Pedal4Progress
Pedal4Progress is a North West cycling club closely affiliated with the Communist Party of Britain.
Since 2013 Merseyside and Manchester Morning Star Readers and Supporters Groups have been organising annual Pedal4Progress cycle rides to raise much-needed cash for the paper and other causes.
Les Doherty explains: “Pedal4Progress is a loose collective of Morning Star readers and supporters led by some Communist Party members in Manchester, Merseyside and London who have captured the surge in cycling’s popularity in Britain to principally help raise funds and circulation figures for the Morning Star — Britain’s only daily newspaper of the left.
“In addition to the Morning Star, the group has also helped raise money for other progressive organisations and worthy causes through the annual cycling challenge, including the Working Class Movement Library in Salford.
“The recent successes of Team Sky and British-based riders in the pro-peloton have seen huge increases in cycling. From increased numbers of weekend warriors involved in cycling clubs up and down the country to the more casual rider, cycling has become a fast growing mass participation sport.
“It is with this in mind that Pedal4Progess seeks to take our Marxist outlook into life’s peloton and involve cycling enthusiasts in shaping the working-class response to the crisis of capitalism.
The team did its “first edition” fundraiser in 2013 by riding from Whitehaven in the north-west of England to Tynemouth in the north-east.
In 2014 the team set out from the Morning Star’s William Rust House headquarters in London on a four-day 425km ride to Paris and the annual fete L’Humanite.
“Not only did we help raise the paper’s profile and finances, we also delivered a special French-English edition of the paper which was distributed free to festival-goers,” says Doherty.
In 2015 they pedalled for two days from Liverpool to Durham for the annual Durham Miners’ Gala. Their ride for the Working Class Movement Library in Salford was a mere 80km.
Further rides included marathons to support the work of the Connelly Association to mark the centenary year of the Easter Rising in Dublin, a “challenging” 120km ride into the Pennine hills of Yorkshire hills to visit and raise money for the last remaining socialist Clarion House club in Britain, which has provided a welcome rest to walkers and cyclists for over 100 years.
There have been more marathons, including one to the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival.
Wherever the team goes, at home or abroad, its cyclists are warmly welcomed by socialists, communists, trade unionists and peace campaigners.
On the revived “Peace Race” between Prague and Berlin last year, they were joined by riders from the German Communist Party.
“We saw comrades and friends join us in Berlin for the celebrations and again helped raise the profile and vital funds that keep the Morning Star in circulation but also stepped up our political activities by reaching out to the Morning Star’s sister papers,” says Doherty.
“We carried a simple message: ‘No to Nato, Yes to peace.’ And just as those former Peace Race teams did, we rode together to promote peace and socialism.”
Pedal4Progress hopes to see the permanent re-establishment of the Cold War Peace Race on an international basis. They’ll be involved with progressive people and groups in Germany negotiating how that might happen.[1]
Pedal4Progress comrades
Steve Lyons, Mike McKnight, Les Doherty, Bob Kelly, Mark David-Gray, Kevan Nelson, Regi Thomas, Bernie Wentworth, Paul Vogt, Peter Middleman.
International Solidarity
Pedal4Progress International Solidarity.
Eddy Redmond, David McKnight, Matthew Tollitt, Alex Gordon, Peter Middleman, Les Doherty, Mike McKnight.
Pedal4Progress Germany 2018
Kevan Nelson, Mike McKnight, Eddy Redmond, Mike McKrell, Les Doherty.
Germany 2017
Mike McKnight, Les Doherty, Bob Kelly, Mark David-Gray, Peter Middleman.
Tolpuddle ride
In the early hours of 15th July 2016 Pedal4Progress left the comfort of the overnight hotel and took the short drive to the Morning Star head quarters in East London to begin the last stage of the 4th edition.
The solo effort by Les Doherty to ride over 230Km to the Tolpuddle Festival and personally deliver solidarity greetings from the Morning Star to all those attending the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom eve of festival fringe meeting.
Text messages from veteran rider Mark David-Gray and constant support on twitter from Peter Middleman (himself a vet of all four editions) and the Halton Unison Local Government Branch was a welcome cure for the screaming lungs and legs.
Big thanks to all those who have supported and sponsored us across all four challenges and to this years team of riders; Richard Aubery, Anna Burton, Paul Collins, Jason Cook, Les Doherty, Matt Jenkinson, Mike McKrell, Peter Middleman and Matthew Tollitt Logistics and support driver Kevan Nelson and our P4P graphic designer Hazel Roberts.[2]
Sam Watts Brigade confirmed
The 3rd edition challenge team signed up to the Sam Watts Brigade was confirmed April 2015 only 24 hours after announcing details of this years cycle challenge to raise funds for the Morning Star.
The team of 10 riders and 4 logistics core has a familiar ring to it with a mix of new and returning members.
The ever present John O'Brien, Les Doherty, Peter Middleman and Regi Thomas help form the spine of riders along with Head of Logistics Kevan Nelson. Mark David-Gray, Steve Lyons and Bernie Wentworth all make a return to the team for a second time following their exploits to Paris.
Helping to keep riders on the road and refreshed along the way will once again be Paul Vogt and David Owen who bring with them their European driving and map reading skills. And new to the team this year are Mike McKrell and Jason Cook both experienced riders and seasoned Morning Star campaigners.
Finally there is a welcome return to Bob Kelly with the Logistics core and to Richard Aubery, veteran of the original Coast2Coast edition who was unable to take part last year due to his recovery from a serious cycling accident.[3]
2nd Edition Challenge
September 2014 the 2nd Edition Merseyside Morning Star Readers and Supporters Group Cycle Challenge heads out to London.
The team: Peter Middleman, Bernie Wentworth, Matthew Tollitt, Les Doherty, John O'Brien, Dan Smith, Regi Thomas, Mark David-Gray. Calvin Tucker and Steve Lyons joined later.
Logistics Core: Kevan Nelson, Hazel Roberts, David Owen, Paul Vogt. [4]
Fete l’Humanite
In 2014 Pedal4Progress sent a team to Fete l’Humanite in Paris.
Kevan Nelson, Paul Vogt, David Owen, Hazel Roberts, Cad Jones, Bob Kelly, Nick Wright, Mark David-Gray, Steve Lyons, Peter Middleman, John O'Brien, Dan Smith, Regi Thomas, Matthew Tollitt, Calvin Tucker and Bernie Wentworth.[5]