WHEN a physiotherapist recommended Ralph Wells take up cycling to strengthen his knees, a 400-mile, cross-channel ride was probably not what he had in mind.

But that’s exactly what the 41-year-old director of Swindon-based company WBM Commercial Property Ltd did with four friends, Matt Bray, Joe Lister, Al Keck and Tim Vaughan, who previously had cycled the distance between their homes and the local pub.

Setting out on June 3, the group – the Minety Wobbly Wheelers – took four days to complete the journey from their Minety home to Moet, east of Paris, and raise more than £13,000 for various charities.

“I play for Minety rugby club and last summer I ended up going to see a knee specialist,” said Ralph.

“He said I needed to do something to strengthen my knees. Firstly, he suggested swimming, but I said I hated swimming, so he suggested cycling. I hate cycling too but he said I had to do something or else I might have to stop playing rugby.

“I was telling my friends about it in the pub and they said why don’t I challenge myself to some kind of big bike ride.

“From there it kind of escalated until there was a group of us planning to cycle all the way to Moet in France.”

With a combined weight of more than 75 stone, the group began training in earnest to take on the gruelling task, and at the same time challenged themselves to raise money for three different charities.

Winston’s Wish, Parkinsons UK and the Unite Foundation will receive £4,000 each, while the Minety School Parent Teacher Association fund will receive the remaining £1,000 to put towards a new all-weather pitch.

Fully clad in Lycra, the team covered 100 miles on the first day, heading to Portsmouth to catch the overnight ferry to Le Havre.

Ralph said: “It was a tough task, especially as I have never done any real cycling before and muscles hurt that I did not know I had, and in places that I don’t want to discuss, but the whole experience was made very worthwhile by the amazing support, sponsorship and encouragement that we have all received.

“We had set ourselves a target of £5,000, so we are blown away with what we finally achieved. All the boys are so very grateful.”