A CYCLIST who peddled 4,000 miles as he followed the Olympic torch is already planning his next ride.

Rod Drew, from Dorchester , covered up to 180 miles a day as he saw firsthand the way the torch touched communities across the country.

The 67-year-old with a double hip replacement cycled a total of 4,030 miles as he followed the torch for 64 days before finishing his route in Greenwich.

He often cycled throughout the night and his efforts saw him raise more than £2,000 for Macmillan Cancer.

Rod said: “It was brilliant.

“The bike and the body performed exactly as I had wished for.

“I knew the bike was good but I was less sure about myself.”

Rod, who set off from the county town on May 19 to meet the torch in Land’s End, said he was touched along the way by the generous acts of strangers who showed him support as well as the way communities came together too. He said: “I want to thank all the people who showed me great kindness, the people who put me up and complete strangers who bought me meals – it was just tremendous.”

Rod, who got to hold the torch itself in Greenwich and a lantern with the flame in Bedford, added: “It was lovely to see all those people inspired by the torch and waiting to see the torch bearers.

“It was nice to see the whole country in town after town celebrating.”

Rod was almost unsupported apart from his cuddly lion mascot Ollie and said that the ride would stand him in good stead for his next challenge, to cycle through Europe and on to North Africa.

The Transition Town volunteer got into cycling after giving up driving for environmental reasons and was also inspired along the way by the memory of Jim Packard, his friend who died last year aged 93.

He said he was delighted to raise so much money for Macmillan.

For more information about Rod’s epic journey visit torchrider.co.uk and you can still donate at justgiving.com/roderick-drew