ON YOUR BIKE: James Carrington plans a mammoth cycle trek across America to raise charity cash and mark his 40th birthday
INTREPID cyclist James Carrington is taking on a mammoth cycle trek across America to raise money for charity.
Mr Carrington, of Knowlands, Highworth, will be the only person from Wiltshire to tackle the 3,000-mile, 27-day sponsored ride.
He is paying for the experience out of his own pocket with money raised through sponsorship going towards the Prospect Hospice.
He said he has more than one reason for the trip.
"I turn 40 this year and this is something to tell the grandchildren about in years to come," said Mr Carrington, who works at Key Training in central Swindon. "A traditional part of the cycling mission is to dip the wheels of your bike in the Pacific Ocean at the outset," he said.
And 3,000 miles - and an estimated 1,200 bottles of water - later, he intends to repeat the ritual in the Atlantic Ocean at the end of his journey.
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The journey will take him through the states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
"My wife Sarah thinks I'm mad, though she's very
supportive of me," Mr Carrington said. "People at work don't think I'll go through with it, but it's too late now, it's all paid for."
He took up cycling more than ten years ago and is a
member of Swindon Road Club.
He has been training for the gruelling ride by
covering 200 to 300 miles a week in all kinds of weather and is suffering for it.
"I seem to be at work, on the bike or too tired to do anything," he said.
The event starts on April 21 and will end on May 17, which means the riders must average 120 miles a day.
To sponsor Mr Carrington visit the Swindon Road Club website at www.swindon-rc.co.uk
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