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Merv's Four Thousand Mile UK Bikeathon Reaches Isle Of Wight

Photo from Wightlink

A Norfolk man's UK-wide bikeathon has seen him nearly fall overboard on a ferry, sleep in a loo, and battle "appalling" weather - before reaching the Isle of Wight.

Merv Howard - or Bugs in the Beard to his social media followers - is taking on a 4,400 mile challenge to raise money for charity.

The Armed Forces veteran is fundraising for Walking with the Wounded, which supports military veterans.


Using his electric cargo bike, and with the aim of circumnavigating the entire coast of the UK clockwise, Merv set off from Kings Lynn on Tuesday April 27.

He arrived in Fishbourne via Wightlink yesterday (Tuesday), and has already made it to Ventnor.

Speaking to Isle of Wight Radio, Merv said you can't really miss him:

"I thought I'd go through Ventnor, then I'm off up through Niton and through Freshwater and tomorrow I'll be going off to Yarmouth via the Needles, sailing over and carrying on to Bournemouth.

"If you see me on a bike, a really long cargo bike, I've got a beard and an orange cycle helmet - then please give me a wave!"

And if the cycling wasn't tricky enough for Merv, he's also had the challenge of finding somewhere to sleep:

"I started off in Kings Lynn round the north Norfolk coast down through Cromer, Great Yarmouth, down to Tilbury where I crossed on a ferry. That was fun, I nearly capsized - the bike nearly went over the side which was fun.

"Around Dover I hit some appalling weather. I did 18 miles in one day just against the head wind and against the bad weather. A lot of people have been supporting me, helping put me in their back gardens and sheds. I even slept in a lady's toilet because it had a heater which was great and anything like that helps."

As well as loos, Merv has also been staying in various campsites.


Tonight, he plans on staying at Compton Farm, which has offered to feed him and let him use the toilet when needed.

You can donate to Merv's bikeathon here - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bugsinthbeard.

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