the Khora kitchen for a FORTNIGHT

🤤 £250 covers food supplies needed at the Khora kitchen for a whole MONTH

Above all, your donation is a tiny revolution against the power structures that make leaving home such a deadly decision for millions of people worldwide.

708 people have donated so far. Join us!

Thank you 🙏

We’re currently spotlighting issues facing migrants and projects supporting migrants to shed light on the context as we fundraise for projects working in solidarity with migrants.
The situation in Greece is incredibly bleak for migrants and projects supporting them. During the so-called “Migration Crisis” of 2015, over one million refugees transited through Greece into Europe. Following that “crisis,” the EU fortified their borders and built detention centres which have become increasingly “secure”, treating asylum-seekers as criminals, restricting their movement, and keeping them from receiving aid from humanitarian projects. Many organisations have reported rampant and systemic physical violence and rights abuses against migrants in these detention centres called “Closed Control Access Centres,” CCACs.
There are currently over 100,000 asylum-seekers in Greece, and the majority of them are from Afghanistan, Syria, and Pakistan. Fewer people are entering Greece than before because Frontex and the Greek Coast Guard have been “pushing back” tens of thousands of migrants in the Mediterranean, physically pushing boats and rafts of migrants into the sea and leaving them to drown. We’ll discuss the abhorrent practice of pushbacks again soon.
This information is hard to hear, but even harder to live through. That’s why we support projects working in solidarity with migrants in Greece. Please share widely and follow along as we discuss the context of migration in Europe through the coming weeks!

£20,000 raised 🙌 and just in time for beginning on Monday

SUPPORT & DONATE HERE: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/thighs23

Every penny donated to the Thighs of Steel fundraiser goes directly to our partner charity MASS Action and will help -

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Support grassroots projects that provide dignified and sustainable initiatives for migrants and asylum seekers

📢 Increase awareness of the social, economic, political and ecological factors which cause migration thereby challenging negative public perceptions on the movement of people.

MASS Action do this by redistributing 100% of the funds raised by Thighs of Steel cyclists to a bunch of grassroots solidarity projects. In 2022, these included:

🍲 Khora Athens: a community kitchen and legal advice centre in Athens
🌾 Hakoura Organic Farm: a refugee-run sustainable agriculture farm in Greece
🚲 Bikes For Refugees Scotland: do exactly what you'd expect - and more
✊ Calais Migrant Solidarity: No Borders activist and info centre in Calais

Very few charities do what MASS Action do and every pound you donate makes the world a richer place. 🙏 Thank you.

Follow our info series posts for more on the so-called “migration crisis”, the UK refugee bill, the situation facing migrants in Greece, illegal pushbacks in the Mediterranean, and more.

£10,579 to be precise!

105 cyclists are signed up to ride from Glasgow to Athens with us this year (a record! 🥰)

In partnership with MASS Action we're aiming to raise £80,000 in solidarity with refugees, migrants and other people on the move across Europe.

💡 INSPIRED FUNDRAISING IDEA 💡

Last weekend, Lou (Paris-Geneva) piggybacked a friend's event and offered to cook a maaaaaassive vegan chilli for the audience/crowd/party.

She charged £5 a plate - although many people gave more - and all the dosh went into her Thighs x MASS Action fundraiser.

BOOM: £300.

That's another £300 heading straight for grassroots solidarity projects, sustainable, refugee-led communities and activist support networks. 💗

Cycling caps off to you, Lou! 🧢

All donations abundantly welcome here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/thighs23

🦵 Bristol to Paris ⚠️ LAST 3 PLACES
🚴 530km in 6 days 📅 22-29 July
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Fundraising in solidarity with refugees
🏕️ Wild camping 🚚 Van support

⏰ Sales end FOREVER on 14 May ⏰
https://www.thighsofsteel.com/bristol-paris.html

💬 It'll be one of the most rewarding weeks of your life, in every single way. Fundraising for a great cause, beautiful cycling, awesome people, wild camping. You'll honestly want to carry on for another week.

💬 It's a unique experience, challenging in places but worth it, for all of the beautiful joyful experiences that just kept coming. I felt loved and held. I loved and held.

💬 It's a brilliant adventure where you are doing good for you (you feel fit and your heart will feel full from the beautiful community vibes), you're doing good for the organisations that you raise money for (we raised more money than we thought). Meeting wonderful folk, exploring new places, working in a team to get the whole group from A to B. It's magic!

Thighs of Steel was never intentionally woman-led, it just happened that way.

Strong, connected, hilarious women getting a bunch of friends together to ride 5,000km in solidarity with refugees, migrants and people on the move.

7 years later, we're still not your average cycling crew:

🚴‍♀️ Our 2023 cyclists are 69% women
👩‍🔧 Our core team is 60% women
🗺️ We also happen to organise Europe's longest annual bike ride

The result is a community where women and men alike can drop competition, dominance and braggadocio and instead fully embrace the connection, vulnerability and warmth of an epic bike ride with friends.

We asked our 2022 cyclists about their experience on the ride, which sums us up better than we could say it:

💬 "Having a huuuuuuge hug from a bunch of people I'd met less than 24th a previously, while at the top of a hill and crying my eyes out. It was the most welcoming thing to ever happen to me."

💬 "The afternoon of the 5th day was so insanely hot, with lots of short sharp hills. It was the only day I set out feeling physically tired already and I also got my period that day. It was a combination that sapped my mood and energy and made me doubt myself. But my group that day was wonderful, they lifted me and kept me going and I am grateful!"

💬 "Don't overthink the things that seem huge. You're stronger than you think and when you're not the team will carry you through."

Thanks for bringing you.

Thanks everyone for a lush ride to Brighton on Sunday - 72km of quiet roads over the Downs, avoiding the tourist grind of Ditchling Beacon and popping out at sunny Shoreham-on-Sea.

Flapjacks, Eccles cakes, hot chocolate on the beach (plus 3 bold dippers 🥶). Sunset, murmurations and new friends. Let's do it all again next month!

Thighs rides are open to all and the vibe is no person left behind. How we ride: https://www.thighsofsteel.com/cycle_club.html

Traditionally, we do circular rides of 50-70km from a London train station. But it feels like the appetite is for more days out like this.

It's your ride too - what do you reckon?
..DATES FOR YOUR DIARY...

🚴 SUNDAY 26 MARCH 🚴
Circular ride out of Crystal Palace with David

🚴 SUNDAY 30 APRIL 🚴
Adventures with Aimee and Paul

🚴 SUNDAY 28 MAY 🚴
TBC adventures with TBC & TBC 😂

✨ JUNE ✨ ..is gonna be a bit special, as we invite you to join us on the very first Thighstival, a whole weekend together, celebrating our love of bikes and our opposition to borders.

Get in touch if you fancy helping to organise or if you just have questions.

And we'll see you out there!
xx

Ps: Sorry Ed for chopping you out of the photo - someone had to go 😅

Still spaces free on 3 legs - all AWESOME. Please share furiously 🙏
https://www.thighsofsteel.com/athens2023.html

GLASGOW-BRISTOL (14-22 JUL): Be there at the start to explore the wild west of Scotland, England and Wales. Plus you speak the local language 🦜

BRISTOL-PARIS (22-29 JUL): Camp on farms and football pitches, gobble cheese on toast and croissants, and cycle cycle cycle to the #1 most iconic finish line under the Eiffel Tower 🗼

TRIESTE-DUBROVNIK (25 AUG-1 SEP): Forget the tourist coast, explore the Adriatic's mountainy, lakey, villagey interior! 1% Italy, 2% Slovenia, 11% Bosnia, 86% Croatia, 100% adventure 🐻

Or hop on the waiting list in case another week comes free...

📷 2022 Glasgow-Bristol cyclists Zeina (behind the camera) and Vick! 💚

Big love to you all - time for a lie down now!
x

EARLY ACCESS SIGNUPS OPEN TOMORROW
👉 6PM FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY 👈

But only if you've registered here first: https://thighs23secret.paperform.co

You know what to do.
x

🚲 What bike do I need? 🎒 What kit should I bring?
🗻 Which week should I do? 😅 How hard do I need to train?
🚚 Does the van carry our luggage? 📦 Can I bring a bike box?
💰 How much does the ride cost? 💸 Where does the fundraising go?

All your questions answered in a 10-minute Q&A with our very own Georgie Cottle 🥰

Join us on Instagram at 1pm tomorrow (Thursday 16 Feb)
https://www.instagram.com/thighs.of.steel?upcoming_event_id=17948881409339132

Keep your eyes out for further live Q&As on Friday 5pm and over the weekend too.

It's time to get ready for an adventure that (according to one 2022 cyclist) 'won't be nearly as painful and chafe-y as people tell you it will be!' 😂

https://thighs23secret.paperform.co/

💥 Register NOW and this summer you too could be pointing at the Eiffel Tower after cycling all the way from Bristol and saying things like:

🚴 "It'll be one of the most rewarding weeks of your life in every single way. Fundraising for a great cause MASS Action , beautiful cycling, awesome people, wild camping. You'll honestly want to carry on for another week."

💚 "We started as total strangers, we left as close friends. It's a unique experience, challenging in places, but worth it for all of the beautiful joyful experiences that just kept coming. I felt loved and held. I loved and held."

🗻 "Bristol is f**king hilly."

🔗 Signups open at 6pm on Friday 17 Feb - but ONLY if you register here first: https://thighs23secret.paperform.co/

Last year, the most popular weeks sold out in less than an hour. Please don't miss the boat/bike!

Big love,
Steely

💨 Beat the crowds, join the list: https://thighs23secret.paperform.co

🙋 Sign up for 1 week of our 5,400km Glasgow to Athens ride
🚴 Cycle 500-700km of mountains, forests and pastry shops
🏕️ Wild camp, watch stars, ride with friends, jump into rivers
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Help raise £80,000 for grassroots refugee projects via MASS Action
​
We design the routes, lead the rides, find camp, cook dinner, solve problems and carry all your kit in Calypso, our support van - but don't think that'll make it easy...

✊ ​Whatever comes at us during the week, we'll tackle it together

All info: https://www.thighsofsteel.com/athens2023

(Btw, last year the most popular weeks sold out inside 1 hour... 😱 Get on that list!)

It is great sadness that we must bring news of the end of Calypso, our beloved van. 2022 marked the end of an era of magnificent service. You shall not be forgotten. Partly because... WE NEED A CALYPSO 2.0!!!

If you have any leads or contacts that might be up for donating, helping fund, or very cheaply selling an extra-long-wheelbase crew van (6/7 seats) please LET US KNOW.

Farewell, Calypso, queen of vans, whose long and faithful wheelbase those who knew you won't forget. Though your body will rust, your spirit lingers on in the quiet, pedal-spun places of Europe's winding roads. May your steely-thighed descendants ever flourish and your two-wheeled friends find solace for the loss they have sustained.