James Teagle, associate solicitor and member of the Property Litigation Association, finished 40th out of 500 riders who took part in the RIDE 24 charity challenge, which started at noon on Saturday and was due to end 24 hours later at noon on Sunday.
Teagle ventured through Durham, Darlington, York, Goole, Scunthorpe, Lincoln, Peterborough and Sleaford before arriving at Smithfields Market in London ahead of schedule at 9am after clocking a time of 22 hours with food stops and 17 hours 55 minutes on the saddle.
He said: “There was a very heavy downpour between York and Scunthorpe which made the roads extremely slippery and spectators said they had seen a number of people come off, but thankfully most of us survived.
“It’s not easy riding in rain because all the potholes are covered in water and it’s splashing up.
“I was relieved to see blue skies once in Scunthorpe.”
Teagle was forced to leave his riding partner China Clarke behind after Clarke, a 6ft 4 sports enthusiast who specialises in boxing and triathlon, suffered from mechanical bike problems.
The rain-soaked section wasn’t the toughest moment for Teagle, as the final stretch from Royston to London was particularly gruelling – at least initially.
Teagle added: “At that stage you’re digging into your reserves.
“We turned the first corner and there was a big hill, and then there was another one, and another one, and another one, and another one.
“I got through five glucose energy gels as I felt drained – you’re meant to have two at a time max.
“After struggling I suddenly felt full of beans and I rode the last 25 miles quicker than anything before.
“Once I’d arrived and the energy gels wore off I was zombie-like.”
Teagle took up the challenge for Candlelighters, a Yorkshire-based charity which supports children the families of children affected by cancer.
Teagle has so far raised 96% of his £1,500 target, details of which are on the solicitor's JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/JamesLawBlacks/
He said: “I’m already thinking of what to do next. I might ride coast to coast across the north of England. That’s do-able in a day; that sounds much more enjoyable. I can imagine finishing and having fish and chips in the evening.
“I’m not doing that again – what was I thinking signing up for that?”
