Stuart’s much more than a mad fool

Oct 10 2008 by Fiona Cumming, Strathearn Herald

DRIVERS negotiating the Strathearn stretch of the notorious A9 on Monday were forced to do a double-take when they spotted a Penny Farthing ploughing northward.

Perched high on the period piece was Stuart Kettell (44), from Coventry, who was hitting Perthshire on day 15 of a sponsored cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Herald caught up with Stuart – who describes himself as a “mad fool” – halfway up the long climb between Auchterarder, where he stayed overnight, and Perth. He told us: “I’ve been covering 40-50 miles a day. But this part is pretty hilly.” What makes his feat even more remarkable is that it is entirely unsupported. How does he do it?

“A lot of the accommodation was prebooked. I’ve got a backpack containing toiletries and two sets of clothes. Everything is going to plan. The bike is behaving and the weather has been good.” (Editor’s note: That was before Monday’s dreich turn).

Video-producer Stuart took three weeks off work to embark on his rather unusual “holiday.” The bike is actually a replica, specially made in the Czech Republic. There are no brakes and no suspension. “The hills are hardest because it is a fixed wheel machine with solid tyres.” Ouch.

Says Stuart: “I’m feeling pretty good. The worst bit is my wrists. They’re taking all the vibrations.” And on top of that, he’s spotted that there are no bicycle lanes on the A9! All that said, “I’m getting a great reaction from people, hooting their horns and waving, and, best of all, I’ve raised nearly £5,000 so far.”

While the hills are just plain exhausting, traffic lights and roundabouts are a hazard. “I try to slow down as I approach them, and try just to keep rolling, because stopping can be a problem. The bike needs momentum. Without it, you fall off.”

How, then, does he get on and off, short of leaping or tilting the bike? “There’s a wee step at the back. You can’t just jump or you catch your bottom on the way down.”

The bike ride is not Stuart’s first fundraising feat. He’s flown round the coast in a flexi-wing microlight, kayaked from London to Coventry, done parachute jumps, and marathons. The Penny Farthing is the toughest yet.

So what made him get his campaign started? “I make corporate videos. I was doing some for Macmillan and it just sort of happened. I’ve known family and friends who’ve been affected by cancer so it just seemed the thing to do.”

You can follow Stuart’s progress or donate to the cause by visiting http://www.willthemadfoolmakeit.co.uk/