Stephen Hill, a member of West Suffolk Wheelers cycling and triathlon club, is gearing up for the St Edmunds Wheel bike ride starting and finishing at the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds on Sunday.

For last year’s event the 67-year-old rode his lightweight “best” bike in the 100-mile route at an average speed of more than 18mph, but this time he is hoping just to finish before the organisers have packed up and gone home.

Mr Hill, of Ixworth Road, Norton, near Bury St Edmunds, said he was taking Sir Jack - which he used for errands when he owned a restaurant - as he wanted more of a challenge.

He is raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, which is close to his heart after he lost his mother-in-law, Sadie Stearn, to the illness four years ago.

He said: “It will be a great sense of achievement having got through 100 miles, but if no-one is there it will take the shine off so I will have to make sure I do.”

He said his ride started at about 8.15am and should take him about eight hours, which was cutting it fine as the event finished at about 5pm.

 Bought new in 1993, Sir Jack was named after the cricket pavilion in Cambridge where he and he wife Susan had a restaurant.

He may only have one gear and weighs about 50lbs - which will make going uphill extremely hard work - but the basket will provide Mr Hill with the opportunity to refuel on the go, thus saving precious time.

Mr Hill, who works as a picture framer and artist, said he was supporting the Multiple Sclerosis Society in the hope that the extra money will help find the cause which is the first stage in finding a cure.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/stephenjameshill.

For full coverage of St Edmunds Wheel, which has 100, 50, 25, and 15-mile routes, see Monday’s East Anglian Daily Times.  mariam.ghaemi@eadt.co.uk