Veteran and Son Near Completion of Global Cycling Journey for World Records

A veteran and his son from Norfolk began a cycling journey around the world in March 2025, traveling through Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. They are scheduled to depart from France next week and cycle through London before returning to their home in Acle.

The trip has raised thousands of pounds for Unicef. The son, a filmmaker, stated that the idea for the challenge came after a school visit from Northern Irish adventurer Leon McCarron and a previous cycle across America in 2022. He said they researched and found no father-son duo had completed such a trip before approaching Guinness World Records.

Upon completion, they anticipate receiving records for the fastest father-son global cycle, the longest distance cycled by a father-son pair, and the most countries traveled by bicycle by a father-son team.

Highlights from the Journey The pair described encounters with local people as a consistent positive aspect across 31 countries. The veteran, who served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and now works as a chimney sweep, recounted an incident on the Tibetan Plateau where monks provided water and yogurt and took selfies.

The son recalled sharing breakfast with a shepherd in a remote part of Turkey.

The journey included difficulties, such as pushing bikes along gravel tracks in Kyrgyzstan at over 3,000 meters elevation. The veteran described a descent involving dust, heat, and an incident where the son was stung by bees and dropped his bike on his foot.

Both noted mental challenges, including long stretches of isolation in Australia and the emotional strain of spending 13 months together constantly. The experience has strengthened their relationship, with the veteran stating it improved his understanding of his son's capabilities in harsh environments and led to self-reflection.