1000 Miles in 30 Days

It's been a few days now since I last sat on a bike and I am actually missing it a little!😂

I would like to say a huge big massive thank you to everybody that has supported me, riden with me and donated along my journey. I knew it would not be an easy challenge and it was pretty tough at times, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Together we have raised a huge amount of money for Cancer Research UK and I had no idea at the start that it would amount to this much, so thank you everybody.

Here are a few facts about my 1000 miles in 30 days:

🚴‍♂️ Total amount raised so far - £1,759 (plus £278.50 gift aid)
🚴‍♂️ Total distance: 1,102 miles
🚴‍♂️ Height climbed: 61,266 ft
🚴‍♂️ Biggest climb: 900 ft
🚴‍♂️ 107 hours on the saddle
🚴‍♂️ Longest single ride: Days 11 & 25, both 60 mile rides
🚴‍♂️ Most miles in a day: Day 23 - 74 miles
🚴‍♂️ Shortest ride: Day 27 - 1 mile
🚴‍♂️ Favourite ride: Day 19 - 35 miles of pure off road around my hills
🚴‍♂️ 12 riding buddies that joined me
🚴‍♂️ 3 bikes
🚴‍♂️ 1 puncture
🚴‍♂️ Fell of twice!😂

Big headlines in Lancs Live last week! 🤣🚴‍♂️

Darwen man's tribute to his dad after cancer death Geoff Stones decided to ride 1,000 miles in a month in memory of his dad, Frank, who recovered from cancer only to be diagnosed again

Day 30 - 69 miles

The end of my adventure! 🏁🚴‍♂️🏁🚴‍♂️

I had to end it with a special one and this final ride is dedicated to my dad, a guy that played a part in so many people's lives.

So today I did 69 miles, one for each of his 69 glorious years.

On my way to work I stopped of at some places that were key to his life.... Stanworth Avenue in Breightmet where he grew up.... Bolton School, where he got a scholarship to attend as he was such a brain box...... BWFC where he built up most of his anger!🤣🤣🤣

He was a civil engineer and you can guarantee that any ring road through any major town in Lancashire was built by him. So on my way home I pounded some miles along some of his finest roads!

I couldn't think of a better way to end what has been an amazing experience.

Day 29 - 22.4 miles

A nice leisurely ride into work today. Then it started snowing sideways! I love my bike riding but I ain't riding home in that weather when I've reached my target, so I ordered a lift home....... Then the sun came out!🤣

Day 28 - 10.7 miles

Well it was a 30 day challenge and it wouldn't be complete without a trip to my favourite mountain bike spot Gisburn Forest.

I absolutely love it here because there is something for everyone. Gentle open forest roads or technical rocky and rooty trails.

Jack's favourite part was the 'orange' Hope Line, which has a very steep climb to get to the top and he rode all the way to the top passing tonnes of 'pros' who were taking their expensive bikes for a walk!🤣

Day 27 - 1 mile

1000 miles in 27 days!

Hit the 1000 mile target today. Such an amazing feeling to get there. It seemed so far away when I started.

It couldn't have ended better. I rode from Turton Tower to my dad's tree at Jumbles Sailing Club. Riding the 1000th mile with me was my day 12 hero Leah, her sister Erin, my boys Jack and Harry and my mum!

Finished in style when I fell off my bike across the finish line! 🤣

Day 26 - 13.8 miles

I woke up this morning still a bit dizzy from last night's ride!🤣

So thought I'd take it easy today with a nice leisurely ride to work from Haigh Woodland Park to Scotmans Flash . Through the roads of Wigan town this morning and back along the canal tonight.

Not far to go now. Only 1 more mile to go!

Day 25 - 60 miles

187 laps around the DW Stadium.

Not much more to say about this one other than it's the most boring bike ride I've ever been on, and I'm a bit dizzy now🤣🤣

Not many miles to go now!

Day 24 - 22.2 miles

After a late night finish yesterday, getting straight out on the road this morning was rather painful!😭

Managed to drag myself along the roads to work with very little energy left. I was planning a longer route to work but bailed out into Wigan as I was going so slow. That was a hard one today. Working late tonight so the support crew are picking me and the bike up! 🚗

Only another 75.2 miles to go!

Day 23 - 74.4 miles

What a corker! Ride into work this morning the long way around. Found a route on Google maps that I thought would work, ended up riding through a muddy quarry on my spotless road bike!!

Rode home the even longer way round! Saw a sign for Southport and thought "yeah why not!" Racing a tractor along the dual carriageway, I was just pulling ahead when I got my first puncture! Wrong time to discover that the back axle has a different sized Allen key than the front axle! 😭 Fixed it up and headed home via Preston, Houghton, Abbey Village, Belmont and Bolton!

Found a few more street signs as well with your names on!

Only another 97 miles to go!

Day 22 - 25.2 miles

A change if scenery for a nice leisurely evening ride after work tonight. My tour guides were Barbara and Fiona. We set off from Sale Waterpark and headed to the Fallowfield Loop and the streets of Chorlton. You wouldn't think you are in the middle of a city on this motorway for bikes!

Was nice to see so many people out enjoying the sunshine. I finished it off with 8 laps of sale waterpark in the dark!🤣

Only another 171.7 miles to go!