Posted 25 June 2025
Cycling from Manchester to the foot of Snowdon is certainly a challenge.
Doing the ride on a homemade fixed-gear bike is pushing yourself to the max.
But doing all this, then carrying the bike to the top of Snowdon????
We’re so impressed with our fantastic fundraiser Will, who’s recovering from his epic challenge on behalf of Gingerbread. His bike and hike challenge took 14 hours and 59 minutes, covering an incredible 118.25 miles in distance and 7734 feet in height!
Keen cyclist Will began to learn more about bike mechanics as a teenager, working in a bicycle repair shop as payment for getting his own bike fixed. Repairing bikes soon led to him building his own. ‘I built this current bike about a year ago,’ he says. ‘It’s a fixed gear bike, so it’s harder going up hills. It also means you can’t stop pedalling on the descent so your legs don’t get a break. But I like that – it keeps the momentum going.’
Will has just completed his studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, and was keen to set himself a long-distance challenge. He’d done several long fixed-gear bike rides already (including London to Amsterdam) but had never climbed Snowdon. So combining the two into one challenge seemed like a good idea. ‘I’ve got other bikes that would make this easier, but I like the challenge in doing something a bit different,’ he explains.
Determined to complete the course in one day and get down the mountain before dark, Will set off from Manchester around 3am. Despite some strong winds on the way, he made good time. After a pit stop at the 80-mile mark, he pressed on and completed the 110.54-mile ride in 8 hours 43 minutes. ‘I was expecting around 11 hours, so I was really pleased with that time,’ says Will.
Trekking up Snowdon with a bike slung over his shoulders, Will soon came up with a witty response to the baffled looks from fellow walkers: ‘When people asked what I was doing, I told them I was carrying the bike because I’d forgotten to bring my bike lock!’
Will had chosen the popular Pyg Track for his hike. This is a short and easy-to-follow route, but it’s well known for its tough final ascent. Will would certainly agree. ‘The last bit of the climb was a real wind trap, and I slowed right down,’ he says. He was met at the summit by girlfriend Mila, and joined the queue of walkers to pose for a photo at the cairn which marks the highest point in England and Wales. ‘The queue took ages,’ says Will. ‘But I was determined to carry my bike right to the top, so I didn’t put it down until we’d taken the photo!’
Will, Mila and their support team of Lucas, Scarlett and Isla took the Miners’ Track down Snowdon, and completed the walk in an impressive 4 hours. Will’s training had clearly paid off, as he told us: ‘It wasn’t as tiring as I’d expected. I actually felt like I could cycle back to Manchester, but Mila wouldn’t let me!’
‘Mum raised me on her own, my entire life. I wanted to show my appreciation for that.’
Will was brought up by his mum Zoe, a freelance photographer. ‘It’s just me and my mum, so we’ve always been very close,’ says Will. He remembers the support and friendship offered by the local Gingerbread group as he was growing up. So when he heard about the recent closure of our helpline, he was motivated to help. ‘It’s important for single parents to know that Gingerbread is there if they need support.’
Will first set his fundraising target at £500. But to his surprise, the donations started flooding into his JustGiving page, as friends and family responded to his story. ‘I didn’t want people to feel discouraged from giving if it looked like I’d reached my target. So every time it looked like I was getting close to my target, I’d increase it!’ says Will. His total raised now stands at over £2,600. The funds he’s raised will support, empower and connect single parents through Gingerbread’s network of local and digital groups.
Everyone at Gingerbread sends a huge thank you to Will, his mum Zoe and all their family and friends who have contributed to raising such a fantastic amount.
