Uplyme-based team step up their training ahead of their 1,000 mile ride from John O’ Groats to Land’s End

THREE “heavyweight” cyclists planning to ride the length of Britain got their fund raising on the road at a seafront training day.

The Uplyme-based team of Andrew Dare, Tom Glavin and Colwin Way collected �670 during a seven-hour spinning session on Lyme’s Marine Parade, staged to advertise their long-distance challenge.

The trio are aiming to ride 1,000 miles from John O’ Groats to Land’s End in just 12 days – and completely unaided – to raise money for Help for Heroes.

They are calling it the “50 stone challenge” because of their combined weight.

Andrew says they want to push themselves to the limits of physical endurance in honour of injured service men and women who endure far worse pain.

The 33-year-old works at Ottery St Mary Leisure Centre as a fitness team leader, while Tom, 32, and Colwin, 39, are employed at Axminster Power Tools, living in Lyme Regis and Uplyme respectively.

By taking on the challenge unsupported, the three will have to carry all their equipment - including a tent, sleeping bags, clothes, cooking stoves and first aid gear.

The ride is taking place towards the end of May, but the cyclists have organised a charity auction at the Talbot Arms, in Uplyme, on Saturday (April 28), to help achieve their �5,000 target

Prizes include a week’s holiday in St Ives, a signed Barbarians rugby shirt, six months Leisure East Devon membership and Jools Holland tickets.

To support the cyclists visit their sponsorship web page at www.bmycharity.com/colwinway