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It may be the middle of summer, but three men found themselves standing in snow at the top of a mountain last week, after cycling 500 miles to get there.
In the style of The Goodies, the three men rode a three-seater bike, from the lowest to the highest point of the country before carrying the trandem all the way to the summit.
Andy Gray, Billy Spellman and Andy Layland, set off from Holme Fen, Cambridgeshire, the lowest point in Britain, on Monday June 22 and arrived at Fort William, Scotland, last Friday. Followed by a 5.2 mile climb to the peak of Ben Nevis on Saturday.
Speaking from his home in Lordswood, Chatham, Mr Gray said: ““I can’t believe I’m back at work now, it goes really quick.
“We’re all suffering a little bit, as much from the trek down Ben Nevis as anything, it really hammers a different set of muscles from what you’re used to using.”
The wind was against them on Monday and Tuesday, and made conditions particularly difficult crossing the Yorkshire Dales on Wednesday.
The 51-year-old said: “Wednesday was the hardest and longest day with all those hills, Andy’s knee started to hurt and Billy’s ankle was sore.
“It was really touch and go with his ankle on Thursday, but we found a way round it with him wearing a boot and lots of ice. We shortened a bit of the distance and the two Andy’s did most of the work.”
With the winds at their backs on the final two days across the Highlands, the three men averaged 17mph between Dumbarton and Fort William.
On Saturday, they stripped the trandem down to two wheels, three seats, three horns and the frame, before setting off up the mountain.
The trio reached the summit in three-and-a-half hours, taking turns to carry the frame on their shoulders.
Mr Gray added: “It was cold up there, I’m surprised how much snow there was.”
The ride is part of Mr Gray’s year of challenges to raise money for the Wisdom Hospice by doing 12 extreme events, from jumping into The Strand swimming pool in January to various obstacle courses. So far he has raised more than £1,150.
Mr Spellman, who works as a personal trainer at Park Club, Walderslade Road, is raising money for Bowel Cancer Research and, after hitting his target of £1,200 shaved off his beard. Mr Layland, from Worcestershire, is fundraising for Children with Cancer.
The team total stands at £4,010. To sponsor the team visit www.justgiving.com/teams/LowToHigh