bikinglondon.com

Burglar jailed for £100000 gems raid at José Mourinho suite

Real Madrid boss Mourinho, tipped to rejoin Chelsea as their new manager, had booked into the five-star Wyndham Grand Hotel in Chelsea with wife Matilde and 16-year-old daughter Tita in March.

Jamie Filan, 32, an Arsenal supporter, bypassed tight security and helped himself to the gems including a Cartier pendant, earrings and a ring worth £51,450. The haul included a Bulgari white gold watch and earrings worth £30,450, a £14,900 Van Cleef and Arpels gold bracelet; a Tiffany 18ct white gold diamond cross pendant, worth £2,450; a gold ring valued at £4,600 and a pair of Chaumet earrings, worth £2,750.

Filan also took computers worth £1,200 and a coat worth £1,850.

Mourinho had been away on business when Filan got into his penthouse suite. He put the jewels in a Louis Vuitton suitcase belonging to the Mourinho family, before coolly asking the hotel concierge to book him a taxi and strolling out, the court heard.

Filan was on licence at the time after being released from a sentence for a domestic burglary carried out last year.

He has an appalling criminal record and in 2007 was jailed for five years for killing dental nurse Michelle Dever in a hit-and-run in Lancing, West Sussex. He had no licence or insurance.

Filan was let out in June 2009 and hit the headlines after bragging on Facebook about jet-skiing, quad-biking and nightclubbing in Ibiza while on licence. Peter Zinner, prosecuting, told Southwark crown court how the Mourinho family had been left “extremely distressed” by the raid. Filan was caught a fortnight later after he targeted another suite at the Four Seasons in Park Lane. He stole items including an iPhone 4S and two bottles of perfume but was caught by security staff the following day after returning to try his luck with a different room.

Filan, who has numerous aliases, has committed more than 21 thefts in the past decade. Sentencing, Judge John Price said: “This was a planned entry and an expensive hotel suite.

“You talked your way in and you had the nerve to talk your way out with the expensive suitcase, getting the concierge to call you a taxi. That’s a real professional burglary and you have done it many times in the past. You are a persistent burglar of either domestic premises or hotels. “

Judge Price also banned Filan from entering any hotel in the City of London and the City of Westminster for five years after being released from jail, as part of his licence conditions.

Filan, of Peterborough, admitted two counts of burglary.

Share

Criminal who took over £100000 of jewellery from Mourinho’s hotel room in …

By
David Kent

07:23 EST, 14 May 2013


|

07:23 EST, 14 May 2013

A career criminal who raided the penthouse hotel suite of football boss Jose Mourinho and his family has been jailed for 31 months.

Jamie Filan, 32, grabbed designer gems worth more than £100,000 after the Real Madrid boss booked into the five-star Wyndham Grand Hotel in Chelsea with wife Matilde and 16-year-old daughter, Tita.

The Arsenal supporter bypassed tight security before helping himself to precious gems including a Cartier pendant, earrings and a ring worth £51,450, which the soccer star had given to his wife.

Taken: Jose Mourinho was robbed of more than £100,000 of gems

Taken: Jose Mourinho was robbed of more than £100,000 of gems

A Bulgari white gold watch and earrings worth £30,450, together with a £14,900 Van Cleef and Arpels gold bracelet; a Tiffany 18ct white gold diamond cross pendant, worth £2,450; a Bourcheron yellow, white and pink gold ring, valued at £4,600; and a pair of Chaumet 18ct white gold diamond earrings, worth £2,750, were also taken.

Mourinho, widely tipped to return to Chelsea this summer, was away on business when Filan raided his suite.

Filan also helped himself to a white Apple Ipad 2 worth £519, an Apple Macbook Pro valued at £1,829, and an Ermengilo Zegna coat, worth £1,850.

He then stashed his ill-gotten gains in a Louis Vuitton suitcase belonging to the Mourinho family, before ‘coolly’ asking the hotel concierge to book him a taxi and strolling out. 

Filan was on licence at the time after being released earlier this year from a sentence for a domestic burglary carried out last year.

Locked room: Mourinho had been staying in a Chelsea hotel wife his wife and daughter

Locked room: Mourinho had been staying in a Chelsea hotel wife his wife and daughter

He has an appalling criminal record
and in 2007 he was jailed for five years for running over and killing
dental nurse Michelle Dever in Lancing, West Sussex.

Filan was then let out in June 2009 and hit the headlines after bragging on Facebook about
jet-skiing, quad-biking and nightclubbing in Ibiza while on licence.

Peter
Zinner, prosecuting, told Southwark Crown Court how the Mourinho family
were left ‘extremely distressed’ after jewellery worth £106,600 was
stolen during the raid.

‘On March 23 this year the victims of
the burglary, who are in fact Jose Mourinho, the Real Madrid football
manager, and his wife Matilde and their daughter, Tita, booked into a
penthouse suite at the Wyndham Grand Hotel.

‘Mr Mourinho left the hotel on March
26 as he was called away on business, but Mrs Mourinho and their
daughter remained in residence there until after the burglary.

‘Access to the eighth floor of the hotel, where the penthouse suites are, is difficult due to security measures which require a swipe card to be used in the lift.

‘Access, however, can be gained via a service lift but only staff would be aware of this.

Return: All the signs point towards Jose Mourinho moving back to London to take charge of Chelsea again

Return: All the signs point towards Jose Mourinho moving back to London to take charge of Chelsea again

‘It seems that on March 27, Mrs Mourinho and her daughter left the suite to go shopping in London at 10am.

‘The
suite was left locked and secured but on their return, they discovered
the suite had been entered unlawfully and a significant amount of
personal property was taken.’

Filan
was caught a fortnight later on April 13, after he targeted another
suite at the exclusive Four Seasons in Hamilton Place, Park Lane.

He
stole items including an IPhone 4S and two bottles of perfume but was
apprehended by security staff the following day after returning to try
his luck with a different room.

Filan, who has numerous aliases including ‘Jimmy Dormer’, has committed more than 21 thefts in the past decade.

‘He targets premises specifically because of the prospect of rich pickings and his preference is to steal from hotel rooms where there are high value items,’ Mr Zinner said.

Special One: Some Chelsea fans are very keen to see Mourinho back

Special One: Some Chelsea fans are very keen to see Mourinho back

‘This wasn’t a lucky burglary, there
is a very strong inference that the defendant was aware Mr Mourinho and
his family were staying in the room and that he specifically targeted it
for the rich picking he would have obtained.

‘He
has a complete cavalier attitude in that he re-offended within two
weeks of a major burglary resulting in a significant gain for himself.’

Sentencing Filan to 31 months in prison, Judge John Price said: ‘This was a planned entry and an expensive hotel suite.

‘You talked your way in and you had the nerve to talk your way out with the expensive suitcase, getting the concierge to call you a taxi.

‘That’s a real professional burglary and you have done it many times in the past.

‘You are a persistent burglar of either domestic premises or hotels.

‘You have great expertise and you knew how to get into these places and you did it very cleverly.

‘You knew exactly what you were doing.’

Big move: Mourinho has lost the faith of some of the Madrid players because he dropped skipper Iker Casillas

Big move: Mourinho has lost the faith of some of the Madrid players because he dropped skipper Iker Casillas

Judge Price also banned Filan from entering any hotel in the City of London and the City of Westminster for five years after being released from jail, as part of his licence conditions.

Wearing a black tracksuit, Filan looked to be on the verge of tears as the sentence was passed, before waving to his girlfriend as he was led out of the dock.

James Higbee, defending Filan, said he turned to crime after accruing a £7,500 debt with a loan shark, adding: ‘He has no intention of returning to London when he is released and will remain in Peterborough to be close to his young daughter.’

Filan, formerly of (18) Eccelstone Square, Westminster, and now of (76) Lythemere, Orton Malborne, Peterborough, admitted two counts of burglary.

He has 19 convictions to his name for 49 offences, 21 of which are for theft.

Prison: Filan has been jailed for 31 months over the raid

Prison: Filan has been jailed for 31 months over the raid

Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.

Share

Airline one2one: Skúli Mogensen

Which airlines have inspired WOW?

There are a number of very good airlines out there today and, as a newcomer, we would be foolish if we hadn’t studied what has worked and what has not in the industry. Examples of very interesting airlines in my mind are Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Norwegian and Virgin Atlantic, all of which have inspired some initial starting elements of WOW air, but we always try to add our own twist to the equation.

 

What is the mix between business and leisure travel on your flights?

It’s actually a mix of 75% leisure and 25% business, which is a strong mix for sustaining key routes year round like our London, Berlin and Copenhagen.

 

What is the untapped potential for tourism to Iceland?

We think Iceland is still in an early phase as a ‘hot destination’ and expect overall market to grow from 600,000 to between 1 and 2 million visitors annually.

 

Do you expect the expansion in tourism arrivals to come from new or established markets?

There is still expansion capacity in our established tourism markets such as the UK, Germany, France and Scandinavia. However, the larger opportunities will come from North America and eventually Asia. I expect tourism to hit 1 million visitors within the next few years and exceed this, as long as the industry and government continue to work together to build the necessary infrastructure to handle such growth. It’s extremely important to manage and protect the country’s attractions as I believe one of the unique aspects of Iceland is how clean and unspoilt it is. Of course we also must promote other attractions which are plentiful around the country but more off the beaten track.

 

Do you see opportunities in ‘New Europe’?

This summer we are flying to Vilnius and Warsaw which is as far east as we’re going this summer but we will continue to look at new destinations as we expand our network including ‘New Europe’.

 

What destinations or types of holiday appeal most to people from Iceland?

Icelanders are extremely varied like any other nation, really. There are those who want to enjoy plenty of sunshine and relax on a beach, those who want to experience other cultures and there are those who want to experience a real adventure on their holiday. I think the trend in Iceland, as well as elsewhere, is that people want to be active, explore and experience new things while abroad.

 

What are WOW’s goals in outbound and inbound tourism?

For inbound tourism we are hoping that WOW air can be a one-stop shop for visitors, offering flights, hotels and activities through www.wowiceland.co.uk. For outbound tourism we offer great value flights to 14 different destinations as of 2 June 2013.

 

What is WOW air’s network strategy?

A high frequency of flights to a range of destinations, all year round.

 

What are the drivers for this year’s new routes?

Ultimately, our customers are the main driver for route expansion. We want to fly to destinations which our customers love whether that is for business or leisure. Operating the low-fare model does mean we are flexible and that we can react quickly to supply what our customers demand. At WOW air, we are constantly looking to offer our customers great value and expand our existing offering. We see great opportunities in North America and look forward introducing New York spring 2014, hopefully.

 

Do you have a favourite WOW Air route?

The route I fly most regularly is the Reykjavik–London route, but I am very excited about the new Reykjavik–Barcelona route, which starts in June 2013. The route to New York starting in 2014 will be the route I look most forward to from a company perspective.

 

Is WOW’s irreverent and fun approach at risk as the airline expands?

No. Our mission is to offer the best price to and from Iceland, to be the most punctual and reliable airline and always with a smile. Those are our core values. We are very proud of being the most punctual airline in Iceland currently. I don’t believe our approach is at risk as we expand.

 

What are WOW air’s plans for expanding its fleet?

In our first summer of operation we had two aircraft. This summer we will have four aircraft and, hopefully, by 2014 we will have six.

 

How will gaining an air operator’s licence from September affect routes and services?

Gaining our operator’s licence in September will give us a lot more freedom and flexibility in how we operate our aircraft. It also gives us greater control over our flight timings and new routes.

 

What are Iceland’s undiscovered attractions?

I am certain that Iceland can continue to grow rapidly as an adventure/active destination where people experience the outdoors and the wonders of our geothermal landscape. Heli-skiing, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking or fishing are just some of the activities which you can do in Iceland as well as visiting active volcanos, glaciers, waterfalls and geysers. The unique daylight hours make sure our destination is always changing – if you see something in summer, it will be a totally different experience to see it in winter.

 

What are your personal tips for visitors to Iceland in where to go and what to do?

Well I just got back from skiing in Tröllaskagi in the northwest of Iceland, which was spectacular. It was phenomenal to ski all day on untouched terrain and then gaze at the Northern Lights in the evening from a hot tub. Around Iceland I try to do smaller daytrips whenever possible and there are a lot of great outdoor options around Reykjavik. A local favourite of mine is a hike up Esjan on a good day – this is very refreshing!

I also love spending a day mountainbiking or roadbiking in and around Hvalfjörður and then I relax in the natural hot spring at Hvammsvik, which is right on the edge of the ocean so you can even do a little wild swimming which is also becoming increasingly popular. There are so many great spots around Iceland but I would definitely recommend the Westfjords and, on the way there, I would recommend stopping at Snæfellsnes, Flatey and Latraberg to name a few. In Reykjavik I would definitely check out the local museums and galleries. Iceland has an amazing arts scene, whether it’s music, art or literature, and I am constantly amazed by the new local stream of talent.

 

Is Iceland likely to remain a relatively affordable destination?

Yes, I expect the ISK to remain fairly low valued in the foreseeable future. Of course, WOW air’s mission is to offer the lowest possible fare to Iceland from the UK and hopefully enable more people to visit our unique country. Due to currency controls in Iceland, I expect the ISK to remain fairly steady in the coming years, although it might be an artificial steadiness due to the controls.

 

Why did you enter the aviation field?

I have strong belief in Iceland as a destination and I love a challenge.

 

What are your interests outside work?

I love keeping as active as possible. I compete in triathlons as often as my training allows and I started the WOW Cyclothon, which is a non-stop relay bike race around Iceland on route 1. The competition is held annually in June when the sun never sets. I competed last year and my training has started for the competition coming up.

 

Which figures in the aviation world inspire you?

Neil Armstrong.

Share

3-year-old on road to biking glory

A THREE-YEAR-OLD cycling champion from Nottingham scooped yet another trophy at a national competition.

Despite having been on a bike for only a year-and-a-half, Ashton Heron, of Bilsthorpe, has won several awards and competitions.

  1. AshtonHeron

    Ashton (centre) races to the top

And he has now won in the first qualifying event of the Strider British Balance Bike Championships in London.

Ashton made headlines after he became the UK Bike Balance champion for his age group at a contest in Manchester last July.


Main image for The Soul Kitchen

Use this voucher to get 2 FOR 1 on all side dishes at The SOUL KITCHEN LONG EATON EVERY TUESDAY

Terms:
*terms and conditions apply
Pleasepresent voucher or show on SMART phone redeem offer

Contact: 0115 8962290

Valid until: Tuesday, May 14 2013

His mum, Tina Austin, says he’s had a 24/7 obsession since hitting the saddle when he was just 18 months old.

She said: “He absolutely loves it. He shows off to all his family and friends and brings it into school.

“In a typical day, he’ll cycle to school, cycle back from school and then go out again to cycle some more!”

Despite his big wins and burgeoning talent, Tina insists they’ve never pushed Ashton into taking part in any of the races.

“If he didn’t enjoy it, there would be a lot of kicking and screaming,” she said.

“Whether he enjoys it has always been the main thing.”

Dad Adrian Heron said: “If he ever says he doesn’t want to go and compete, then we won’t make him.

“But when we ask him if he wants to go for a cycle ride, he still gets so excited.”

Ashton will take part in several competitions in the UK this year, culminating in September at the Strider Bike Balance Championships in Manchester, which he aced last year.

Mark Hayward helps to organise the competitions and says he’s been taken aback by Ashton’s enthusiasm.

He said: “Ashton is a phenomenal talent and at just over three, that’s even more incredible. I know that Sir Chris Hoy was on a BMX from the age of five or six. We could be working with an Olympian of the future.”

Check out the video below of the competition in London from last weekend

Share

Hull College in Iron Man challenge for MacMillan Cancer Support

BIG-hearted students have been flexing their muscles to raise hundreds of pounds for a cancer charity .

A group of Hull College sport students undertook an Iron Man Challenge to raise more than £650 for MacMillan Cancer Support.

  1. GYM CLASS HEROES:  The students who took part, at the Scholars Gym, Learning Zone, KC Stadium, Hull.     Pictures: Kate Woolhouse

    GYM CLASS HEROES: The students who took part, at the Scholars Gym, Learning Zone, KC Stadium, Hull. Pictures: Kate Woolhouse

The students rolled up their sleeves to take up a biking, rowing and running challenge in the Scholars Gym in the Learning Zone, based at Hull’s KC Stadium.

Seventeen students, who are all studying year two of an extended diploma in sport, took up the challenge to row a total of 3.86km, bike 180km and run 42km.


Main image for Affinity Hair Spa

A full head colour or 1/2 head highlights, luxury Redken treatment, cut blowdry for JUST £40 (Save £25) or upgrade to a full head of highlights for JUST £50 (Save £35). Add a spray tan for JUST £10.

Terms:
New customers only (not visited salon since 25/02/2013). Monday – Thursday only. Savings based on directors Rates.

Contact: 01482 423178

Valid until: Wednesday, July 31 2013

Student Leigh Nicholson, 18, said: “We decided to take on the Iron Man Challenge as it is a well known challenge that we knew would take a lot of determination to complete. However, we know it will be worth it in order to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support.

<!–

By use of this code snippet, I agree to the Brightcove Publisher T and C

found at https://accounts.brightcove.com/en/terms-and-conditions/.

–>

<!–

This script tag will cause the Brightcove Players defined above it to be created as soon

as the line is read by the browser. If you wish to have the player instantiated only after

the rest of the HTML is processed and the page load is complete, remove the line.

–>

“We decided to complete the challenge as a group so we could support and encourage each other throughout.

“It took us all together ten hours, 49 minutes and six seconds to complete it.”

The students chose to support MacMillan after one of their tutors, Nick Wilmot, ran in the London Marathon for the charity.

Student Sam Norris, 17, said: “The Iron Man Challenge was really hard but once you got into it the time just flew by, it was well worth it for cancer research.”

Ben Wood, 17, said: “It was challenging but that’s why it’s called a challenge. And raising money for charity makes it worth while.”

Another student, James Grantham, 18, tackled a tough “anaconda” mini race challenge as the rest of the group took on the Iron Man Challenge.

James said: “It was the hardest thing I have ever done but I enjoyed every minute of it. It was worth it for such a great cause.”

Three male students also had their legs shaved to boost the fundraising.

Share

Team Rwanda: from genocide to the Olympics

Twenty years after the genocide, Adrien Niyonshuti became the first Rwandan cyclist to compete in the Olympics. He tells Channel 4 News about his journey and his part in a new film about the team.

Ask most athletes what they were doing as children and you might hear stories of early ambition. Or how they suddenly discovered a natural talent.

Perhaps even tales of intense training schedules.

Adrien Niyonshuti could never be described as being like most athletes. In 1994, when he was a child, Adrian was escaping genocide.

It was the systematic killing of 800,000 Rwandans by their own fellow countrymen that formed the backdrop to his childhood. At the age of just seven, Adrien managed to escape. But six of his brothers didn’t make it.

Almost 20 years on, Adrien and I are sitting on a park bench in a supposedly summery London. Except we’re faced with a blustering wind and a shivery Adrien is determined to keep his orange woolly hat firmly on his head. We finally persuade him to lose the hat for filming.

It is harder to persuade him to talk about the past. After all so much has happened since.

Please wait while this video loads. If it doesn’t load after a few seconds you may need to have Adobe Flash installed.

Last year, Niyonshuti made history carrying the flag for his country at the Olympics. He was the first Rwandan to qualify for mountain biking and his whole journey to get there has been documented on camera by a film team.

Rising From Ashes tells the story of Adrien and Team Rwanda, their struggle to make it in the world of cycling and their hopes that one day Rwanda may be known to the world for something other than the scenes of horror from 1994.

Personal tragedy

The film tells the personal stories of the cyclists – of how they lost family members and of their difficulties in making it as professional athletes.

It also tells another difficult story. Team Rwanda’s head coach is former US cyclist Jock Boyer – the first American to ride in the Tour de France. He is also a convicted child abuser. In 2002 he pleaded guilty to seven counts of lewd and lascivious acts upon a child and spent a year in a US prison. The film shows Boyer’s attempt at redemption, as he spends years training the Rwandan cyclists.

Adrien is back in London to promote the film. At the end of last night’s premiere, the audience gave him a standing ovation. Adrien stood up calmly and waved – the experience of London 2012 has made him used to fame as an athlete. He says the “amazing” experience of the Olympics has made the UK his favourite country.

But when I ask him about his new found fame, not just as an athlete but now as a film star, he seems to take it in his stride.

“It’s really good,” he says, almost underwhelmed. But then his eyes light up and he adds: “I have, like, 3,000 friends on Facebook.

More on this story

Share

Join Team Telegraph in the RideLondon-Surrey 100

The route involves some testing climbs and is almost identical to the one that
the professionals will ride later in the day for the inaugural Prudential
RideLondon-Surrey Classic event.

The Telegraph team will ride for Headway, a charity that works to improve life
after brain injury. It is a cause close to James Cracknell, who suffered a
life-threatening head injury three years ago.

“A brain injury affects the victim and the family,” he explains. “Headway
helps people understand and cope with the injury. If you suffer a brain
injury, people don’t know whether you’ll improve or how quickly.

“You also meet others who have been through the process of recovery and
it’s a huge help to understand what you’re going through. I’m very proud to
support it and I’m looking forward to a great day.”

Team Telegraph members:

Alan Smith

The former Arsenal and England striker won every domestic trophy playing with
the Gunners, and a total of 13 caps for the national side. The Telegraph
football columnist admits to being an occasional cyclist.

“I can’t run because of my knees, so cycling is good,” he explains. “I‘ve done
the London to Brighton but I shall need to spend more time in the saddle
between now and August.”

Marcus Armytage

The former jockey won the 1990 Grand National on Mr Frisk. A busy Telegraph
horse racing columnist, Armytage admits that he cycles infrequently.

“Last time I pedalled anywhere I think it was to the village shop,” he
confesses. “My bike is gathering dust so I’m going to have to get moving.
I’m pretty fit otherwise, I do a few intensive sessions in the gym each
week.”

Charlie Starmer-Smith

The Telegraph travel editor’s last foray on two wheels was L’Étape, an
amateur stage of the tour de France. If that sounds like he is a hardcore
competitive cyclist and force to be reckoned with, it’s worth noting that it
is the last time he straddled a bike.

“I’ve been living on past glories,” he admits. “I’m a fair-weather cyclist but
now I have a target it will get me going again.”

James Cracknell

James Cracknell has been a keen cyclist since quitting the water. However, in
July 2010 he was hit by a lorry while cycling from Los Angeles to New York,
causing severe head trauma. Today he is vice-president of Headway, the
charity that works to improve life after brain injury.

He took part in the Duathlon World Championship qualifying trials in April.
“I’m time-trial fit, not 100-mile fit so I’ll have to do some work,” he
says.

Sally Gunnell

The former Olympic and world champion hurdler completes the team’s line-up.
Though she pedals along the South downs, where she lives, road biking is a
new thing for her.

“I’m reasonably fit but I’m still always getting overtaken by old guys in
their seventies, so I must be doing something wrong,” she says. “It’s going
to be a challenge but I’m looking forward to it because we all need a
challenge.”

Plus one more. . .

Enter your details below for the chance to become the sixth member of Team
Telegraph.

Please note that you’ll need to be able to prove your fitness to compete in
the challenge and you will need to own a road bike.

Share

Travel Picks: Top 10 spots to get an adrenaline rush


LONDON |
Fri May 10, 2013 11:53am BST

LONDON (Reuters) – Everyone likes a bit of excitement on holiday. But for those bold travelers who enjoy testing their limits with exhilarating stunts, rides and thrills, the members and editors of VirtualTourist (www.virtualtourist.com) have compiled a list of their Top 10 Spots to Get an Adrenaline Rush. Reuters has not endorsed this list:

1. Bungee jumping at the Macau Tower, China

Most bungees are built into gorges or natural settings, so how about jumping off a man-made structure into a booming metropolis’ harbor beneath you? This is just the case at the Macau Tower, the world’s second highest bungee jump, dropping 765 feet from a platform around the tower. The views are incredible, but also terrifying. You’re dropping a few feet from a steel tower with cars driving beneath you and it’s enough to terrify even the most confident daredevil. If you get up there and aren’t ready to jump the tower has other offerings. They provide skywalks so you can walk the perimeter of the tower on the rim, but with a harness and without needing a leap of faith. They also offer a Tower Climb. Although it doesn’t involve jumping, it’s even higher than the bungee. Climbers do a 328 ft. ascent to the tower’s summit at 1,108 ft..

2. Trekking to Mount Everest Base Camp near Kathmandu, Nepal

One of the most popular adrenaline treks among VirtualTourist members is the trip to Mount Everest Base Camp. While making it to Everest Base Camp definitely requires some training and planning beforehand, few experiences can top the view from the Nepalese side, which is at an altitude of 17,598 ft.. A VT member suggests The Upper Mustang Trek, particularly the portion above Chele, if you want really adrenaline vertigo inducing excitement. Some travelers also consider trekking the Annapurna Circuit, and members of VirtualTourist can advise you about whether or not you should trek on your own, with a guide or porter, or with an organized group. Each of these means a different experience and pace.

3. Running with the Bulls – Pamplona, Spain

A national tradition that became an international sensation, the Running with the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, is a once-in-a-lifetime thrill that many adrenaline junkies include on their bucket lists. Popularized by Ernest Hemingway’s novel The Sun Also Rises, the Running of the Bulls occurs during the San Fermin Festival, which runs each year from July 6 to 14, celebrating San Fermin, the patron saint of Navarra. The actual “Running of the Bulls” occurs every morning of the week and serves a distinct purpose – the bulls must get from outside the city to the bullring. Just being a spectator to this event is an adrenaline rush!

4. Zip lining in Costa Rica

The jungles and animals of Costa Rica are a thrill in themselves, but the vantage point and excitement of a zip line takes the entire experience to another level. A zip line, becoming more and more popular in tropical resorts, combines a series of cables and platforms at different heights that allow visitors to travel through the rainforest canopy and over rivers and water features safely. While they are a total adrenalin rush, they also serve as a unique way to see ecology, botany, and animals up close in the wild. Zip-lines are increasingly popular and can be found throughout Costa Rica, but some of the best areas to find them are Monteverde, Arenal, and Manuel Antonio.

5. Surfing Tavarua Island, Fiji

For those who want their adrenaline on the water, few spots in the world are as remote and filled with guaranteed great waves like Fiji. Tavarua Island, a heart-shaped spot located off the Western coast of Fiji near Momi, is an island resort encircled by coral reefs and the unique wave breaks that accompany them. You’ll need to take a boat out to some of them, but then you’re set for the ride of your life. The fantastic surf spots near Tavarua include the notorious Cloudbreak and Restaurants, a 200- 300 yard ride right off the island.

6. Heli-skiing in Valdez, Alaska

Many of us think skiing is risky enough as is, but if you’d like to turn up the volume heli-skiing is becoming more popular than ever. One spot growing in popularity is Valdez, Alaska, which is incredibly vertical and local organizers promise six runs a day and roll over runs. If you only get to 5 runs one day, you can ski seven runs the next day. The season in Valdez runs from early February to the second week of May, but it is suggested to get there earlier – once other North American areas close in April, many serious skiers start flocking to Alaska.

7. Ledge jumping in Queenstown, New Zealand

New Zealand has long been a hot spot for adrenaline junkies and extreme sports enthusiasts. A great spot for both is Queenstown, New Zealand where visitors can experience the Ledge Urban Bungy. After taking the Skyline Gondola to the top of Bob’s Peak, you can lunge down concrete tracks, hike the mountain-top trails, or jump from the Ledge Urban Bungy. Be warned, it has a ‘runway’ so you gain a bit of speed, and the unique harness allows jumpers to do flips, twists, and other such stunts. At 1312 ft. (400m) above Queenstown, this activity is not for the faint at heart!

8. Paraglide above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland

Multiple VirtualTourist members suggested getting a thrill while on the road by seeing your location from up above – way up above! In Switzerland, one VT member departed Interlaken, which is already quite high at 1870 ft., by van and drove up to the village of Beatenburg at 4,400 ft.. Taking off from a meadow high above Interlaken, paragliding provides thrills and unparalleled views of Lake Brienz, Lake Thun, and the town below. For those who are even more adventurous, you can paraglide from the top of Schilthorn, which is 9744 ft. high and was featured in a James Bond film.

9. White Water Rafting in Africa

Multiple VirtualTourist members suggested whitewater rafting in different areas of Africa for an extreme thrill. One popular spot is on the Zambezi, just downriver from Victoria Falls along the border of Zimbabwe. This area has Grade 5/V white-rapids and the best time to attempt them is from July to January. Another member suggested the rapids along the Nile River near Jinja, Uganda – also Grade 5 white-water rapids – although she said she will probably never do them again, it was an experience of a lifetime!

10. Rappelling in St. George, Utah

A few of our previous suggestions will have you attached to a rope, but none probably as risky as rappelling and canyoneering in St. George, Utah. Rappelling is best described as controlled descent down a rock face using a rope, commonly seen on the cover of Patagonia catalogs, and a favorite of daredevils all over Utah. St. George is conveniently located in the middle of many amazing rock formations areas including Zion National Park, Snow Canyon State Park, and slot canyons, making this the area where “canyoneering,” or hiking, climbing, and rappelling in narrow slot canyons, was born. St. George is a playground for adrenaline junkies with outstanding mountain biking, ATV trails, and an abundance of rock climbing.

(Editing by Paul Casciato)

Share

Travel Agenda

La Ville Rose

The inaugural Toulouse International Art Festival takes place in the scenic French city later this month, from 24 May to 23 June. (toulouseartfestival.com).

Indian idylls

A new adventure tour operator, Totally India, offers anything from trekking tours in Kashmir, to tiger safaris and cycling in Kerala and Rajasthan (totallyindia.net).

Highland gains

Caledonian Discovery has launched a second barge, Ros Crana, on the Caledonian Canal in Scotland. The boat has space for 12 guests, with outdoor activities such as canoeing, sailing and mountain-biking on offer (fingal-cruising.co.uk).

It’s a small world

Another World: A Festival Micronation takes place at Thoulstone Park in Somerset from 30 May to 2 June. As well as live music, the festival will be arranged in micro-regions and tickets issued as “visas” (sunrisefestivals.co.uk).

Dome comforts

The Finnish town of Nellim is now home to “Aurora Bubbles” – heated pods with a double bed and a transparent north-facing wall for spotting the Northern Lights. Available from September via The Aurora Zone (theaurorazone.com).

Street wise

Countries from Turkey to Trinidad and Tobago, will be showing off their culture and cuisine at The World on Regent Street festival in London tomorrow. (regentstreetonline.com).

30

The capacity, in litres, of Kipling’s smallest new Darcey trolley. The boldly- printed, 2.4kg, soft duffel-style case has four spinner wheels and fits all airline cabin requirements. It also comes in a 60-litre size (from £120, kipling.com).

Share

Sexism is endemic in cycling. Keep calm ladies and ride on

When I first began commuting by bike in London a female friend started at the
same time. Every day she had a new tale of being bullied, shouted at or
harassed by fellow cyclists and motorists. She was cat-called at lights,
motorists constantly wanted to give her their opinions, male cyclists at
traffic lights challenged her to race then jeered if she chose not to. If
she stopped to fix a puncture the cacophony of horns was worthy of a Jay-Z
track.

Although hugely sympathetic to her plight, I just couldn’t identify with her
experiences. I could count on the fingers of one hand the number of comments
that I had ever received on my bike.

Then I thought about the differences between her and me. She embraced
form-fitting Lycra and her pneumatically curvy, top-heavy figure looked
sensational on a bike. Her blonde hair flowed out from underneath her
helmet.

I am not curvy and wore baggy shorts, a scruffy t-shirt and kept my brown hair
in a plait.

Cathy Bussey

It was only when I traded in my blue men’s mountain bike for an exceptionally
girly, pink, cream-wheeled Dutch model that I started to understand what she
was going through on a daily basis. On my blue bike I was invisible. On my
pink ‘lady-bike’ every motorist and cyclist in London had something to say
to me. From ‘get off the road, Barbie’ at traffic lights, to motorists
rolling down their windows to shout ‘advice’ at me, I was seemingly fair
game.

The more feminine I appeared, the more attention – almost universally negative
– I attracted. I wondered if it was just me. So I wrote a blogpost
on the subject and was overwhelmed by the number of women – and men – who
came forward to share their experiences online with me.

“The comments I receive are typically ‘lose some weight, fat-ass’,” said one
US-based female cyclist. “I’m overweight and I’m a woman so that makes me
double fair game. Do they want me to drive a car to the gym and take a spin
class?”

“I’ve been chased, threatened and even had bottles thrown at me – but never
when I’m with my boyfriend,” confided another UK-based female cyclist. I
asked if she let it put her off. The answer, happily, was no. “Biking is
‘what I do’. When we bike, we are advocates for it. So our job – all of us –
is be calm and ride on.”

“I’ve had men snatch tools off me when I’ve been fixing a puncture on the
street,” a different response read. Another, male, cyclist bemoaned the
cat-calls his 14-year-old niece attracted on her bike. A female cyclist with
a Dutch bike told me how she was frequently patronised and sold the wrong
sized parts by bike shops as male assistants refused to believe she knew the
correct sizing for her own bike. “I view a trip to the bike shop with about
as much enthusiasm as a trip to the dentist,” she confided. And a seasoned
female cyclist told how her training sessions in Richmond Park almost always
ended with male cyclists “like a pack of dogs on my tail”, treating her to
pleasantries such as “I wish I was your saddle”.

These accounts are classic ‘everyday
sexism
’, harassment and abuse received by women purely because they
are women. A significant number of men got in touch to say how horrified
they were by the behaviour of some of their ilk. One added that as an older,
grey-haired man he felt he’d experienced similar discrimination. But by and
large the men who contacted me had no idea this phenomenon existed and were
disgusted by it.

It certainly doesn’t happen all the time, or to every female cyclist. As I
myself found, if I dressed neutrally and rode a sporty-looking bike I
remained invisible. Other female cyclists who contacted me said they’d
cycled entirely hassle-free for years, often adding “but I do ride a man’s
bike and wear sports kit and generally ‘keep up with the boys’”. The crux of
the issue appears to be femininity. Appear ‘feminine’ on a bike and it’s
taken by some as an invitation – much as the fabled short skirt is taken by
some as an invitation for sexual harassment.

Sexism is endemic in cycling. Leading lights, including Olympic silver
medallist Lizzie Armitstead, have spoken out about the differences at the
top, noting how male cyclists are paid far more and given far more support
and exposure than their female counterparts. And British Cycling has pointed
to the lack of female representation on its own board, pledging to recruit
women board members to help even the playing field. But with years of male
domination to contend with, despite the overwhelming success of female
British cyclists at a top level, it could take some time before this sexism
is stamped out through all levels of the sport.

The good news is the behaviour of a small minority is very much abhorred by
the majority of decent road-users. And the double good news is none of the
women I spoke to allowed this kind of behaviour to deter them from cycling.

Fortunately events like Cycletta means there are always safe havens for female
cyclists until this kind of behaviour has been eradicated completely.

Cathy Bussey is the author of The
Girl’s Guide to Life On Two Wheels
, a fun, friendly and accessible guide
for female cyclists published by Ryland, Peters Small.

She is also author of Brilliant PR and What To Do When You Win The
Lottery and lives in London with her husband and children. She blogs about
all things cycling at thegirlsguidetolifeontwowheels.blogspot.com
and can be found tweeting @cathybussey.

Share