Purton pair double up for epic bike ride (From This Is Wiltshire)

Purton pair double up for epic bike ride

9:00am Sunday 21st March 2010 in

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Two men from Purton have begun training for an epic journey from Lands End to John O’Groats on a bike with a difference.

Neil Saunders and Dave Johnston are to cross the country on a back to back recumbent bike to raise money for Help for Heroes.

This means riders are in a sitting position, and this tandem bike is unique because one cyclist faces forward and one backward.

Mr Saunders, who lives at Pavenhill, said: “Everyone is astonished when they see you. They take a lot of photographs of Dave.”

He said his wife Janet and daughters Jenny and Christine think he is mad. He said: “They think we are a little bit crazy because of the amount of training we have to do.”

The bike was designed by Mr Saunders’ neighbour Bob Tennant and used to be used regularly by their group of friends, and even took part in a ride in Purton’s twin town of Heric.

He said: “Bob Tennant designed the bike concept and we developed it for a year. We rode in France in 2000. But we put it into retirement.”

Last year Mr Saunders, who works for Swindon Commercial Services, decided he wanted to take on a new challenge.

He said: “I was going to do this on a solo bike but my friend Dave said that he wanted to do it.

“We have been training inside since August and have been out now for four rides.

“Our target is nine 100-mile rides, back to back. Training has been going well. We’ve both lost close to two stone.”

Mr Johnston, of Reid’s Piece, is married to Becky and they have one daughter, Shelley. He works for Air Improve, an air conditioning company.

The pair will be camping across the country and will be behind a support vehicle. The ride is due to start on May 27 from Lands End.

To sponsor Neil and Dave, visit www.justgiving.com/2men1bikebacktoback.