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Around the world at 11mph, a wheely long ride on penny farthing
Tim Stewart10.11.08
LONDON adventurer Joff Summerfield has completed a 22,000 mile trip around the world on a penny farthing.
He pedalled his hand-made replica of the Victorian bicycle into Greenwich Market, where his journey began two and a half years ago.
Mr Summerfield, 40, visited 23 countries in four continents after setting off from 0 degrees longitude at the Greenwich Observatory.
He averaged 11mph and covered up to 40 miles a day as he cycled across Europe, Turkey, India and Nepal, where he crossed the Himalayas at 17,000 feet and made it to Everest base camp. Then, from China and without the correct permits, Mr Summerfield managed to sneak at night into Tibet, despite his bike's 1.2 metre-wide front wheel. He then travelled south through Australia, where he raced in the Penny Farthing World Championships and came second in a "novice" category, before going on to New Zealand.
Mr Summerfield also rode through the US and Canada before heading for home in Greenwich. En route, he took in landmarks including the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon. He is the first man to complete the circumnavigation feat on a penny farthing since Thomas Stevens in 1887. Mr Summerfield had worked as an engineer on Formula One cars before setting off on his adventure. His bike had one fixed gear, a hard leather saddle, small brake and solid rubber tyres.
With no back-up, Mr Summerfield travelled with only a change of clothes, stove, tent and sleeping bag and survived on £5. He said: "Tibet was the hardest stretch because I had to enter illegally. It was so high up and there was no tarmac on the roads."
He was raising money for wildlife and breast cancer charities and hopes to write a book about his trip which ended yesterday.
