The Estape Caledonia is one of the most demanding bike races in the United Kingdom. The endurance event covers 81 miles of stunning Scottish scenery, and climbs a full 1, 196 metres in the process.
David Fox-Pitt is planning to ride it on a penny farthing.
The bizarre quest was born after the crazy adventurer was challenged to gather a team of Scots to take on a team of Englishmen in the fast-rising sport of penny farthing polo.
“You get a good view but it’s quite hard going uphill…”
Having never ridden one of the ancient steeds before at this point, David decided that not only would he accept the offer, he would also one-up the English while he was at it and ride the Estape Caledonia on the beast – because, well, why the hell not.
It is worth pointing out that this won’t be David’s first dip into the world of endurance racing, though. Far from it.
The optimistic Scotsman is the man behind Wild Fox Events, a company which runs seven endurance challenges across the country, and he’s previously hiked the 178 km Tour de Mont Blanc in just 45 hours as well. Impressive stuff.
But what were his first impressions of his historic new riding rig? “Well, once you get on it’s quite comfortable, although it is quite difficult to climb up,” he told The Courier.
“You get a really good view but it’s quite hard going uphill and you have to be very careful when you brake so you don’t do a triple somersault over the handlebars.”
“Once you get on it’s quite comfortable, although it is quite difficult to climb up…”
It certainly sounds like a big ask, and it’s undoubtedly going to be one hell of a bumpy ride.
A source near Fox-Pitt has also admitted that the athlete may or may (almost definitely) not have added: “I’d like to see the English try and ride 81 miles on a penny farthing.”
David Cameron is yet to respond to the challenge, while Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband has admitted he “wouldn’t think twice” about taking it on, in a fresh attempt to grow support for his party.
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