Grandad, 76, sets off on 5,000-mile coastal cycle

A 76-year-old man has set off on a 5,000-mile (8,000km) bike ride around the coast of Great Britain to raise money for charity and inspire others to "stay fit and healthy".

Norman Brown, a grandad-of-four from Coventry, is bike-packing for the next two months, to raise money for charities Prostate Cancer UK and The Myton Hospices.

He aims to complete the coastal route, heading to Land's End before travelling up the west coast and finishing back at his starting point in Exmouth, in August.

Brown, who began his challenge on Tuesday, said he had found the first couple of days "extremely challenging", but it was what he had "set himself up for".

The semi-retired personal trainer said his aim was to raise a total of £5,000 for the charities, after coming across many men who had suffered with prostate cancer while working in joint pain programmes at Nuffield Health.

Brown said his original plan was to ride about 50 miles a day, but he has since had to reduce that slightly because of the severity of the climbs in Devon and Cornwall.

"I've had to moderate my expectations and my abilities and actually try and slow down and enjoy the experience and the journey, rather than flog myself to death," he said.

He is travelling with all his gear on his bike to keep costs under control and to meet other people, while seeing the "amazing coast".

"I've got my little tent all set up and my kit laid out and tiny little one pot stove on the boil," Brown added.

Brown, who has previously taken part in ultramarathons, said his grandchildren had been "very supportive" of his challenge.

He also wants to inspire others of all ages to keep healthy.

"One of the other main drivers for me doing this is because it's become more and more apparent to me, because of the work that I do, that I'm there to inspire people to keep healthy," he explained.

"And that's another really important aspect of what I'm trying to do now and let people know that... you could still do these things.

"There's no reason to slow down stop completely. You've got to stay fit and healthy."

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