Cyclist tackles world by seat of his pants...
A BIRMINGHAM man is cycling the 12,500 miles from Sydney to his home city – and he’s not taken a change of underpants for the year-long marathon.
John Pears can expect a raucous reception when he arrives in Stechford, but the crowds can be forgiven for keeping their distance.
The 33-year-old’s incredible, around-the-world journey will take in 20 countries and is the equivalent of cycling the 600 miles round-trip from Birmingham to Edinburgh 20 times.
It is also equal to pedalling Birmingham’s Outer Ring Road 1,200 times.
He is making the journey, which should end next August, on a £500 second-hand cycle. The machine will be crammed with clothes, a cooker, pots, utensils, a sleeping bag and tent.
A second pair of undies would have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Why do you need more than one pair, anyway?” he shrugged. “Washing them in the shower has been OK.
“It’s lighter and unnecessary to carry more, when I won’t need to wear them much.”
Mr Pears, currently on the 30-day stretch from Melbourne to Perth, has limited himself to a £4,000 budget and is chronIcling his journey via his Pedalling Podcast.
The bachelor, who re-located to New Zealand a few years ago, hopes to turn his incredible trek into a best-selling book.
He is not a hardcore cyclist and does not possess an athlete’s fitness. John hopes his journey will inspire others to get into the saddle.
“I’m on a mission to discover cycling stories across the world,” he says. “I’m finding my own journey at the same time, understanding what drives me to cycle by asking others the same question.
“You don’t have to be an athlete, you just need the courage to push yourself.
“My focus is to fulfil my dream to cycle across the world, to meet people, understand myself better and explore the wonderful cultures along the way. There will be highs and lows throughout and I want to learn and share that experience as I go.
“It wasn’t until 2008 that I bought a bike. It was just to save time and money on travelling to work, but, slowly, cycling started to claw its way into my life.”
From Perth, the marketeer will fly to Singapore, cycle to Kuala Lumpur, travel through Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and enter India.
The intrepid biker will then fly to Oman, enter Dubai before heading to Armenia, Georgia and Turkey.
The European legs will him cross from Bulgaria France before hitting Britain.
He’ll be camping or staying with guests gained via website WarmShowers.com. see
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