London cyclist completes John O'Groats to Land's End on a Boris Bike

A London man has spent nearly three weeks riding from John O’Groats to Land’s End – on a Boris Bike. At the end of the journey, James Davies from Camden was able to emulate his hero, Bradley Wiggins, by sitting on a throne – albeit one fashioned out of cardboard – modelled on the one the latter sat on after winning Olympic time trial gold at Hampton Court.

The idea of having a throne waiting was the idea of the 31-year-old’s mother and stepfather, reports the Evening Standard. The ride was in aid of the newspaper’s Dispossessed Fund, which has so far raised in excess of £8.3 million for charities and social enterprises fighting poverty.

Mr Davies, 31, a nuclear medicine technologist at University College Hospital in London, said that it was a “beautiful moment” as he took his place on the throne after completing the 881-mile ride in 19 days and two hours.

On the way, he not only needed to combat strong winds, but also the weight of a bike borrowed for the journey from Transport for London and nicknamed ‘Doris’ that at 23kg is more than twice as heavy as a typical road bike and also has just three gears.

“The patron saint of this journey has been Bradley Wiggins,” said Mr Davies afterwards. “At Land’s End sitting in the throne, I did the victory symbol like Bradley. It was lovely — it was a really beautiful moment.

“My thighs are still exhausted but I loved it and I’m fitter than ever,” he added.

His efforts have so far raised nearly £900 via his Virgin Money Giving page.