A teacher approaching his 40th birthday is preparing to cycle almost 700km across England and Wales on a £50 second-hand bicycle in memory of his childhood friend, who died in the care of Mountbatten Isle of Wight last year.
Sam Cleare will take on the mammoth challenge later this month, cycling solo along National Cycle Network Route 4 from Greenwich in London to Fishguard in west Wales, raising money for the Island’s hospice charity.
His chosen transport is a bicycle purchased from Facebook Marketplace for just £50 around 5 years ago, with Sam admitting that cycling is far from his usual pastime.
The challenge, which he has described as ‘One week, One unfit man (nearing 40), One old bike, One legendary man to dedicate it to’, will see him cover between 50 and 60 miles each day over 7 legs.
Sam is taking on the ride in memory of his childhood friend Gareth, who died in June 2025 while receiving care from Mountbatten Isle of Wight.
Reflecting on their friendship, Sam recalled how the pair grew up celebrating their birthdays just days apart. Sam has said:
“My birthday and Gareth’s were a week apart. When we were growing up we had our parties on consecutive weekends.”
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Wanting to mark his 40th birthday with a significant physical challenge, Sam decided to combine the milestone with an opportunity to raise money for the charity that cared for his friend.
The idea first came to him while walking along a disused railway line behind his father’s home in Swansea, which forms part of National Cycle Network Route 4.
After discovering where the route led, he began considering whether he could complete the entire journey.
Sam explained:
“I said, I wonder where this cycle route goes to? We Googled it and I was like, ‘oh, that would be a really amazing thing to do one day!’”
The route will take him through Windsor, Pewsey in Wiltshire, Bristol, Caerphilly, Swansea and Pembroke Dock before reaching his final destination in Fishguard.
Despite the scale of the challenge, Sam insists he is no experienced cyclist and will be relying on determination rather than specialist equipment to complete the journey.
He has said:
“It’s getting frighteningly close now. It’s 50 to 60 miles per day. I’ve looked at what other people have done in the past. I’ve got my accommodation sorted for each night.
“Cycling is not my thing. I don’t have the Lycra and the sporty bike. It’s just me and my backpack and the road, basically.”
Along the way, Sam will receive support from his own family, Gareth’s family and a number of friends as he tackles the demanding journey.
He is due to set off on 17th October, aiming to reach Fishguard by 23rd October, completing the ride during the half-term break.
Anyone wishing to support Sam’s fundraising efforts for Mountbatten Isle of Wight can donate via his GoFundMe page at www.gofund.me/dafc575f3.
