\n Yet Tim Bright is peddling a Raleigh Chopper for 1,700 miles around the coast of England and Wales, as well as a lengthy detour into Scotland.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n The 57-year-old set off from Cromer in April and has already spent more than 100 days in the saddle.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n To make his feat even more impressive, he was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia in 2016.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Tim Bright and Sue Bright are cycling the British Coast (Image: Supplied)\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Bright, a farm manager, said his bike ride was to show what was still possible.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “I wanted to show people that life goes on,” he said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “It doesn\u2019t matter how ill you are, time carries on and it doesn\u2019t stop for you.”\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n He chose the Chopper for his trek after his father discovered his brother’s old bike in a neighbour’s shed.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Although that one was not fit for the long journey, Mr Bright found a similar model in better condition.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “It\u2019s a real talking point,” he said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “People come up and say they had one when they were younger. The kindness has been incredible.”\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n However, the Chopper has struggled with the demands placed on it and has required repeated repairs along the way, including rewelding and wheel rebuilds.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n The welding of the cracks and some bracing was fixed and added to the bike. (Image: Supplied)\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Bright’s own health has also presented problems, requiring occasional trips to hospitals.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n He set off travelling clockwise from Cromer and has already completed the east and south coast as well as Wales and north west England.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n He had planned to carry on north through Scotland but turned south at Falkirk, due to a combination of health concerns and serious mechanical problems.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Bright said: “The back wheel didn\u2019t feel right, and when it was checked the frame had snapped in seven places.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “If we\u2019d gone further into the Highlands, we might not have been able to get it fixed.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “I\u2019d already been to hospital a couple of times, and the bike just wasn\u2019t right.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “It could have been dangerous to carry on.”\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Tim Bright has been tracking his journey. (Image: Supplied)\n<\/p>\n
\n The physical and mental strain has been constant, particularly in the early days when severe weather nearly ended the challenge.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n But there have also been moments of elation, including a rain-soaked stretch in Cornwall.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “I couldn\u2019t see out of my glasses and I was soaked through,” he said. “But I felt so alive. It was incredible.”\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Bright is undertaking the trip with wife Sue, an NHS worker, travelling alongside him by car to offer support.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Tim’s wife, Sue, has been driving in a support car (Image: Supplied)\n<\/p>\n
\n The couple have taken unpaid leave and are funding the trip themselves to raise money for Cancer Research UK.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n