Deacon pedalled from Land’s End to Ness Point, in Lowestoft

The 27-year-old, from Colchester, tackled an eye-watering 456 mile coast-to-coast adventure, pedalling from Land’s End, in Cornwall, to Ness Point, in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

He travelled solo and unsupported, camping along the way, to raise funds and awareness of the Colchester-based charity Re-Cycle Bikes to Africa, which sends used bikes from the UK to rural communities in Africa.

His nine-day journey took him through national parks, past castles and included a night in a farmer’s barn sleeping alongside sheep and lambs.

Deacon said: “I loved the experience and enjoyed the challenge so much.

“I embraced it from start to finish and just felt privileged.

“It made me realise what a comfortable life we lead, with so many mod cons.

“Leaving them behind and going back to basics was actually a lovely, liberating feeling.

“My legs didn’t feel too bad but the hardest part physically was right at the start, cycling from the train station to Land’s End.

“There were some horrendous hills and, with the whole thing still to come, I wondered what I’d let myself in for.

“Cornwall and Devon are so hilly.

Here goes nothing - Deacon Richardson at the start of his epic ride, in Land's End

“It’s enough to break anyone and could have been a bit demoralising, especially when looking at a map and seeing how little distance I’d covered for so much effort and eight or nine hours of cycling.

“However, as the landscape flattened, I started making rapid progress, particularly in the last three days, when I cycled from Stonehenge to Chiswick, in London, then through Essex onto Lowestoft.”

Deacon, a social worker in fostering and adoption, had his route carefully planned and travelled through his home town in the latter stages, passing through Colchester en route to the Suffolk coast.

However, his biggest challenge wasn’t during the day but trying to stay warm overnight.

“I was waking up shivering every two or three hours,” he said.

“Thankfully, though, despite the bad nights, I didn’t wake up feeling tired. I think the adrenaline kept me going.

Home, sweet home - Deacon Richardson passes through Colchester

“On the third night, I was setting up my tent when a farmer came over and said I was welcome to sleep in his barn.

“So I pitched up my tent next to his sheep and lambs.

“I had one night in a hotel in London.

“There wasn’t anywhere to camp and to say I slept well that night would be an understatement.

“I had three baths and the staff were lovely, washing my clothes for me.

“Overall, it was an amazing experience and has given me memories that will stay with me forever.

“Throughout the nine days I saw amazing scenery, cycling through national parks and past castles.

Nearly there - Deacon Richardson approaches his final destination

“There were wild horses, animals and flowers everywhere and it reminded me how beautiful our country is.

“I feel a bit lost now it’s over but would definitely jump at the chance to do something similar again.”

As he was travelling unsupported, Deacon carried everything he needed to sustain himself and all on a second-hand bike worth £100.

It was part of the reason he chose to support Re-Cycle, which takes pre-loved and unwanted bikes and ships them to deprived countries in Africa.

“It’s funny because people were amazed at the bike I was using,” said the former student at Colchester’s Thomas Lord Audley School, who is the older brother of boxer and Olympic hopeful Lewis.

“They assumed I’d be on an amazing, expensive one rather than one that cost £100.

“One guy took pictures to share with his cycling club friends.

“He’d just bought a £5,000 bike and was full of respect for me and said my lock alone probably weighed more than his bike.

Capital gains - Deacon Richardson passes through London

“As things stand, I’ve raised £1,240.

“I’m so pleased to have raised that much.

“It’s three times more than I expected and hopefully it will keep coming in.

“So many people have been kind and supportive, either in person or on social media.

“When I told people what I was doing, they were giving me sponsorship money and it was lovely.

“It restores your faith in people and is a reminder, despite some of the things you hear and read, that there are far more nice people than nasty people.”

To make a donation, head HERE.

To find out more about the charity, head HERE.

Pedal power - Deacon Richardson cycled from Land’s End, in Cornwall, to Ness Point, in Lowestoft, Suffolk

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