Feet up at 77? I prefer a 1,000 mile cycle ride the length of Britain instead!

A BOWLS-PLAYING pensioner swapped flat greens for the open road when he fulfilled a lifelong ambition by cycling from Land’s End to John o’Groats.

A BOWLS-PLAYING pensioner swapped flat greens for the open road when he fulfilled a lifelong ambition by cycling from Land’s End to John o’Groats.

Whitnash resident Vic Paget, 77 and a member of Royal Leamington Spa Bowling Club, drew inspiration for the bicycle ride from hearing about others who had taken on the challenge while club chairman Peter Higgins instigated the fundraising effort for Parkinson’s UK.

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Mr Paget’s wife Valerie, 75, has had Parkinson’s disease for nine years and she had planned a trip to Canada while he cycled the 1,000-mile route but her doctor advised her not to go.

She receives treatment every five months at University Hospital in Nottingham.

With his wife’s struggle in mind Mr Paget completed the journey in two weeks, finishing last week.

He said: “I found it reasonably easy, I didn’t cycle up the big hills I just walked up those but all in all I covered about 70 miles each day.

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“I had hip replacements done four and 13 years ago so I’d like to thank surgeons Mr Binfield and Mr Shah at Warwick Hospital for those.

“I was told I would never cycle so when they see this they will probably call me.

“But I didn’t really have any sore or aching legs and the bike went perfectly.”

Mr Paget cycled the route on his own and was forced to sleep in a bus shelter on one night when he could not find any accommodation.

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Before he started his training, which involved cycling 45 miles at a time and using an exercise bike, Mr Paget had not cycled regularly for about 30 years and had stayed in shape by playing bowls.

Club members have supported his fundraising effort by collecting £700 in donations.

He has now raised about £2,000.

Mr Paget said: “It is funny I don’t feel anything really. I know I have done the cycle but I wouldn’t mind doing it again, although I’m not sure if my wife would be too happy with me going off for two weeks again.”

The bowling club followed Mr Paget’s journey on its website, [email protected], under the title Paget’s Progess on the home page.

To make a donation to the cause visit http://www.justgiving.com/victor-paget

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