AT the age of 85, Alex Menarry is bidding to be become a Guinness record holder.

Mr Menarry, from Darlington, hopes to officially become the oldest cyclist to complete the epic Lands End to John O'Groats ride.

A member of Darlington Cycling Club, he and his support team are halfway through the trek to the top of Scotland.

However, while confident of completing the journey, his effort might end up being in vain as an 87-year-old rider has just finished the ride in the hope of writing his own name into the record books.

This is the second time Mr Menarry, a member of Darlington Cycling Club, has undertaken the ride known as LEJOG.

However, on completing his first adventure he realised he didn't have the necessary documentation to validate his ride. Hence the decision to go again.

"I did it with CTC Touring a couple of years ago and was 83 at the time," he said. "When I got home my son and grandson said 'you are older than the current record holder', a lad from Keswick who is 81.

"They got the information from Guinness World Records – a wodge of paper about a quarter of an inch thick, with all sorts of rules and regulations. They wanted witnesses, photos and a logbook which we didn't have. So we didn't submit the application."

Fast forward to 2018, and Mr Menarry is on his bike again.

"I was coerced into it by my grandson and he was so enthusiastic and helped so much with the preparations and the website that I couldn't turn it down," he said.

"The snag, however, was that just before I set off I heard the news that an 87-year-old has just completed LEJOG on a Brompton over five weeks.

"He might apply for the record, but if he didn't know what he had to gather he probably hasn't got all the information. We talked about abandoning, but my support team said 'let's go ahead, give Guinness all the information and let them decide'. If this 87-year-old, to whom I take my hat off, is judged to be worthy of the record then so be it. I'll just have to do it again in three years' time."

On Monday, Mr Menarry had reached Penrith, having set off on September 7.

Fitness, he says, is not a problem, despite his advancing years. It's the mental challenge more than anything.

"I have no bodily problems, I am not going as fast as everybody else, obviously," he said. "I was a fell runner in the past, so I have the cardio vascular ability. I didn't have the cycling ability or legs, and I have discovered cycling legs are not the same as running legs.

"Now, it's all about cycling. I am finding this all very straightforward. It's what it does to your head really."

Mr Menarry encouraged other older people to get out on their bikes.

"My wife died two years ago and cycling was therapy for me, frankly," he said. "Darlington Cycling Club pulled me round. The lads in the club are absolutely great."

Asked what the record would mean to him if he was to receive it, Mr Menarry said: "I'd just say 'thank you very much'. I am a bit leery about records and gongs and medals and stuff like that. This is what matters to me most, if this encourages others then I'll be totally satisfied."

When he gets to the finish there will be little time to savour the achievement, as Mr Menarry is scheduled to go on a cycling trip to Spain two days later.

"It's all go," he said.

For more details visit https://www.oldesttocyclelejog.com/