Cyclist beats train on 170 mile journey across Scotland after he couldn't fit his bike on board

A Londoner who could not fit his bike onto a train decided to cycle the 170 mile journey instead – and got there first.

James Owers, 28, forgot to add bikes when booking train tickets from Edinburgh to Inverness for him and his girlfriend Deena Bardsley.

Virgin Trains managed to find room for one of the bikes on the day, leaving Mr Owers facing the epic journey across Scotland on two wheels.

The PHD student, who was born in Wimbledon, told the Standard: “We had to be in Inverness that night because we were starting a cycle tour with Deena’s father the next day.

“They said my best chance was to pack my bike into a box and try to squeeze it into the guard’s compartment, but I decided just to cycle it.”

He set off at 6.15am and arrived in Inverness at 7.30pm after more than 12 hours in the saddle. He stopped once for a macaroni pie and twice to sample the whiskey at local distilleries.

“The ride was magical and there were only a few showers,” said Mr Owers.

“Deena took my luggage with her on the train so I only had to carry tools and few snacks like chocolate raisins.

“She had bet me a pizza if I managed to beat the train so I was determined to get to Inverness first, although I still found time to stop off for a wee dram.”

The cyclist beat the train, which left Edinburgh at 4.34pm, by half an hour. It should have arrived at 8.04pm but was delayed by ten minutes.

His girlfriend and her father are training for a charity cycle ride from London to Paris in July, which they are doing to raise money for mental health charity Mind.