IBERS scientists support Wales ‘Fire Ride’

Left to right: Dr Rhys Thatcher IBERS with Fire Ride core team members Iwan Cray County Commander for Ceredigion & Carmarthenshire, John Evans, Paul James and Charlie Taylor.

Scientists at Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) are supporting Wales’ Fire and Rescue Service personnel in their charity bike ride to raise £15,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity and Wales Air Ambulance.

The sports physiologists at IBERS are advising the team on the best way to prepare in relation to energy and fluid replacement strategies for the 14-day event.

The very first ‘Fire Ride’ is a bike ride that links up all of Wales’ 152 Fire Stations, and will take place over 14 days between 22^nd May – and the 4^th June 2015. A core team of riders will complete the full 1350-mile ride, and hundreds more are expected to support and join in the challenge by completing individual stages of the event.

The course will cover Wales' beautiful landscapes and joining up all of the fire service communities around the country.

All Service personnel are welcome and there is a ride for all abilities, from extreme sports and endurance enthusiasts to those who wish to partake more casually and for the fun of it.

Members of the core Fire Ride team, who will complete the full challenge, attended the sport and exercise laboratories in the Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) Aberystwyth University on Tuesday 5^th of May.

They were put through their paces and given advice on the best way to prepare in relation to energy and fluid replacement strategies for the 14-day event.

Riders had their body composition assessed via dual x-ray absorptiometry and their aerobic capacity measured which enabled advice on pacing and recovery strategies to be given.

Iwan Cray, County Commander for Ceredigion & Carmarthenshire said: “The support we have received from Dr Rhys Thatcher and his team at IBERS has been exceptional. It has been great to see the sector leading, knowledge and understanding of sports science being applied to the core riders of the Fire Ride Team. This assistance and direction from Aberystwyth University will undoubtedly put the riders in good stead for the challenge that lies ahead.”

To support the event you can donate via the Fire Ride's Team Page at https://www.justgiving.com/teams/fireride2015

IBERS
The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) is an internationally recognised research and teaching centre providing a unique base for research in response to global challenges such as food security, bioenergy and sustainability, and the impacts of climate change. IBERS scientists conduct basic, strategic and applied research from genes and molecules to organisms and the environment.

IBERS receives strategic research funding of £10.5m from the BBSRC to support long term mission driven research, and is a member of the National Institutes of Bioscience. IBERS also benefits from financial support from the Welsh Government, DEFRA and the European Union.

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