A HEREFORD man raced his bike for 12 days in extreme heat and over some Europe's toughest roads while transporting everything he needed on his bike and sleeping rough.

The Transcontinental Race is an ultra-endurance event like no other and sees competitors race from one side of Continental Europe to the other while making their own route to four checkpoints and finding food, drink and any repairs themselves.

Rotherwas business owner James Kirk, 41, was one of 300 competitors who took part in this year's 2,500 miles race between Belgium and Greece.

Kirk used to compete in road racing before having a 20 year gap away from the sport before moving to Hereford four years ago and joining local cycling club NFTO and then the Ely Race Club.

“I’ve always been a strong bike rider and like to ride my bike for as long and hard for a long time,” said Kirk.

“I had done a few long rides over the years and some unsupported but no longer than a week.

“I have been following the event for a few years but it’s notorious to get in. However, I managed to get in on the lottery style ballot."

On July 29, at 10pm Kirk took to the start-line in Geraardsbergen, Belgium, and the whole town came out to cheer as the race got underway.

The competitors were immediately faced with their first challenge in the form of the 19 per cent cobbled climb away from the start before navigating their own way to the first control point in Austria.

Kirk, racing on his specially designed bike by VeloShop in Hereford, went into France and chose a longer but less hilly version where as other competitors chose to go through the Ardennes.

The Hereford cyclist mixed his sleeping arrangements between booking into hotels on some nights and on others sleeping rough in a sleeping bag and a blow-up mattress, leant to him by friends.

“The reason for that was that hotels slow you down with booking in where as if I was going well I might only need two or three hours sleep,” added Kirk.

“But you just need to be sensible about where you sleep and wary.”

The first check point was Bielerhöhe Pass in Austria 480 miles from the start and saw riders climb a 6,000 feet high climb which Kirk reached after one day and 22 hours.

That was followed by Slovenia’s highest road the Mangart Sedlo where riders had to also combat the heat and a 22 per cent climb before Kirk reached the second check point in three days and 15 hours.

A mandatory climb led to the third check point in Karkonosze Pass, Poland on the Czech Republic and Polish border after six days and 10 hours of racing for Kirk

“It’s the first time that I’ve ever got off my road bike and got to a stop as the power made to move forwards was fatiguing my legs,” said Kirk.

Kirk was moving forward in the race increasing his position from 37th to 27th towards the fourth check point which saw three further days of riding through Hungary, Croatia and Montenegro in 40 degrees heat.

During this period Kirk was drinking 15 litres of water a day and sleeping between four and five hours a night which he would have reduce in hindsight.

“I learnt a lot about what I should have done with sleep patterns and to only shop at small shops and petrol stations," he added.

“All the fast guys use McDonalds every time they see one as 20 chicken nuggets and two litres of coke as perfect as you’re not bothered about nutrition but more the calories.”

The fourth check point was in the centre of Bosnia at an old Olympic venue in to Bielašnica which included a six miles up and six miles down gravel section consisting of large rocks which riders were forced to walk.

Kirk reached the check point in nine days and 16 hours.

“These challenges are what makes the race one of the hardest endurance events and if they weren’t included more people would do it,” Kirk added.

“I was tired and it was late on in the day walking up the hill in inferno heat and on reflection those moments are why 80 people left the race and 90 quit in total as it’s designed to break you.

“We get so used to being on safe roads in the UK and we get angry if a car comes within one metre in Eastern Europe countries like Albania cars are not used to seeing cyclists on their roads and I was forced off the road on several occasions.”

However, it wasn’t just the terrain that would challenge Kirk as at 1am on a tiny road in Albania he hit a big pot hole which burst both of his tyres while running in around 17th position.

With his one spare inner tube Kirk changed his back tyre and used a patch to repair the front tyre with one and a half days of riding remaining.

After one patch gave way Kirk had to go into the nearest city, a 12-hour detour, to seek assistance. Once there he spotted a man with the same tyres and wheels as he had.

“I tried to explain the situation and he said follow me and a few miles later we stopped at a barber’s shop at 7pm," added Kirk.

“There was a chap in there who works in a bike shop during the day and cuts hair in the evening. He came out with a selection of inner tubes."

However, it wasn't just the dangers of the road preventing Kirk from reaching the finish-line in Greece.

“It was fairly uneventful through Greece and I rode a long time trying to make up time but one night I was chased by a massive pack of dogs," he added.

“I was warned about them as they are left to look after cows. There were three or four of them and I could see their eyes glaring in the dark.

“It’s amazing what adrenaline does as I sprinted away.”

After another 2,000 feet climb Kirk made the descent down to the finish just as the sun was rising in Meteora, Greece eventually finishing in 12 days, 14 hours and five minutes in around 24th position, yet to be confirmed.