European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 29, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday june 29, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 3 4 bicyclists leg out trip across great Britain by Dave did10 . Bureau Cornwall England a there Are easier ways to travel from Scotland to England most people opt for trains buses cars or planes. Not four service members from Raf Leuchars Scotland. Instead they turned the journey into a min tour of the United kingdom. A amps Dave Didlo with satisfaction capt. Louis Dimodugno signs into the Logbook of the lands end John of groats association signifying that he had completed the trip from Scotland. When they peddled their racing bikes 847 Miles in one week from the Northern tip of Scotland to the southwestern tip of England. Capt. Louis Dimodugno a . Air Force Exchange officer and Cpl. Anthony Crombie Cpl. Sid Young and senior air craftsman Tony Crossfield from the Royal air Force endured rain Strong winds Mountain passes some unfriendly motorists and a few punctured tires to raise Money for the children Sliver disease foundation a British National Charity. When the Charity committee for Leuchars Tornado aircraft servicing flight was looking for fund raising ideas the four cyclists agreed that a Marathon Bike ride would be Ideal. Crombie the chief inspiration for the journey had made a 600-mile Bike ride through Scotland about four years earlier. He did no to think a trip across the length of the United kingdom would be too formidable a task. A a it a something in be always wanted to have done a Crombie said. A we tried it four years ago but we came up against too Many obstacles with accommodation and  eventually the idea was submitted to the units Charity committee chaired by Dimodugno. The committee turned the idea Down but Dimodugno wanted to do it anyway. While the committee made alternate plans for fundraising events Dimodugno and his colleagues saddled up their bikes and departed from John of groats in Scotland on june 19, peddling an average of 120 Miles per Day for about 16 Miles per hour. Each Riding Day started around 9 30 . And ended about 7 . After seven Days four Flat tires and one broken Axle they rolled into the parking lot at lands end having raised 3,000 pounds about $4,700 along the Way. The raised funds were a mixture of donations and pledges. When they reached their destination a. A. A amps Dave Aldio the four members of the Raf Leuchars team Roll along on the last leg of their trip to lands end in Southern England. At lands end on saturday evening senior air craftsman David Mcvey and Cpl. Bill Oddy who had followed the group with a support Van were waiting in the parking lot with Champagne. Mcvey and Oddy Shook the bottles of. Bubbly popped the corks and hosed Down the weary riders. Despite the Happy ending the trip was not without its discouraging moments. Crossfield had a Flat tire just five Miles after the group got under Way. On Day two the riders raced their toughest Challenge trying to Cross Scotland s Grampian mountains. A amps Dave Dio o the four riders Are from left Raf Cpl Anno and Raf Cpl. Sid Young. They and Raf Cpl. Bill Oddy. A it crossed All our minds to pack it in when we were going across that Dumoch tar pass area a Dimodugno said. The pass Northwest of Dundee took them As High As 1,600 feet into the grampians and they battled head winds All the Way. All the preparation for the ride paid off Dimodugno said. 1 the group had cycled Between 20 and 25 Miles daily plus a a big Long one ride every weekend Quot he added. At the end of the journey they Learned that their cycling efforts made them eligible for membership in the exclusive lands end John of groats association. The association is a nonprofit organization composed of people who have made the same and to end journey a in one go by various Means of conveyance. Since the association began keeping its Logbook in 1983, More than 300 people have entered their names and comments about their experiences. A we get All sorts a said a spokeswoman for the lands end and John of groats co., a British entertainment company that owns the land at both locations. Lots of people walking. Some have even done it walking backwards. We be had it done by harrier Jet. They be done it by steamroller. Vintage tractors. All kinds of different automobiles a the fastest trip by bicycle Dimodugno said was set by a Man going in the opposite direction. He made it in 41 hours. A you have the prevailing winds with you when you re going the other Way Quot Dimodugno said. A we were fighting some pretty Nasty in prevailing Winus on the Way  although Dimodugno is proud that his team accomplished the ride with 50 hours in the Saddle he was Quick to Point out that he would do tilings a Little differently the next time around. �?o1 think id definitely do it again in the other direction a he said