A Winchester man is celebrating his 70th birthday in gruelling style by cycling thousands of miles across America for charity.

Peter Gillott from Oliver’s Battery is no stranger to endurance challenges, as he has also competed in iron man competitions.

But the retired 69-year-old’s bike ride across America, which is in aid of Naomi House & Jacksplace in Sutton Scotney, he believes, is his biggest test so far.

He was inspired to take on the challenge two years ago after realising his 70th birthday was close and he wanted to mark the occasion in a different way.

Mr Gillott said: “A couple of years ago it occurred to me that I would soon be 70 years old and I felt I would like to mark the occasion in some special way, rather than just a restaurant meal or a short holiday.

“I had the idea that I would like to ride my bike across the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. But just to fly out to California and ride across the bridge seemed a bit tame and pointless and I felt a much bigger challenge, one I would like to rise to, would be to cycle all the way across the United States, and then cycle across the bridge.”

He hopes that his journey will inspire others who are in the same age range as himself, Mr Gillott added: “As well as being a cause of immense personal satisfaction, I felt I could demonstrate to other septuagenarians, that life, even into your seventies and beyond, is about living!

“Your later years, if I may call them that, is a time to let go and enjoy life. Nobody is any longer dependant upon me, I can take risks, be irresponsible, and it is an enormous opportunity to break free from the daily routine. Go bungee jumping, try sky diving, or cycle across America.”

The dad of three is looking forward to coming back to the UK, as he is set to celebrate become a granddad for the first time.

He started the epic east coast to west coast 6000 mile ride in Yorkstown on April 15 and aims to finish at the end of the July in San Francisco, he believes the ride will take him 14 weeks to finish.

To sponsor him visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Celebrating70 To follow his progress visit www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Celebrating70