Man to cycle across French Alps on foldable bike

A man is to attempt to set a new world record by cycling across the French Alps on a foldable bike to raise money in memory of his father-in-law.

David Hogg, from Crosby, will spend five days in June making his way from Grenoble to Nice on the bicycle, a journey that will see him climb approximately 40,000ft (12,192m).

He said he was inspired to take on the 300-mile (483km) challenge to acknowledge the care provided by the island's hospice to people at the end of their lives.

As well as having a new Guinness World Record in his sights, Mr Hogg aims to raise £10,000 for Hospice Isle of Man.

He said the idea came about after he met a couple who had cycled through Europe and Africa on the bikes, which had "captured my imagination" and prompted him to buy one.

After testing the machine on "steep" terrain by cycling up Injebreck he decided to attempt to cycle "one to two" mountains a day between 21 and 26 June on the self-funded trip.

Mr Hogg said crossing the Alps was "something that I always have wanted to do" and raising money for charity in the year that he turns 50 would be a "great" way to do it.

He said he could expect to burn around 3,000 calories a day, which would be a "challenge trying to balance blood sugars" as a type one diabetic.

Chief executive officer at Hospice Isle of Man John Knight said the organisation was "impressed by David’s commitment and ambition in taking on this monumental challenge".

"We will turn every penny that he raises in memory of his late father in law Colin into care for others at the end of life on our island, a fitting tribute we hope," he added.

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