A group of friends have achieved the impossible after completing a charity challenge to hire a Boris Bike and ride it up a mountain in Southern France - all within 24 hours.
Cyclist Rob Holden was joined by pals Matthew Winstone and Ian Laurie as they hired the 23kg bike from a docking station in London at 4am, then set off in a car to the mountain's base in Bédoin.
Mr Holden then rode a gruelling 14 miles up Mont Ventoux, which has previously defeated disgraced Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, without stopping.
The friends faced a race against time to make it back to Fulham and avoid a £150 fine, which they did with less than a minute to spare.
Mr Holden, who described the ride as "ridiculously hard", said the inspiration for the adventure came when the group took a break during a bike ride in London.
He said: "We all went for a bike ride and stopped off for a coffee.
"Out of the blue, Ian just said; 'I wonder if you could rent a Boris bike, take it down to Ventoux and get it back within 24 hours?'
"And we all had a bit of a laugh at that."
He recently completed the ride in under three hours in 25 degree heat.
He said: "My whole body was in pain but I managed to fight on to the summit.
"With essentially one gear the whole way up, it was a struggle just keeping the pedals turning and there was a fair bit of weaving at the top.
"Having said all that, the weather was perfect, the mountain was awe inspiring and I reached the summit at sunset, which was perfect."
The ambitious challenge has so far raised almost £4000 for Macmillian Cancer.
To donate visit the group's JustGiving page.
