Round-the-world cyclist

A London doctor will tomorrow embark on the ultimate long-distance cycle ride, planning to ride 50,000 miles over the next five years to raise £50,000 for the medical aid agency, Merlin.

That’s getting on for three times the distance that the likes of Mark Beaumont and James Bowthorpe have ridden in setting records for the fastest circumnavigation by bike.

It’s less than ten weeks since James Bowthorpe pedalled into Hyde Park to smash the round-the-world cycling record, but a 23-year-old former bike courier from London is looking to beat his 175-day mark for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bike. But it could be close.

Julian Emre Sayarer, who was born in London and grew up in Leicestershire, is 158 days into his journey and averaging 107 miles a day against James Bowthorpe’s 103.

172 Days, 17,350 miles, 3 Days to go!

Round-the-world cyclist James Bowthorpe is bang on target to ride into London on Saturday to complete an 18,000-mile journey that began on a chilly Sunday morning back in March. If you want to welcome him back check out the itinerary for his final leg from Portsmouth to London below.

Round-the-world cyclist James Bowthorpe, who we earlier reported was left shaken after an apparent kidnap attempt in Iran, has posted a blog detailing his experiences.

The 31-year-old, who is attempting to break Mark Beaumont's round-the-world cycling record, left the country early after being chased and almost forced off the road by a group of young men in a car.

The incident happened on Wednesday (April 29), his first day in the country, as he attempted to get the miles in by cycling into the evening, at around 7pm.

A frightening kidnap attempt prompted round-the-world cyclist James Bowthorpe to make a rushed departure from Iran in the early hours of the morning, skipping Pakistan and continuing his challenge in India.

The 31-year-old, who is attempting to beat the round-the-world cycling record, is still on track to shave a day off record-holder Mark Beaumont’s time, despite the incident, which left him “freaked out”, according to his girlfriend.

Today is the day James Bowthorpe embarks on his ambitious mission to set a new round-the-world cycling record.