A PINT in the pub is a tempting prospect for cyclist Matt Jones after he completes one of Britain’s most gruelling mountain bike races.

But Matt has decided to forgo that simple pleasure after the 100-mile race at Kielder in Northumberland in favour of a little extra effort.

And that just happens to be a five-mile kayak paddle down the length of Kielder Water, before donning his running shoes to complete a 26-mile marathon around northern Europe’s biggest man-made lake.

Matt, 26, will start the Montane Kielder 100 bike race at 6.30am and expects to finish the final marathon leg at around 1am the next morning.

“It’s do-able, or that’s what I keep telling myself,” said Matt, a senior project officer with sustainable transport charity Sustrans in Newcastle.

“But this is on a different scale to anything I’ve done before. I’m quietly confident, but not complacent. This is a massive physical and mental challenge.”

Matt will be raising funds for the Calvert Trust at Kielder, which caters for people with disabilities, and has already notched up £4,000 in sponsorship.

He completed the 100-mile Kielder race last year as well as the European 24-hour solo mountain bike championship over the 7Stanes group of trails in the Borders.

“After the Kielder ride last year I thought that rather than having that pint in the pub it might be an idea to add a few extra challenges,” said Matt, who studied at Newcastle University for an MA in economic geography and regeneration. “Once you complete one challenge it’s a case of what’s next.”

On Saturday, September 3, Matt will line up with more than 900 other bikers to take part in the Montane Kielder – Europe’s longest single lap mountain bike race . The 100-mile ride over humps, bumps, twists and turns takes place against the clock with the winner expected to crack the eight-hour mark for the second time in two years.

“Kielder was where I had my first taste of competitive cycling a few years back. I’m always looking for the next big thing that will push me mentally and physically to my limits,” said Matt.

Matt can be sponsored on www.justgiving.com/killerkielder or his website www.killerkielder.co.uk