AN ADVENTUROUS cyclist is in gear to reach peak physical condition as he takes on a daunting trans-Alpine challenge.

Neil Bebbington, from Stoneclough, is saddling up to ride from Basel, Switzerland, to Como, Italy, on a gruelling route which will take him through the Gotthard Alpine Pass.

Although an admitted cycling novice, the mountainous feat is not the first challenge the 35-year-old has taken on.

In 2017, he and his brother Andrew peddled an astonishing 300 miles from Tower Bridge in London to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

On arrival they then sold their bikes to a waiter at the tower.

This time he will be joined by dad Tony, aged 62, and the pair have recently kitted themselves out with new bikes and embarked on a rigorous training regime.

Mr Bebbington said: "I like giving and I like a bit of a challenge in life.

"The bike ride seems daunting but we cycled from London to Paris and that wasn't as hard as I expected it to be, so we wanted to up the game, and we thought the harder the challenge the more funds we should raise.

"Then there's the scenic routes which are going to be stunning."

He added: "We just started training last week and are now training twice a week, upping it every time and going harder and harder."

Throughout their cycling adventure Mr Bebbington and his dad will be fundraising for the domestic violence charity Salford Survivor Project, and Orbis who are fighting blindness around the world

Mr Bebbington said: “I’m really looking forward to the challenge and raising as much money as we can.

“As soon as we land we’ve got a three and a half hour cycle to our first hotel and then the next day will be a bit gruelling. I’m just hoping we can make it to the end.”

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/orbissurvivalproject?utm_term=ny7n7wN2a