Lexi, an army veteran and below-knee amputee, has wheeled the equivalent of a marathon every day using a non-sport wheelchair from John o' Groats to Land's End (JOGLE). As part of her 874-mile long charitable challenge she used National Cycle Network routes to navigate safely from one end of nation to the other.
Lexi said: "Without the cycle routes this challenge wouldn’t have been possible." Credit: Rachel Sutherland
National Cycle Network routes guiding the way
Lexi, who has broken four Guinness World Records, has broken a new one - wheeling from John o'Groats to Land's End.
Throughout her journey, the National Cycle Network allowed her to safely wheel from one place to the next.
Using the Caledonia Way through parts of Scotland and The Great Western Way to Bristol and avoid busy roads. Lexi said:
"Without the cycle routes this challenge wouldn’t have been possible.
"We couldn’t have got across Bristol or Glasgow without them.
"At times they’ve been the safest routes and if we couldn’t use them it would have put an end to the journey. They’ve literally made this journey possible.
"We looked at so many different routes and they were the safest ones we could have possibly taken and they were really enjoyable too.
"It’s been nice meeting people along the routes stopping and chatting and telling them about my challenge.
"Some cyclists who’ve done JOGLE before have told me about the route from their perspective and when they found out about my journey they basically asked ‘are you mad?!’ I've had that a few times now."
Throughout her journey, the National Cycle Network has allowed her to safely wheel from one place to the next. Credit: Phil Mingo / PPA
Pushing boundaries in a non-sport wheelchair
Lexi has climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest - reaching over 29,000ft during her longest challenge yet.
"It's always been my dream to climb Mount Everest - I can't do it in person, so I've now done it in ft while wheeling from John o'Groats to Land’s End!
"I climbed 2,600ft in one day, I got into the car and thought I was going to pass out.
"All and all the journey's been amazing really."
Lexi embarked on her challenge on 27 August - wheeling between five and seven hours a day for five consecutive days at a time with one or two rest days in between.
Lexi wheeled through strong head winds, torrential rain and up 18% gradient hills but pushed on with the two charities she’s raising money for at heart.
The passionate Exeter Chiefs Women supporter completed the route within 36 days - reaching Land’s End by 10 October.
“The charity I’m raising money for provided me with my first hand bike so I could get cycling again along with my wheelchair which actually fits me – I want to give back to them.
“The wheelchair the NHS provided me was three sizes too big for me, with the expectation that I will grow in size – with the idea that because you can’t exercise you’ll put on weight.
“This is one of the things that I’m trying to disprove and say to people ‘it doesn’t have to be this way’. Even though you don’t have a sports wheelchair you can use a normal chair.
“If I can do it then you can.”
Putting women's sport in the spotlight
“The reason why I’m doing my ‘End2End Rugby Relay’ challenge is partly to raise awareness of people with chronic pain conditions like mine, and to raise awareness of women’s rugby too.
“At the end of each day I’ll be going into a local women’s rugby club, whether that’s a grassroots or premiere league club, get them to sign it and pass the ball onto the next club - connecting all the clubs along the way.
“I want to highlight the way women’s sports can change people’s lives for the better. It inspires so many people including myself and my support team who’ll be with me during the challenge.
“It’s a way for me to give something back, they’ve been so supportive over the years.
“Hopefully it will encourage more people to go along to games across the UK too.”
Lexi's JOGLE team who have been supporting her throughout the challenge (Lexi is pictured at the front in the middle). Credit: Lexi Chambers
The value of traffic-free routes
In the build-up to the challenge, she’s used her local National Cycle Network Routes 34 and 2 to train on.
“Using these traffic-free routes to train on is so important - it means I can rack up the miles, have my headphones on and not have to worry about competing with vehicles.
“I use these routes from my home to reach Exmouth and go along the seafront which is great for my speed sessions.
“Because I’m low to the ground it feels much safer on off-road routes.
“I have a friend who uses a hand bike and she’s been run over a couple of times on the road.
“After hearing that I thought there’s no way I’m risking it on the roads. I can’t afford the injury time put it that way.
“I’ll stick to anything off-road now.
“A few gates along the way have been taken out now which means I can travel further along which is great.
“I see lots of different people using the same routes that I use to train on too whether that’s running or cycling – I've got to know their faces. We say hello to each other, and we all say the same thing that it’s nice to feel safe and not have to worry about traffic.”
“The charity I’m raising money for provided me with my first hand bike so I could get cycling again along with my wheelchair which actually fits me – I want to give back to them." Credit: Lexi Chambers
Breaking records while raising money for charity
Lexi, who has complex regional pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, and nerve issues, is no stranger to a challenge. In 2022, she broke world records for the fastest half and full marathons using a non-sport wheelchair.
In 2023, she achieved two new world records. One for the furthest distance covered in 12 hours using a wheelchair and the other for the Bath Half Marathon.
Before this she spent eight years on crutches before she had her leg amputated due to her condition.
Along with smashing world records, Lexi has raised thousands of pounds for charities close to her heart.
“It’s just about making sure I complete it. Because no one’s ever done it before I’ve got no basis of comparison for what the routes will be like or what could come along for someone using a normal wheelchair.
“We know what it’s like for someone on a bike and someone on a hand bike but that’s very different to what I’m using.
“My normal wheelchair is built for shopping, not sport. I can do around 15kph on it but that’s pushing it, and I can’t sustain that day after day going up hills and half up the side of mountains.
“Whereas my hand bike can easily go up to 50kph.
“With my conditions, my pain never disappears – it's always at a high level. But when I’m doing the events it’s like the pain isn’t there, I just don’t think about it because I’m so focused on achieving that goal. I don’t register anything going on around me to be honest.
“I’m just going to take each day as it comes and concentrate on the bigger picture.”
In the build-up to the challenge, Lexi used her local National Cycle Network Routes 34 and 2 to train on. Credit: Lexi Chambers
Advice for those wanting to go further in a standard wheelchair
For people who use a standard wheelchair and would like to try going further distances in it Lexi said the key is to “start off really slowly and gradually build the distance up.”
She added:
“Take a small pootle, don’t see it as training and enjoy the scenery from A to B – before you know it you’ll be building strength in your arms and shoulders and you’ll be able to do 5k.
“Make sure your chair fits you too.
“If you can, get an attachment for your chair – I have a track wheel or a free wheel – they’re both very similar things that enable you to go over cobbles or off-road without being chunked out your chair.
“They are quite expensive but they are invaluable I couldn’t do anything I do without it. It actually makes you slower but safer - it’s well worth it.
“You can use what you’ve got and you don’t need to spend 60 grand on a chair which most people simply cannot afford.
“My journey, despite physical challenges, serves as a testament to overcoming the seemingly impossible.
“As part of this challenge, I hope to motivate others to surpass their perceived limitations”
Lexi is raising money for Exeter Chiefs Women and a charity which provides army veterans with access to sport and other wellbeing resources.
Lexi says people are welcome to join her along the way. To keep up with her adventure and to find out more you can visit her website.
