Weymouth cyclists aiming to be 'no fools with no horses' in sitcom inspired ride
The team from the Lugger Inn are supporting Weldmar Hospicecare
A team of Dorset cyclists are hoping they won't look like 'plonkers' on a 'luvvly jubbly' journey for a local hospice from today (Saturday 20th April).
The group from the Lugger Inn at Chickerell are riding 700 miles in seven days, taking inspiration from sitcom Only Fools and Horses.
Liam Coles, Joe McSherry, and Roger Boyd - or Delboy, Uncle Albert and Rodney respectively for this trip - will ride from Weymouth to Poole, for a ferry to France, move across to Belgium and Holland before coming back home again.
It's a route not dissimilar to the 'Hull and Back' Christmas Special from 1985.
They're supporting Weldmar Hospice and have already raised more than £2,700 for the charity.
The team have paid a visit to Weldmar's Inpatient Unit, and spoken to staff about the care they provide – and chatted to a family currently in their care - to get a first hand account of how the cause supports people through an end of life illness.
Liam is the landlord of the Lugger Inn and admits they're facing a tough challenge on the bikes:
"We were very amateur cyclists before this, probably still are! We started training in November but a terrible winter meant we couldn't do a lot outside. Hopefully we've timed it well for a nice bit of weather for the actual trip.
"All three of us are the last generation that really had Only Fools and Horses as a big sitcom growing up, and to be honest it does suit our characters a bit - I've never really been a master of any trade, but dabbled in a few bits, so Delboy's fitting for myself!"