Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

Derbyshire schoolboy aiming for John O'Groats-Land's End record - at age of 12

Kian Pearson plans to be youngest person to complete end-to-end ride in less than 20 days

A schoolboy from Derbyshire will this summer aim to be the youngest person to cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End in less than 20 days.

Kian Pearson, who is a Year 8 student at the David Nieper Academy in Alfreton, will be 12 years of age when he undertakes the challenge in July, accompanied by his father and uncle.

The youngster hopes to complete the 900-mile ride in 14 days, and is aiming to raise £10,000 in sponsorship for the charity Dementia UK, a condition his late grandfather suffered from.

To prepare for the ride, Kian is training at a gym six times a week as well as undertaking regular bike rides from his home to Skegneess, around 90 miles away.

He said: "I saw my Grandad when he was poorly and it was awful – I just want to help other people who have this disease."

His father, Ian Pearson, said: "Kian has been affected by what happened to his Grandad and is 100 per cent committed to completing this cycle ride in his memory, we are really proud of the effort he is putting into his training, diet and fundraising activities.

“We urgently need more sponsors to get involved and help Kian reach his target."

His head teacher, Dr Kathryn Hobbs, added: "This is a huge physical and mental challenge for someone of Kian's age – he is incredibly courageous and totally focused on his goal.

“It is rare for someone so young to take on such an ambitious challenge, so it would be fantastic if the local community and businesses could get involved and visit Kian's fundraising page."

Here is the planned itinerary for the ride:

Day 1 John O'Groats - The Crask (82 miles)

Day 2 The Crask - Inverness (66 miles)

Day 3 Inverness - Glencoe (83 miles)

Day 4 Glencoe - Loch Lomond (66 miles)

Day 5 Loch Lomond - Moffat (83 miles)

Day 6 Moffat - Keswick (72 miles)

Day 7 Keswick - Stainburn (75 miles)

Day 8 Stainburn - Runcorn (64 miles)

Day 9 Runcorn - Clun (80 miles)

Day 10 Clun - Monmouth (65 miles)

Day 11 Monmouth - Glastonbury (64 miles)

Day 12 Glastonbury - Moretonhampstead (60 miles)

Day 13 Moretonhampstead - Fowley (64 miles)

Day 14 Fowley - Land's End (64 miles)

Day 15 Home!

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Add new comment

15 comments

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Thanks for the rough guide. I was planning on doing a solo jogle and was wondering what mileage I should do daily. I may even make it slower and take in some sights on the way

Avatar
Traceypeo1 | 6 years ago
1 like

Thank you everyone for your messages and advice,,really appreciated, many thanks Tracey (kians mum)

Avatar
Traceypeo1 | 6 years ago
1 like

I am so proud of you Kian, you are doing so well in your intense training regime, good luck to you on this mega challenge, your grandad would be so proud of you, love mum xxxx

Avatar
Traceypeo1 | 6 years ago
2 likes

I am so proud of you Kian, you are doing so well in your intense training regime, good luck to you on this mega challenge, your grandad would be so proud of you, love mum xxxx

Avatar
CygnusX1 | 6 years ago
1 like

Anyone else noticed the fact that the bike used to have downtube friction shifters but now mounted on the steerer? /geekmode

Avatar
ConcordeCX replied to CygnusX1 | 6 years ago
2 likes

CygnusX1 wrote:

Anyone else noticed the fact that the bike used to have downtube friction shifters but now mounted on the steerer? /geekmode

those braze-ons on the down-tube are for running the gear cables straight along the tube and having a barrel adjuster for the indexing. They’re normal; all my bikes, which are all steel, have them. Although on my older bikes they are indeed used for downtube shifters, the more recent ones have never had downtube shifters. The same braze-on has been adapted for different purposes.

Quite a few entry-level bikes have gear levers on the bars like that - they help to keep the cost down so that magnificent young men can perform magnificent feats.

Edit: they’re Probably also easier to reach and operate for smaller hands than integrated levers and shifters.

Avatar
K18NMO | 6 years ago
1 like

Top lad he has a great name as well all the best hope you smash it and break the record!

Avatar
steady lad | 6 years ago
5 likes

Dad has always wanted to do this ride, wife not having any of it. Clever solution and everyone is happy, Dad gets to do the ride he has always wanted whilst being lauded. Also the training, Dad gets to do loads of extra cycling without grief from wife.

Cheers

Avatar
fenix | 6 years ago
1 like

Good luck - heck of a challenge !

Avatar
Canyon48 | 6 years ago
1 like

Blimey, chapeau!

 

Surely that is Fowey, not Fowley.

Avatar
Woldsman replied to Canyon48 | 6 years ago
5 likes

wellsprop wrote:

Surely that is Fowey, not Fowley.

and is “Skegneess” perhaps the medical term for inspection of the patella?  

Good luck to the lad any road. 

Avatar
dreamy | 6 years ago
2 likes

Good luck wee man!

Good cause.

Avatar
Grahamd | 6 years ago
1 like

Respect to him for his endeavour and wish him every success. I am always anxious when I read about children doing such challenges from a child welfare perspective, perhaps I am overly cautious, but would like to read that he has some professional support to ensure he doesn’t overcommit himself and risk long term problems. 

 

Avatar
don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
5 likes

Hi viz and a helmet, or I'll confiscate his bike.

 

Avatar
Traceypeo1 replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
1 like
don simon wrote:

Hi viz and a helmet, or I'll confiscate his bike.

 

he will definitely have the hi viz on and his helmet, he's not allowed out on his bike without his helmet

Latest Comments