James Teagle, who is an associate solicitor and member of the Property Litigation Association, is taking on the RIDE 24 charity challenge, which will see him cycle the equivalent distance of three Tour De France stages for charity.
Starting in Newcastle at midday on Saturday, he will venture through Durham, Darlington, York, Goole, Scunthorpe, Lincoln, Peterborough and Sleaford before arriving at Smithfields Market in London 24 hours later.
But the weather forecast looks set to dampen Teagle’s spirits, as while the South of England will bask in a heatwave thunderstorms are due to crash through the North on Saturday.
Teagle has been cycling 80 mile routes over the past few weeks in a bid to prepare, including a number of nightime rides to practice riding in the early hours.
He said: “I do not know how any ‘normal’ person can find the time to train for something of this nature.
“I am going to rely on a reasonable base fitness, caffeine and sheer bloody-mindedness – not in that order – to see me through to a ‘pint of brunch’ at a pub in Smithfield Market on Sunday morning.
“The rain will make it harder because you can’t slipstream because of the spray. I haven’t packed for sunblock because I’m confident I won’t need it.
“This week I’ve done just one short ride; a final ‘shakedown’ to make sure that the bike is ok with the mudguards I have reluctantly had to fit due to the forecast thunder storms.”
Teagle was a doubt for the event at the beginning of the month after he cracked a rib while on a mountain biking holiday in the Alps.
He added: “I faceplanted when cycling round a banked corner; my bike stayed at the top while I went down.
“It’s tender but truth be told I’m trying to forget about it.”
Teagle is taking up the challenge for Candlelighters, a Yorkshire-based charity which supports children the families of children affected by cancer.
Teagle has so far raised 89% of his £1,500 target, details of which are on the solicitor’s JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/JamesLawBlacks/
He said: “I will set off at lunchtime and hopefully arrive at lunchtime the next day and touch wood I should be back at work on Monday.
“Most people who do this are raving cycling nutters.
“It’s time to join that camp.”
Teagle will tweet live updates from the event @JamesLawBlacks
