Forres loon cycles unsupported from Land's End to John o'Groats

A pensioner from Forres who took up long distance cycling just two years ago, has completed a 1000 mile personal challenge.

Trevor ‘Robbie’ Roberts - who now lives in Culloden - cycled unsupported from Land's End to John o'Groats last month, setting off on May 31 and arriving at his final destination on June 30.

“I feel quite chuffed,” he said. “I was told that few, if any cyclists, do it unsupported. Many are part of a group, and have organisers who arrange everything, as well as carry their bags.

“The oldest person to do Land's End to John o' Groats is 90, and that was supported. When I checked, the oldest person to do it unsupported was 87.

“This means, as a callow youth of a mere 82-and-a-half, I can’t make any claims of that sort, but there are not too many folks of this vintage who do this.”

As a child in the 1950’s, Robbie rarely cycled more than the five miles between Findhorn and Forres to go to and from school.

For years, his bike gathered dust in the shed. Finally, when he decided that the cost of motor insurance was ridiculous, he sold his car and started biking … Aged 81.

Robbie bought a folding bike to go further afield on buses and trains. After completing trips from Culloden to Cannich, Culbin Forest, around Loch Ness and more, he decided to cycle from Lands End and John o' Groats at around 70 miles-a-day.

Before he felt ready to go, and to get the feel for consecutive trips coupled with the use of hotels, he trialled Culloden to Newtonmore, staying in The Highlander and pedalling home on the following day.

This was followed by a trip to Ullapool, a night stop and return, and finally by a trip to Bonar Bridge and back.

“My general health and fitness is bloody good,” he said. “I also have an exercise bike and a treadmill, and until recently, had done a lot of hill-walking, including Ben Wyvis more than 60 times.”

An assistant in the Alpine Bike Shop in Inverness lent Robbie his Polygon Heist X7 hardtail ‘urban bike’, assuring him that it was made with an excellent reputation.

Robbie had a stem riser fitted, plus puncture resistant tyres and new brake pads. Finally, with his two bells and a mirror, panniers and a front basket, he was all set.

He said: “Myself and the bike with all its luggage were exactly 20 stones, which is 280 pounds.

“Apart from the state of the road surfaces, and in some cases, non-existent signs, the main challenge was the hills. Cornwall is known to be hilly, and apparently a lot of cyclists give up at this stage.

“I saw no cyclists at Land's End, and the first ones I saw on the road were around the Somerset border, equipped for local runs. Long and steep hills continue into Devon and beyond.

“A 17 per cent hill is, in old money, 1 in 5, and can go on for miles. It would be hard enough pedalling an unladen bike on these sections so I did a lot of walking.

“Of course the warm summer weather is a factor, and the journey was always more pleasant on cloudy days.”

Robbie realised early on not to rely on signposted cycle paths.

“They are not all as well maintained as our local ones,” he said. “'B' Roads also have their problems and because I used Travelodges, for a large amount of the time I followed main roads.

“A surprising amount are badly in need of resurfacing. Also, cycle paths beside main roads, where they exist, are frequently very narrow, and some have not been maintained.

”Bushes have been allowed to grow across the paths, compounded by those which hang so low that a child on a tricycle could not get through. This forces cyclists to use main roads which are frequently pot-holed.”

Apart from in Penzance where Robbie used the Premier Inn, he stayed in Travelodges in St Austell, Okehampton, Barnstaple, Taunton, Glastonbury, Bath, Gloucester, Kidderminster, Shrewsbury, Wrexham, Warrington, Preston, Morecambe, Kendal, Penrith, Carlisle, Dumfries, Ayr, Dumbarton, Falkirk and Perth.

In Newtonmore, he stayed at The Highlander and in Inverness at the Stoneyfield Travelodge. He went on to Tain’s Royal Hotel, then Helmsdale’s Bridge Hotel, and to Thurso’s Royal Hotel.

“Finally, I pedalled from Thurso to John o' Groats,” he said. “I met a couple with a tandem who were just starting from there!”

Robbie cycled back to Culloden and is now sorting through the 480 photographs he took on his 1162-mile road trip. So what’s next?

“I have a few projects planned for next year,” he finished, “but nothing on this scale!”