TWO outdoor enthusiasts from Skipton have completed a world-first cycling challenge, while raising money for charity.

Joshua Kian, 30, and Sarah Grace-Morgan, 28, set out to complete the first-ever 2,000-mile bike ride, connecting UK’s 15 national parks. The pair had just returned to England when their cycling challenge to India was cut short due to the pandemic, so they had the idea to explore more national parks in the UK by bike.

Joshua said: “We had seen a lot of national parks abroad, so we came up with a way to see as many national parks in the UK as we could, whilst challenging ourselves and raising money for a good cause. We like to do challenges that are emission-free, so no cars involved, so thought we’d tie it in with a big cycling challenge.”
The pair were also inspired by spending more time in local natural spaces through the lockdown.

Joshua added: “In the UK, there’s sensational wildlife and nature on our doorsteps, but slowly it’s disappearing. We wanted to help show how accessible these wonderful wild spaces are, but that we all need to fight to protect them.

The couple spent the duration of the trip living “unassisted” in a tent and cycling up to 75 miles a day across the 2,082-mile route. It took them 40 days.

Joshua said: “We just went by GPS, we didn’t plan anywhere to stay, just that we were aiming for the national parks so we would camp as close to them as we could. 
“The hardest part was cycling in North Wales because it’s very hilly, and the roads are quite busy, so we had to go on offroad tracks. That combined with bad weather made it very hard, it was the hardest cycling we’ve ever done, but there was never a point where I wanted to give up.”

The pair said they were burning about 4,000 calories a day, so they had to make sure they were eating lots of high calorie foods, such as peanut butter, along the way.

In their efforts, Joshua and Sarah raised thousands of pounds for Trees for Life, a rewilding charity in the Scottish Highlands.
Joshua added: “Woodlands are the most biodiverse habitats in the UK. They’re crucial to slow climate change and they inspire generations, but our woodland cover is slowly shrinking.”

The goal was to raise at least £1 per mile and the couple have exceeded that target as they have now reached more than £2,200.

The Ride for the Wild challenge went from their home in Skipton to the Scottish Highlands, through the heart of Wales, along the south coast of England, and to the Norfolk Broads, before returning through the Peak District and finally back to North Yorkshire.

Joshua said: “North Wales was the highlight of the trip. It was hard work but it had beautiful landscapes and people. We met some wonderful people who let us camp in their garden which was a great help.”

However, the pair had to endure a handful of additional challenges and even a hospital trip along the way.
Joshua said: “Like all good adventures, things didn’t go according to plan. It pushed us to our limits physically and mentally. Sarah ended up with such a nasty injury and she had to go to hospital where was given anti-biotics, so she wasn’t able to complete the final stage of the ride.

"She took the train to get a few days rest, and I personally found it hardest then, being on my own, as we were sharing responsibilities like carrying the equipment before, and the weather was bad too. We were looking for a challenge and we certainly found it.

“Cycling 50-plus miles a day back-to-back through the UK’s hilliest regions, gear strapped to our bikes and then trying to find safe places to pitch the tent at night was both beautiful and brutal in equal measures.”

However, it has not put them off, as they plan to take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks next month, where they will cycle to, and run the mountains in a day, as well as challenges next year, including the Pennine Bridleway, and the hope to continue their ride to India.

Joshua said: “Spending 40 days on a bike in search of the UK’s most incredible natural locations, meeting wonderful people and having beautiful encounters each day has filled us with a lifetime of inspiration.”

The couple, who run an ethical outdoor website are over the moon their passion for the outdoors has helped raise funds for such a fantastic cause.

Joshua added: “Since returning, we’ve had lots of people asking for advice for their own adventures after seeing our challenge. All in all, I’d consider it a completely wild success.”

Visit their website veggievagabonds.com or gofund.me/42ebca6b.