Hawke's Bay rider endures stationary bicycle grind ahead of Tour de France experience

Hawke's Bay man Jason Kelly cycled non-stop for more than 10 hours at Peak Fitness and Health yesterday in preparation for a Tour de France experience. Photo / Duncan Brown

A Hawke's Bay man will have aching muscles this morning after riding non-stop on a stationary bicycle for more than 10 hours yesterday.

Jason Kelly took part in a virtual Everest Challenge, a vertical climb of 8848m (the height of Mount Everest), at Peak Fitness and Health in Havelock North from about 8.15am until after 7pm.

He actually cycled more than 10,000m.

He took part in the challenge in preparation for riding all 21 stages of the Tour de France one day before the actual race in June to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.

Kelly said the ride was a challenge but he wasn't feeling too bad, although that might be a different story by this morning.

He had never done this before but wanted to use it to prepare for June's tour as well as raising awareness for the Mental Health Foundation.

"It's a worthwhile charity, mental health is under-serviced and under-funded."

He will be part of a team of eight amateur cyclists from New Zealand taking on the Tour de France experience with a goal to collectively raise $25,000 for the Mental Health Foundation.

They will be starting in Northern France before heading south to the Pyrenees across the Alps and finishing in Paris.

The group will get close to experiencing what it is like being part of a pro-team with tailor-made training, nutritional plans, a team bus, service vehicles, a dedicated mechanic, massages and team support.

Because the riders will be going a day before the race they will also get to cycle through the towns and villages decked out with Tour de France paraphernalia and lined with fans.

The group met in Christchurch for a five-day training camp at the end of April, cycling more than 700km with former Olympic rider Hayden Roulston.

Donations can be made at www.events.mentalhealth.org.nz/fundraisers/jasonkelly or by texting JASON to 2446 to make a $3 donation.