A GROUP of Winchester cyclists prepared for a mammoth race across America with a charity spinathon last weekend.

The RAAM Roses comprise of Fulflood’s Anna Burrows and Ollie Rastall, Tim Kingswell of St Giles’s Hill and Alex Woods, from Bath, rounding the team out.

Ahead of their 3000-mile race across America, they embarked on a seven-hour non-stop spinathon in Winchester High Street, collecting money for cancer charity, the Joe Glover Trust, and youth arts charity, Ideas Tap.

Tim, 29, said: “I think this is good preparation. We will probably put 500 miles in by the end as a team which is what we are supposed to be doing every day out on the real thing.”

Alex, 30, said: “We are feeling pretty good. We are only 115 days away from the road now so time is getting pretty short but our training is going quite well.

As if the spinathon was not enough, the riders embarked on a 10k run on Sunday, putting themselves through their paces before their epic journey.

But they remain confident of setting a new record of just six days for the race.

Alex said: “We are going to smash the record. The only thing that could stop us is a tornado is Tornado Alley.”

The team’s next major fundraising event before the race is a Hoe-Down at Winchester Rugby Club on April 23.

Tickets cost £25 and include dinner, a free drink and a DJ. There will also be a raffle and charity auction. For more information call 07875 374291 or go to www.ideastap.com/raamroses.