JUST two weeks ago, Dr Ivan Myatt did not even own a bike worthy of the name.

But such a minor detail did not deter him from signing up to a 500km cycle ride to Paris for the 160 Appeal.

The GP, who recently retired after 31 years at the Hermitage Surgery in Old Town, was initially intrigued when a patient suggested he tackle the daunting London to Paris annual challenge.

But keen to make the most of his retirement and press on with his fundraising efforts for Prospect Hospice, the idea soon grew more attractive.

Of course, the metal frame rusting away somewhere out of sight in his home did not bode well for the laborious ride.

So Dr Myatt ordered a hybrid model at Mitchell Cycles and is now re-acquainting himself with the delights of cycling ahead of the five-day cycle ride, on April 22.

“I didn’t really have a bike and I had never done any cycling before,” said the 60-year-old from Old Town.

“One of my patients mentioned it and at the time I dismissed it. Then I went home and thought about it. And I thought ‘I fancy doing that; it could be fun’.

“My family’s reaction was ‘you’re mad’ and ‘what are you doing that for?’.

“They think I’m bonkers. And my wife is worried she will be a bike widow.”

As a GP, Dr Myatt has encountered hundreds of terminal patients who went on to require care from the Wroughton hospice.

He himself received support looking after end-of-life patients from Prospect.

The father-of-two added: “We have always had links, as a surgery, with the Prospect and we have raised money for them.

“Prospect has helped me to care for numerous patients over my years as a doctor and there is always a need for support to this essential organisation.

“They get very little from the Government. The hospice needs extra help and continued help.

“I am looking forward to this exciting challenge and giving something back to the community seems like a win-win situation.

“It’s helping me to get fit, shed a few pounds of weight and hopefully I will raise a few thousand pounds. I am hoping to raise £2,500 minimum. There is great satisfaction in doing any physical challenge to raise money for a good cause. “ Yet, he is aware that being back in the saddle is only just the beginning of months of intensive training in potentially freezing temperatures, culminating in the gruelling challenge itself.

“My biggest challenge will be doing it for five days, day after day,” added the father-of-two. “I’ve done one bike ride so far – it was 40 miles – and I thought it was not too bad but I took a day or two to recover. Without recovery time it will be hard. But my goal will keep me going. That’s a good motivating factor. I can’t let people down.”