Former Banbury Academy student ready for epic country challenge

Lewis Caiger is part of a team of ten riders and they embark from the Scottish Highlands on February 27 and hope to reach the tip of Cornwall and Land’s End 11 days later on March 11.

The 19-year-old is studying chemistry at the University of Bristol and the event is part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of Unite, who aim to raise £250,000.

Lewis said: “This is the biggest cycle challenge you can do in the UK, so when I found out that Unite Students were offering places and we were doing it for such a worthy charity I seized the opportunity.”

As well as the gruelling cycle trip, estimated to be more than 1,000 miles, staff and students at Unite will be cycling 250,000 miles under the campaign title of ‘The World’s Biggest ‘Virtual’ Tandem’. It will incorporate a series of events including a static bike challenge.

Lewis has already reached the halfway stage of his £1,052 target - for every mile covered during his epic cycle trip - and when asked what he thinks the toughest part of the challenge would be, he added: “The weather! As a team I know we will be able to group together to drag each other the distance. But fighting off the cold and damp will be a struggle.”