Epic 176-Mile Bike Ride raises ￡400 for The Mudlarks Community.

A gruelling 176-mile charity bike ride with nearly 15 hours of saddle time, 2100 meters of climbing, and 8500 calories burned, has raised an incredible ￡400 for The Mudlarks Community, a Hertford-based charity supporting adults with learning disabilities and mental health concerns.

Cyclist Sam Durham braved storm-like conditions, Roman ruins, and an unintentional detour that nearly ended in arrest to complete the epic journey of riding the Hadrian’s Wall route from coast to coast, all while interviewing locals for a podcast documenting the adventure.

The journey began with two hours of intense weather, including heavy rain, coastal winds, and even hailstones. As if stinging hail wasn't enough, Sam took a wrong turn, accidentally cycling into a nuclear power plant. Thankfully, local police officers were on hand to redirect the route before things escalated.

"The officers were incredibly understanding, and I was grateful for their help in pointing me back on course!" said Sam.

Despite the missteps, the ride featured awe-inspiring sights, including a stop to see Roman ruins. In true adventurer style, Sam carried the trusty bike, affectionately named Ruby The Ribble, for an hour- long trek to the iconic Sycamore Gap. "Seeing that the base of the tree is reshooting was incredible. But what I really needed that day was more exercise!" joked Sam.

As fuel for the journey, Sam indulged in an endless stream of food—pasta, pastries, sandwiches, crisps, and coffee courtesy of a dedicated support crew, Alex and Tristan. The team met up every few hours to ensure morale and energy stayed high, keeping Sam motivated throughout the ride.

The adventure also had a podcasting twist. Along the way, Sam chatted with locals, gathering stories about the area and its history, highlighting the warmth and hospitality of everyone they encountered.

These interviews will feature in an upcoming podcast episode documenting the incredible ride. @rambling.cyclist

“The support from the community, both on the road and through the donations coming in, really kept me going," Sam shared. "It was truly an unforgettable experience."

The journey came to a dramatic end with a late-night finish in pitch-black conditions, but not without another twist—getting lost at the very last moment! “Luckily, I didn’t end up cycling straight into the sea!”

Vic Hobson – CEO Mudlarks “Thank you so much, Sam. Your support of Mudlarks over the years has been wonderful and your fundraising makes such a difference to our community”.

Sam is a passionate cyclist and advocate for Mudlarks, dedicated to raising awareness and funds to support adults with learning disabilities and mental health concerns. Listen to Sam’ s podcast : https://open.spotify.com/show/7ksTpiS0O3TQCrg11wFLVy

If you would like to fundraise for Mudlakrs, please mail me: [email protected]; www.mudlarksgarden.org.uk