Gearing up to ride 900 miles non-stop

The owner of a mobile bicycle business is preparing to ride non-stop from John O’Groats to Land’s End in aid of Reach Learning Disability.

Mr Andy Swain, 44, of Rode Cycles, will ride a custom-built bike for just under 900 miles, without sleep, stopping for no longer than 15 minutes every 100 miles to eat.

Mr Swain, who previously lived in Southwell and has a regular stall in the Market Square, wants to complete the ride in under 65 hours.

It will be Reach’s single biggest fundraiser by a lone individual.

Mr Swain, who hopes to raise £10,000, will set off at midnight on Friday, September 21.

“I don’t believe in enjoying yourself when doing something like this for charity,” he said.

“It has to be something that you actually might not be able to accomplish, otherwise there is no point in asking for donations.”

The current record for cycling the traversal length of Great Britain, from its most north-eastern point to its most south-westward point, is 44 hours.

Mr Swain will be riding solo, supported by a team of three following in a van with a spare bike, wheels and food.

A preparation ride of 300 miles to Hamstead Heath and back, which is expected to take about 20 hours, is scheduled for today.

Mr Swain has custom-built his bike for the challenge.

Modifications have been made to make it more aerodynamic and it is fitted with navigation tools.

'The more I rode, the more I enjoyed it'

“I don’t need to add to the mileage by taking a wrong turn,” said Mr Swain, who served six years in the Armed Forces.

He now runs a mobile business servicing and repairing bicycles, despite initially not being keen on cycling after a doctor suggested he took up the sport after stopping running due to knee problems.

“My doctor suggested I try cycling but I just didn’t like it at all,” he said.

“I eventually got an old bike that was going to be thrown away and the more I rode, the more I enjoyed it. It just went from there.

“Now I have got my own bike business and I am planning on riding almost 900 miles.”

He said it seemed natural to support Reach because every year at the charity’s off-road cycle event he set up a stand for them.

Reach started in Southwell in 1999 and has four bases — in Southwell, Newark, Mansfield and the Flower Pod, located on 1.5acres of Nottingham Trent University’s Brackenhurst campus.

It supports more than 200 people with learning difficulties throughout Nottinghamshire by running courses, social activities and projects.

Mrs Sarah Cobb, fundraising officer, said: “We really appreciate all the hard work Andy has done so far and will continue to do to complete his training, as well as the hard work on the days of the event.

“Andy has set himself a high target, but we feel with the community’s support we can help him to reach his goal.”