Surrey Mick Helps and Paul Hoskins completed their Codger’s World Tour (UK leg) endurance bike ride at Landsend this week, having set out from John O’Groats only eight days earlier.

They covered up to 135 miles a day as they worked their way down the UK, raising £,2000 for Alzheimer’s Society.

They were both quick to acknowledge the support given by the third member of the team, Bernie Hoskins, who drove the support vehicle and supplied the lads with nourishment along the route.

Bernie would go ahead of the pair about 25 to 30 miles along the route and set up refreshment from the back of his truck.

Mick adds: “In some of the more remote parts of the route, Bern struggle to find places to stock up with food and would be creative with his selection of high-energy foods.

“Bern tried to assure us that Pot Noodles, cream cakes and Danish pastries he had managed to find were the same fuel used by the professionals on the tour de France!”

The feeding strategy obviously worked, as the team were able to keep to their original planned completion date despite an epic finish in the driving rain, gale-force winds and three punctured tyres in the last 50 miles.

Paul explains: “We had been fortunate with the weather all week and had only had one puncture for more than 850 miles – then, on the last day, the rain was heavy and relentless and, with about 50 miles left to the finish, we picked up three punctures, the last of which was less than a mile from the end.

“So I decided, rather than change another tyre, I would cycle the last few metres on a flat tyre.”

More information about the tour and how to donate to the Alzheimer's Society can be found on thehelps.co.uk or justgiving.com/codgersworldtourukleg