A CYCLIST added 70 miles on to a charity bike ride because of his crippling fear of heights, but confronted them after encountering an even bigger fear - Glasgow city centre.
Scott Brown, 34, of Maes-y-Groes, Llanelidan had to cover 70 extra miles on his sponsored cycle ride from John O’Groats to Lands End because he has a phobia of heights, specifically crossing bridges over water.
Mr Brown cycled 930 miles instead of the usual 860 miles needed to complete the trek, taking a number of detours so as to avoid the Severn and Kessock bridges, two major connections on the route.
But the thought of travelling through Glasgow city centre finally forced Mr Brown to confront his phobia head-on, by crossing the Erskine Bridge near Glasgow to avoid venturing into the city.
“It was scary because it was so windy.
“Cars were whizzing past me and I could see the drop to the side of me. My legs were like jelly.
“I decided I’d rather face my fear and go over the bridge than cycle through Glasgow city centre!”
He completed the colossal journey solo in 15 days, to raise money for the Royal National Institute for the Blind, which helps his father Alan who suffers from a degenerative eye condition. HIs mum Katrina followed him in a support car as his back-up.
“I was looking for a challenge and this certainly was one,” added Mr Brown.
Regulars at Mr Brown’s local, the Leyland Arms, are showing their support by attempting to replicate his journey on an exercise bike which has been set up in the pub.
* There are only five ways to cross the great river divide in central Scotland: either the towering Forth Road Bridge at Edinburgh, the smaller Kincardine Bridge near Falkirk, through central Glasgow crossing a smaller city bridge, over the great Erskine Bridge (Scott’s route) or by taking the Dunoon Ferry.