Terry Robson Proves There's No Age Barrier to Long Distance Cycling

As a target for himself in 2022, Terry decided to attempt this cycling feat to mark his 80th birthday. However a crash at Lancaster, an encounter with a stone wall, and he was too injured to complete.  He resolved to try again this year.  Naturally at the exact corner he was very careful and did the entire trip. His route was 1,040 miles with a total ascent of 62,000 feet.

The shortest route is actually 876 miles but Terry's route saw him visiting some highlights and riding over the beautiful Dartmoor landscape across the Severn Bridge to Wales, then further north through the Lake District and onto Gretna Green on the Scottish Border.

Onward through Edinburgh, which was interesting as the Festival was in full swing so there was music being busked at every street corner. Next came the Forth Road Bridge and up through the Grampian Mountains of Scotland. One climb at the Glenshee ski resort near the Royal Palace of Balmoral was signed as 22%. To the cyclist it looked like a vertical wall but with no Plan B it just had to be scaled in bottom granny gear.

Then finishing off at the most northerly point on the mainland, the pretty little fishing harbour of John o' Groats, and enormous satisfaction of 14 days cycling at an average of 75 miles a day.

Terry Robson, who has completed over 100 marathons in his running career, said the feeling of elation at the end of this cycling feat was greater than comlpeting any of the London Marathons.

He also raised £2,850 for Macmillan Cancer Care Nurses and was delighted at the generosity of the public in contributing. The charity gave him a brilliant message of appreciation for his efforts. 

The 81 year old is now considering his options for his next target. Cycling France, from Caen's Normandy D Day landing beaches down to Monaco, is his ambition for 2024.