A COUPLE from Oxford are aiming to prove they can do more than look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle made for two.

Rich Roberts and his fiancée Denyze Bates, from Hollow Way, Cowley, hope to raise £10,000 by cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End on a tandem.

And they will be taking time out to climb the three highest peaks in the UK on the way.

Mr Roberts, 34, said: “We got the idea when we took a year out and went round the world, cycling most of the way. But we didn’t do it for charity, so we decided we would love to do something for a good cause.”

The ride is to raise money for Oxford’s Maggie’s Cancer Centre, which supported Miss Bates’ mum, Jane, when she was suffering from the disease. She died in August 2009.

Mr Roberts, an accountant, said: “Maggie’s Centre did such a fantastic job helping her, we decided we would love to raise money for them.”

The couple, who will be joined on the ride by Mr Roberts’ sister Rachel, will carry a charity box on the front of their bike, but sponsorship has been more difficult than anticipated.

Mr Roberts said: “We were hoping to get some corporate sponsors, but I think a lot of companies have cut back on things like that. So if we get £5,000, we’d be really happy.”

He added: “We’ve found that we’re more noticeable on a tandem bike, and people are more likely to stop and talk to us.

“So we are hoping they won’t mind putting a bit of money in our box at the same time.”

But it hasn’t all been plain sailing. Mr Roberts said: “You have to do everything in sync, pushing off at the same time.

“It wobbles a lot if the person on the back moves around. So if you see us wobbling down the road, it’s because Denyze is looking at the wildlife and not concentrating on where we are going.”

He added: “We have had one or two arguments, but we’d be doing well if we made it all the way without a couple of scrapes.”

Miss Bates, 34, an occupational therapist, said: “Mum believed that Maggie’s Centres were a fantastic resource that everyone should have access to.

rpope@oxfordmail.co.uk See janesjaunt. blogspot.com or justgiving.com/ JanesJaunt