Riders rise to 800-mile test

8:17am Wednesday 14th May 2008

TWO young mountain bikers are now fully refreshed after completing their mammoth 800-mile bike ride from Stourport Sports Club to John O'Groats for the Back on Track appeal.

Adam Reis, of Trimpley, an engineer, and gardener Tom Archer, of Upper Arley, both 20, started their journey on April 18 and got home at 10pm on Saturday, May 3.

Mr Reis said: "It went well. I enjoyed it a lot ,although it was miserable when it rained. It felt like a real adventure sometimes but at others it was actually quite dull."

He explained: "The best bit was the two days spent travelling between Glasgow and Fort William. The scenery was amazing, with snow-capped mountains and lots of wildlife."

Mr Archer added: "I loved it but some days we were just like drones. We got up, put the tents away, got on our bikes and just did it. Other days were more special. A lot depended on the scenery and the weather."

Mr Reis said they each had to carry an extra 15kgs of camping and cooking equipment with them throughout the trip, which slowed them down "frustratingly" at times.

He explained that on their slowest days, they would travel only about 30 miles and on one occasion it took a "terrible" two hours to progress a single mile.

He added they never doubted they would complete their journey and on good days they would bike between 75 to 80 miles.

Mr Archer said: "I am a lot more tolerant now. At one point, our route was completely boggy and impassable and I wanted to throw my bike off a cliff. After that, everything got easier and things just passed over me."

Mr Reis said the two of them were close friends and did not argue at any point. They were also largely injury free.

He added: "I fell off my bike at one point but luckily it was into some heather. It was more an embarrassment than anything else."

The duo have raised more than £500 and are "toying" with ideas for their next challenge.

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