In the summer of 2000, three members of Maidenhead Rotaract Club cycled from Lands' End to John O'Groats to raise money for charity. Here is their story:

After weeks of poor preparation the three of us took the train to Penzance and cycled the 10 miles to our first hostel. Bar blaming the Cornish Pasty that I had in Penzance it was clear that my preparation was significantly lacking, I felt shattered and I had done just 10 miles! Not a healthy response, considering the prospect of completing seventy miles a day for the next fourteen days.

We awoke for what would be a normal 8am start and began the trek from Land's End. It was clear that Lee and Gina were inherently fitter than I, since they set a blistering pace that left me behind on more than one occasion. We soon began to adjust the pace and began to appreciate Cornwall's fine choice of road design. The roads were cleverly designed to use the minimal amount of tarmac, going straight up and over hills rather than taking the longer routes around them. You can imagine how grateful we were!

Our worst day was the second day, with realisation that, unlike Olympians, we had not peaked and were unlikely to do so considering our poor training regime. In addition we had rain and plenty of it. It was fun at times when we cycled through flooded roads with our feet and half the wheel immersed in water. The knowledge that we couldn't get any wetter at this stage made earlier efforts to remain dry quite futile. We had to dig deep into our scant reserves of energy as we crossed a wet and miserable Dartmoor. Never were we so glad to reach our hostel that day. OK, it was up another steep hill but all UK youth hostels are placed up one, but it had a log fire and very friendly Wardens.

It was only later on that we appreciated how lucky we were on this trip, we were not to be seriously bothered by rain again and the prevailing wind was kind to us. We suffered the first four days and a postcard we found later rather aptly depicted our poise.

So as time went on our aches that came from various sources receded and we began to enjoy the scenery. We had planned to arrive at each day's destination by early afternoon, and then we could explore the town, read and relax. Lee could learn the German language from the tapes and books that he carried. All these carefully laid plans were shattered as we always arrived late afternoon/evening and only had time to eat and then collapse.

Scotland was by far and away the most enjoyable section of our journey. In particular the most memorable day was spent following the Caledonian Canal and cycling off road alongside beautiful lochs. We avoided heavy traffic and with strengthened muscles we quickly knocked off the miles and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery. Although I will always wonder about the sanity of a man who planned a route to include the highest village in Scotland, Wanlockhead is no doubt a great place but not what I would put at the end of an 86 mile day.

So for the technical details, we cycled for fourteen and a half days and had two rest days. We totalled 1012 miles and averaged 70 miles a day. Although we averaged between 10 and 12 miles an hour, our long lunches and regular stops meant we were often on the road for 10 to 12 hours a day. I read one book and Lee didn't learn a word of German.

What will I remember of the trip? Will it be the numerous bakeries we cleared that resulted in all of us gaining weight on this epic journey? The fact that Lee and Gina and I got on so well and became good friends? How I was impressed with the courage and determination of Gina? The friendly people we met? The beautiful countryside? It will probably be all these and the knowledge that we have raised in the region of £2000. It is something of an achievement but I won't be rushing out to do it again. In fact you have permission to shoot me if I ever set to ride it again! Now I wonder?

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