Greg James Comic Relief: Radio 1 presenter cycles into York and stops in Somerset on 1,000km tandem challenge
greg james comic relief has seen Radio 1 presenter Greg James tackle a 1, 000km tandem ride across the UK, arriving in York and North Yorkshire on Tuesday, 17 March (ET). He set off on Friday, March 13 (ET) and is riding at least eight hours a day largely on his own while aiming to raise money for Comic Relief. The challenge includes a Somerset farm shop stop and a planned finish in Edinburgh on Friday, March 20 (ET).
Key leg and the York route
Day five of the challenge runs from Worksop to York and brings James through Great Heck, Burn, Brayton, Selby, Bubwith, Ellerton, Melbourne, Elvington and arriving at Heslington, York at the end of the leg. He was last in York at the university unveiling the statue to the legendary tall duck Long Boi. The following day he will cycle through York the inner ring road and Wigginton Road, then head north on the B1363 Sutton-on-the-Forest and Stillington, up to Helmsley and through the North York Moors National Park.
James is spending at least eight hours a day on the tandem, largely riding solo for each daily leg, though he is being joined at times by other presenters and special guests on parts of the route.
Greg James Comic Relief: Somerset stop and on-the-road reaction
On Friday, March 13 (ET) James set off from Weymouth and later passed through Somerset en route to Bristol, reaching the city at around 5pm (ET). He and his filming crew made several stops, including a pause for food at Kimbers’ Farm Shop near Wincanton, where he spoke briefly with locals.
Greg James, Radio 1 presenter, said: “A little bit of pain is worth the overall goal of raising loads of money for Comic Relief. ” Earlier in the challenge he posted: “I made it! Hello! Please for god sake donate. Text 10, 20 or 30 to 70011 or use the link in bio it’s dead easy x. ” These comments underline the personal toll of the ride and the fundraising purpose driving the effort.
Background and what’s next
This is the third major challenge Greg James has undertaken for Comic Relief. He previously completed five triathlons in five days in 2016 and Pedal To The Peaks in 2018, cycling between and climbing Scafell Pike, Snowdon and Ben Nevis. He has described the current effort as a “ludicrous challenge” and dedicated it to people “carrying life’s load on their own. “
Expect the route to continue north through York and into the North Yorkshire moors before heading toward Sunderland on day six, with the full journey scheduled to end in Edinburgh on Friday, March 20 (ET). Updates will center on arrivals at the listed towns and any guest joins on the tandem as James pushes toward the finish and his fundraising target for Comic Relief.
