How it all began
Cycling has always suited Bernard.
His first long-distance trip was in 1973, aged 15, when he rode from Yorkshire to the north coast of Scotland. That was followed by trips from Yorkshire to Dorset a year later, and then to the small village of Wengen in the Swiss Alps and back in 1975.
Both were self-supported trips with a tent and a stove.
He kept cycling through his time in the Amy before racing competitively in Northern Ireland. That included the 1978 Tour of Armagh, where he lined up next to one 16-year-old Stephen Roche!
The 1980s and ’90s were mostly commuting, but the 2012 Olympics reignited his passion for racing.
After riding the inaugural RideLondon-Surrey Classic 100 in 2013, where he finished in under eight hours, the bug bit hard and he joined London Dynamo shortly thereafter.
He then worked with a personal trainer to improve his strength and training skills. It paid off.
He rode it again in 2014 and stayed with the lead bunch to finish in 4h 26m — just 30 minutes behind the winner.
That sparked his next move: criterium racing.
Despite not being a natural, he worked at it, and strung a few top-three finishes before earning a silver medal at the 2023 National Masters Criterium Championships in Leeds.
The idea of riding around Britain began to take shape.
It was in 2024 that he took on two five-day rides in Yorkshire which helped him refine his strategy, gear and bike setup. When he spotted a mild weather window in May that year, he went for it.
On Sunday 18 May 2025, he set off down the south bank of the River Thames in London to Faversham.
Just like that, he was on his way.
Q: What inspired you to take on such an epic challenge – and why this particular charity?
I wanted to do a long ride—but not an out-and-back—so it had to be a circuit. I tracked down ten people who had cycled around the coast of Britain, including Anna Hughes, whose book Eat, Sleep, Cycle (documenting her 81-day ride) gave me great insight into what to expect. The fastest time on record was 22 days, set by Nick Sanders in 1984. From this, I settled on an attempt of between 45 and 50 days. Six years ago, I was diagnosed with early onset dementia, so I decided to turn this ride into a fundraiser for The National Brain Appeal. My ‘Round Britain by Bike’ ride has now raised just shy of £40,000 from over 600 generous sponsors.
Q: Can you describe a typical day on the ride?
Most days I was on the road by 8:30 a.m. and would ride for 8–10 hours (with food stops), keeping a steady pace of around 20kph and averaging 145km per day.
Q: What was the toughest moment on the ride—physically or mentally?
The first ten days were brutal. I had around 16 punctures—thanks to narrow, overgrown tracks with plenty of thorns. Fixing flats became a daily ritual, and I began to dread every crunch under my tyres.
Q: Were there any unexpected moments of kindness or community support along the way?
Absolutely. My Jed Harrison-designed cycling top attracted plenty of attention. Lorry drivers would honk, flash their indicators, or wave as they passed. In sandwich shop queues, total strangers handed me £10 or £20 notes after reading the cause on my jersey—often mentioning family members affected by dementia.
Q: Did you ever consider quitting—and if so, what kept you going?
No—I’ve never been a quitter. (Though I admit I can be a bit too persistent for my own good!) I kept reminding myself of a military maxim drilled into me years ago: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
Q: What was the most beautiful or memorable stretch of coastline?
Probably the north coast of Scotland, from Durness to Thurso. It’s not high craggy cliffs, but long stretches of sand dunes and wide-open views across the beach and out to sea. Absolutely breathtaking.
Q: How did you prepare—in terms of fitness, route planning, and gear?
Step 1: I’d already spent eight years racing in the Masters Criterium series (including a silver medal at the National Championships in 2023), and had the support of a personal trainer. That gave me a solid base level of fitness and a good understanding of my limits.
Step 2: I tested how far I could ride over consecutive days. In 2024, I did a series of big rides from my North Yorkshire cottage—180–230km day rides—followed by two five-day loops through the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales. The terrain was spectacular, and the variety of route options gave me a clear sense of what I could handle.
Using Garmin, I mapped the full route in roughly 100-mile segments to gauge the full scope of a round-Britain ride. I also made an early decision not to camp—I couldn’t see myself lugging all that gear and still finishing in a reasonable time.
Q: How did you stay motivated riding solo for so long?
In a word: scenery. There’s something powerful about riding along the coast—views stretching out to the horizon, contrasting with inland hills. The Cairngorms were especially spectacular, both up the west coast and down the east.
Q: How much have you raised for The National Brain Appeal, and what impact will it have?
I’ve raised £39,185 so far. I’ve been told by the National Hospital for Neurology that it’s enough to employ a medical specialist for a full year—something they’re incredibly grateful for.
Please kindly donate here.
