Narrator: On All Hallows' eve while the children are sleeping, the veil between the worlds
of the living and the dead is lifted. The souls of the dead come back to their homes
to walk amongst the living. While you are sleeping, keep one eye open because those
that enjoy the night in costume maybe more than meets the eye.
Conor: We at GCN love an adventure but as pro cyclists, we’re used to riding during
the daytime. Since the nights are getting longer here in the Northern Hemisphere, we
thought it would be the perfect opportunity to give night riding a go.
Manon: Plus, it's Halloween, the scariest night of the year, the perfect excuse for
a night ride. Hank: Yes, I got to say that the first I did
a night ride when I did a 24-hour. [unintelligible 00:00:53] made me do it and it was far from
ideal. This time I thought I'd invite you guys along to ride around the Cotswolds. As
an added bonus, we'll be sleeping under the stars, a bit of camping. [laughs]
Manon: We're not going to stay in there? Hank: No, we need to be amongst the ghouls
and the goblins. Right, are you ready? Conor: Yes, let's go.
Hank: Let's do this. Conor: Ollie Bridgewood isn't out there, is
he? Hank: Bloody hope not.
Conor: Hank, wait for me. Manon: Whoa, I'm not used to in gravel.
Conor: I'm scared. [music]
Hank: Guys, now it's got so dark and wet. It's actually quite creepy.
Conor: Yes, and it's getting quiet, too quiet. Manon: What was that?
Conor: Oh, guys, I’ve punctured. Manon: Please not now.
Hank: Really? Conor: Sorry.
Manon: In the middle of nowhere. I'm really not sure this Halloween night ride was a good
idea. Conor: Yes, I mean, if anywhere was going
to be haunted, it would be here, wouldn't it? Anyway, I'm done now. Should we get cracking
on? Manon: Yes.
Hank: Oh gosh. Actually, guys, talking of haunted, so my dad used to tell me a ghost
story when I was a kid. Manon: Do we really want to hear this, Hank?
Hank: It's not real, of course but this land, years and years ago was used for events like
horse trials and bike races. Every year on Halloween, there was a triathlon and one year--
Narrator: One year, the weather was terrible. The worst storm they had in 50 years. All
the athletes wanted to cancel the race but the organizer had taken out a huge bet for
his son to win so he needed the race to go ahead. His son was good but not the best.
The organizer tied pieces of red scarf to certain trees on the route to show his son
a shortcut through the woods and guarantee a win. He was quite happy about the weather
as all the spectators stayed gathered under a cover at the start and finish, no one would
notice that his son had taken a different path.
As the rain hammered down and the wind blew fiercely, the starting gun was shot and the
athletes dove into the choppy lake water. As his son came out of the water and jumped
onto his bike, he found the first piece of the scarf and turned into the shortcut. The
organizer waiting excitingly at the finish. He looked up expecting to see his son breakthrough
the winning ribbon and across the finish line but the man running towards him was not his
son nor was the man behind him or the one behind him.
As the time ticked on, more and more runners raced across the line and not one of them
was the organizer's son. Hours after the race ended, his son still hadn't appeared. They
looked for hours. Those hours turn into days and the days turned into weeks but his son
was never found. Now, they say that every year on Halloween, the son comes back onto
the estate looking for the people to race him so he can finally finish. If he finds
you-- Hank: If he finds you, he'll make you race
to the end of eternity. Manon: Why did we decide to do this ride again?
Conor: What does he look like, Hank, in case we see him?
Hank: Well, my dad says you first hear the sound of his wheels as he rides to find his
competitors. Conor: Absolutely terrifying.
Hank: Right, guys. Here's our camp for the night. [unintelligible 00:04:45] ready?
Manon: Yes, I’m going on to bed, I'm pooped. Manon: Should we camp here?
Hank: Looks good, doesn't it? Conor: Yes, good a spot as any, I guess.
Manon: You got some food? Conor: God, you always think about food, don't
you? Hank: Guys, I got to say though, Si and Dan
wouldn't be up for this. They'd be freaked out.
Manon: Yes, true. Conor: Yes, so Ollie is probably still thinking
about his rim brakes at the moment, isn't he?
Hank: I don't want to hear about rim breaks. Manon: All I know, we should go to sleep.
Hank: Right, night, guys. Manon: Night. Good bye, Hans.
Hank: Hans, where'd that come from? [background noise]
Conor: Hank. Manon. Hank: What?
Manon: What? Conor: What's that? Did you hear that?
[background noise] [screaming]
Manon: Hank, Hank, where’s Conor gone? Conor. Hank: Conor?
Manon: Where is he? Conor: Manon. Hank. Hank. Manon. Help. Help.
Manon. James. James. James. Hank. [music]
Speaker 4: Hello, Conor. Join me for a swim. Conor: [screams]
Oliver: Morning, everyone. How's it going? Manon: Morning.
Alex: What’s up? Morning. James: Morning.
[crosstalk] Oliver: Anyone know where Connor is this morning?
Anyone? [music]
[00:07:20] [END OF AUDIO]