Cycling for around 44 hours – without stopping for a nap – is what one local bike enthusiast will need to do if he is to claim an 840-mile world record.

And if Ian To manages to achieve the quickest ever time for cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats, a record which has been unbroken for 17 years, he then plans to turn around and cycle another 160 miles, in an attempt to break the 1,000-mile time record.

The time to beat between the UK’s extremes is 44 hours, four minutes and 19 seconds – no mean feat at speeds just shy of 20 miles per hour.

Asked what appealed about the mammoth task, Ian said: “Because it’s there, it’s a challenge – I like to challenge myself.

“The record has held for 17 years: it’s an iconic route. Hundreds, if not thousands, of cyclists do it every year. Lots have tried it and failed – both the route and the record.”

Father-of-three Ian will also be raising money for the National Autistic Society – highlighting the difficulty that he has had in getting the right education for his daughter, who has autism, from the local authority.

After first coming up with the plan a few years ago, Ian has now moved into the focused, final stages. An accomplished amateur cyclist, long-distance rides are nothing new for him. He regularly cycles 15,000 miles each year, and has competed in, and won, ultracycling events at distances of up to 2,500 miles across Europe.

In preparation for the ride, which he plans to complete in May, Ian is currently training around 20 hours a week. He has already completed 2,000 miles this year, both indoors and in the cold winter conditions.

Before it even gets to the stage of being a physical challenge, cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats is a logistical one.

With a team of fellow cyclists alongside him to provide support, including mechanics, media support and a driver, preparing the roads they are going to take is essential to getting started.

Ian said: “We have spent I don’t know how many hours planning the route, on maps, Google street view, and calling on locals’ expertise.

“It should be fairly straightforward: we are looking at lots of big roads, so we shouldn’t be stopped by traffic lights, roundabouts or congestion.

“I think once we get past about 24 to 30 hours, it’s going to be really hard. I won’t be stopping for sleep.

“Hopefully, if we’re successful, and we reach John O’Groats, we’ll turn around and aim to break the 1,000-mile record.”