I'm a double cancer survivor, cyclist and walker who does various challenges for different charities, mainly cancer-related.

In 2016 I climbed every single 'Birkett' in the Lake District - all 542 fells over 1,000' within the National Park, including all 214 Wainwrights. I've also done a three-week cycle tour of Tasmania in February 2015 and amongst other things, I've cycled from Land's End to John o'Groats (2003), Rotterdam to Lemvig (Denmark) (2005), walked the Pennine Way (2008) completed (my first) ascent of all 214 'Wainwrights' in the Lake District in only 55 days (2009), cycled 4,500 miles around the coast of Great Britain (2011), cycled all 42 of the accessible Western Isles of Scotland in under a month (2012), twice abseiled 230 ft from the top of The Big One in Blackpool, cycled the WWI Western Front from London to Compiegne via Ypres and Arras (2014), cycled 750 miles in the Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton (2014), done a bit of sky-diving and cycled Australia's Great Ocean Road - just before lockdown in 2020.

Altogether I've raised over £120,000 for my charities including The Christie, Cancer Research UK, the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, and ABF (The Soldiers' Charity) and I was mightily chuffed to receive the British Empire Medal in the 2014 New Year's Honours List.

I'm a Rotarian and give illustrated talks about my adventures in exchange for a donation to charity, so if you're looking for a speaker leave me a message. I am also Event Organiser for the Ribble Valley Ride Cycle Sportive, to be held this year on Sunday 5 September 2021 - more details at www.ribblevalleyride.org

You can also follow me on Twitter - @CancerBikeMan and on Facebook - just search for Bill Honeywell

Cancer Research UK is the world's leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research, whilst The Rosemere does fantastic work for patients in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Monday 31 January 2011

Provisional Timetable

Here is my first attempt at a provisional timetable, which I hope is of some help to the people who have asked where I am likely to be and when.  Several people have expressed an interest in joining the ride at some stage - so if, after looking at this timetable, you would like to be involved, let me know by posting a comment or sending me an email.


Cycle Round Britain’s Coast for Cancer Research UK


Route Summary (by weeks)

Week 1: Tuesday 10 May – Saturday 14 May: Clitheroe – Wigtown

Week 2: Sunday 15 May – Thursday 19 May: Wigtown – Lochgilphead (weekend off)

Week 3: Monday 23 May – Saturday 28 May: Lochgilphead – Ullapool

Week 4: Sunday 29 May – Saturday 4 June: Ullapool – Aberdeen

Week 5: Sunday 5 June – Saturday 11 June: Aberdeen – Hartlepool

Week 6: Sunday 12 June – Saturday 18 June: Hartlepool – Winterton-on-Sea (Norfolk)

Week 7: Sunday 19 June – Saturday 25 June: Winterton-on-Sea – Hythe (Southampton)

Week 8: Sunday 26 June – Saturday 2 July: Hythe – Penhale (Lizard)

Week 9: Sunday 3 July – Saturday 9 July: Penhale – Pilton (Gower)

Week 10: Sunday 10 July – Saturday 16 July: Pilton – Gyrn Goch (Lleyn Peninsula)

Week 11: Sunday 17 July – Tuesday 19 July: Gyrn Goch – Clitheroe


Day           Date                       Overnight Halt      Approx mileage   Total mileage




1      Tues 10/05/2011              Carnforth                             80                 80
2      Wed 11/05/2011             Dalton-in-Furness               80                 160
3      Thur  12/05/2011    Kirkbride/Bowness on Solway  80                240
4       Fri    13/05/2011        Southerness (Dumfries)           80                320
5      Sat    14/05/2011                 Wigtown                           80                 400
6      Sun   15/05/2011                Portpatrick                         80                 480
7      Mon  16/05/2011                     Ayr                                80                 560
8      Tues  17/05/2011                Portavadie                        75                  635
9      Wed  18/05/2011     Southend (past Campbeltown) 55                 690
10    Thur  19/05/2011            Lochgilphead                        72                 762
11    Fri     20/05/2011        Travel to Lancashire                  0                 762
12    Sat    21/05/2011           Chris's Wedding                      0                 762
13    Sun   22/05/2011      Travel back to Lochgilphead     0                  762
14    Mon  23/05/2011                Ardgour                            57                  819
15   Tues   24/05/2011             Tobermory                          48                  867
16    Wed  25/05/2011          Armadale (Skye)                    70                  937
17    Thur  26/05/2011               Torridon                             69                 1006
18    Fri     27/05/2011                    Off                                    0                  1006
19    Sat    28/05/2011               Ullapool                               85                 1091
20    Sun   29/05/2011               Durness                               67                 1158
21    Mon  30/05/2011               Thurso                                74                  1232
22    Tues  31/05/2011       John O'Groats / Off                   20                 1252
23    Wed  01/06/2011               Brora                                    60                1312
24    Thur  02/06/2011                Nairn                                   82                1394
25    Fri     03/06/2011             Macduff                                 70                 1464
26    Sat    04/06/2011            Aberdeen                                80                1544
27    Sun   05/06/2011                 Off                                       0                  1544
28    Mon  06/06/2011            Carnoustie                             80                1624
29   Tues   07/06/2011             Kinghorn                              81                 1705
30   Wed   08/06/2011           Coldingham                            80                 1785
31   Thur   09/06/2011            Warkworth                            80                 1865
32    Fri     10/06/2011                  Off                                      0                  1865
33    Sat    11/06/2011            Hartlepool                              66                 1931
34    Sun   12/06/2011                 Filey                                  76                 2007
35    Mon  13/06/2011            Patrington                             80                 2087
36    Tues  14/06/2011           Mablethorpe                         78                 2165
37    Wed  15/06/2011                 Off                                      0                  2165
38    Thur   16/06/2011          Kings Lynn                            84                 2249
39    Fri     17/06/2011       Winterton on Sea                       82                2331
40    Sat    18/06/2011                Off                                       0                  2331
41    Sun   19/06/2011            Felixstowe                             79                2410
42    Mon  20/06/2011             Basildon                              80                 2490
43    Tues  21/06/2011              Margate                             86                 2576
44    Wed  22/06/2011                  Rye                                  69                 2645
45    Thur   23/06/2011              Off                                       0                  2645
46    Fri     24/06/2011          Littlehampton                         75                 2720
47    Sat    25/06/2011               Hythe                                  65                2785
48    Sun   26/06/2011             Weymouth                           77                2862
49    Mon  27/06/2011                Off                                      0                  2862
50    Tues  28/06/2011              Exmouth                            75                  2937
51    Wed  29/06/2011             Dartmouth                          50                 2987
52    Thur  30/06/2011              Bodinnick                          73                 3060
53    Fri     01/07/2011                 Off                                     0                  3060
54    Sat    02/07/2011          Penhale (Lizard)                    62                  3122
55    Sun    03/07/2011             St Agnes                           73                  3195
56    Mon   04/07/2011               Bude                                70                  3265
57    Tues   05/07/2011         Combe Martin                      76                  3341
58    Wed   06/07/2011                Off                                     0                  3341
59   Thur    07/07/2011       Weston Super Mare               77                3418
60    Fri      08/07/2011              Barry                                   84                3502
61    Sat     09/07/2011              Pilton (Gower)                   80                 3582
62    Sun    10/07/2011                Off                                     0                  3582
63    Mon   11/07/2011              Tenby                                77                3659
64    Tues   12/07/2011           St David's Head                  75                 3734
65    Wed   13/07/2011             Aberaeron                          75                3809
66    Thur   14/07/2011              Barmouth                          73                3882
67     Fri     15/07/2011                Off                                      0                 3882
68    Sat     16/07/2011          Gyrn Goch (N Lleyn)             68               3950
69    Sun    17/07/2011               Prestatyn                           75               4025
70    Mon   18/07/2011              Southport                           72              4097
71   Tues    19/07/2011              Clitheroe                             38              4135

Wednesday 19 January 2011

Winter Blues?

Well, Christmas and the New Year have come and gone, and much of the original good intentions as regards training are proving hard to keep alive!  Still, after the long cold spell I did manage to get out on some training rides during the first week in January, and then had a week off for a Nile Cruise with Val, plus our good friends (and hopefully motorhome pilot(s) on the big ride) Frank and Bernadette. 
All that good cycling weather - low to mid 20s during the day - and hardly a bike in sight!  Still, the Egyptian temples were amazing and the people in the small group we were with were great fun.
The afternoon after I got back (yesterday) I went for another ride, and just as my cold hands were starting to seize up I got a puncture. Boy, it felt cold changing the inner tube, especially as you have to take off your glove to feel inside the tyre, to make sure there isn't a thorn sticking through to burst the new tube straight away. 
Positive Solutions at Nelson (Graphic Design, Advertising) very kindly designed and printed some business cards for me so that I can hand them out to all and sundry as a remider of the ride - so thank you guys!  http://www.positiveonline.co.uk/
So for the next few weeks/months I need to be carrying on training and looking for more sponsors.  As soon as there is any news you'll be the first to know!