Fife engineer’s 215-mile charity cycle – on one wheel

Will Homer is taking part in the 2026 bp Coast 2 Coast event on just one wheel. From June 4–7, he will join more than 50 riders and support crew who will cross Scotland from Ullapool to Aberdeen, to raise money for four charities - The Archie Foundation, Instant Neighbour, Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust and Will’s chosen cause, Arbroath Football Club Community Trust.

Will is no stranger to endurance challenges, having previously cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats and skied across Greenland - but admits, this may be one of his toughest tests yet.

The ride has been slightly adapted, avoiding some of the harshest hills, due the added physical demands of riding a unicycle.

“I have done the Coast 2 Coast ride before but thought I’d go a step further this year,” he said. “I used to ride a unicycle when I was about 10, and after 25 years I dug it out from my parents’ garage. I couldn’t believe I could still ride it.”

Now training on a larger, modified unicycle with a custom saddlebag and brake system, Will is preparing for what he expects to be three gruelling days on the road.

Unlike a traditional bike, the unicycle has no gears and demands constant balance, placing unique strain on the body.

“Pedalling uphill is really hard work,” he explained. “It’s about half the speed for the same, or more, effort. I’ll be setting off before 5:00am each day and expect to be on the road for up to 12 hours.”

The C2C route averages around 80 miles per day, meaning he will need to pace himself and take regular breaks, something counter-intuitive compared to standard cycling.

“On a normal bike, you try to stay in the saddle as long as possible. On a unicycle, it’s the opposite. You need to stop regularly just to relieve the pressure and restore circulation,” he said. “It’s a completely different challenge.”

Will has been training for the past two months on quiet back roads around Fife, gradually building endurance. A recent 37-mile training ride took him more than six hours, an indication of the effort required to complete the full route.

This will be his third consecutive year taking part in bp’s Coast 2 Coast challenge. In 2025, he rode a vintage 1960s bicycle belonging to his mother, raising funds for a local playgroup. This year, Will is supporting Arbroath Football Club Community Trust, which was nominated by his colleague Barry Valentine, who sits alongside him at bp and will also be taking part in the ride.

Barry, who is chairman of the community trust, said: “It’s brilliant to have Will supporting the Trust in such a unique and challenging way. What he’s taking on is incredible, and it really captures people’s attention. The funds raised will go directly into supporting programmes that make a real difference to people in our community, and we’re hugely grateful for his effort.”

You can donate to Will;s fundraiser at https://www.justgiving.com/team/arbroathfcctc2cgroup