Cyclist sets off on 1000km route to work

Aucklander Martin Feeney normally cycles 8km to work each day.

But today, joined by experienced cyclists, friends Keryn Goble, Darin Millar and Rose Hutchinson, he will take the long way round.

"Martin's Long Ride to Work" will involve the group cycling 1000km from Wellington to Auckland, via the east coast, in a bid to raise $10,000 for the Breast Cancer Research Trust.

The idea for the ride came when Mr Feeney's cousin got breast cancer and he recalled his own bout with Hodgkin's lymphoma 19 years ago. He underwent seven months of chemotherapy and has now fully recovered.

Fundraising has been going smoothly. He has already raised $8000 - $5000 from workmates, friends and family who sponsored him to wax both legs, and he now hopes to raise about $15,000.

Mr Feeney, 49, said he had never cycled further than 20km.

Today two months' worth of training will be put to the test when he tackles the Rimutaka Hill, north of Wellington.

The whole journey is expected to take about 13 days.

- NZPA