TWO men who as teenagers pledged to "do something crazy" if they were still friends at 50 have honoured their commitment.

Warren Knowles and Gaven Whitaker both attended the old Hartington Middle School in Haworth and then Oakbank.

With 50 on the horizon, the pair – both experienced cyclists – decided to sign up for a Land’s End to John O’Groats bike ride.

Warren opted to raise money for the Sue Ryder Manorlands hospice, not far from his home in Haworth, whilst Gaven – from Steeton – who used to be in the armed forces, cycled in aid of its charity SSAFA.

But their preparations for the challenge – organised through Threshold Sports – weren't all plain sailing.

Warren, a business manager for a renewables heating company, suffered an injury which threatened to derail his plans.

“It was just five weeks before the ride," he said.

"I used to play rugby and still play ‘touch and pass’ with friends. I turned and slipped and snapped my bicep muscle and ruptured the tendon in my right arm. It swelled up and turned black, which was alarming.

"I spoke to a consultant and he said provided I was careful, I would be OK to go.

"The first two to three days were really difficult. We were both so tired. But we got into a routine and felt better as the ride went on."

The cyclists were camping, but as it was an organised ride their tents were put up for them.

They encountered a wide range of weather conditions. "It was exactly as you would expect in different parts of the country – sunny and warm in the south, miserable and damp in the north-west and rainy with gale force winds in Scotland!" says Warren.

"The scenery was incredible and there was a lot of support."

He said day seven of the ride was probably the toughest – when they had to cover 120 miles, to the mountain resort of Glenshee and back down and then on to their base camp, in atrocious conditions.

But on their final day – the ninth – the weather had improved and they knew they were close to the ultimate destination on their 970-mile ride.

"We had been friends all our lives and we had done this together – it was a special time," Warren adds.

Together they have raised nearly £7,000 for their chosen causes.