About me

I spent most of my childhood riding bikes before studying mechanical engineering at Edinburgh University. During this time, I realised that there was no way I could settle down to a 9-5 job for the rest of my life without realising my dream of seeing the world. One day, I made the decision to quit my job, say goodbye to my loved ones, and set off to cycle unsupported around the world at the age of 24. In March 2011, with little preparation and no training, I left on my bike, "Sandy" with the mission to cross Europe, Asia and America. In under 10 months, I cycled 23,000 kilometers, having achieved my ambition of getting around the world using only a bike, and having had the best experiences of my life in the process. On the trip, I spent nights in people's houses all over the world, slept in Yurts, camped with nomads, ate delicious food ranging from Tibetan stew to alligator meat, partied with Kazakhs on the Caspian Sea ferry, saw Stalin's house, the Grand Canyon and the Great Wall and crossed sweltering deserts and huge mountains. I returned from my trip, having raised thousands of pounds for my charity, SOS Children's Villages, and with a new perspective on life. Having completed a PhD at Sheffield University, I'm now a physics teacher and I love my job. When I can fit in other adventures I do. Amongst other adventures, I have fatbiked across Mongolia and around the Balearic Islamds, cycled across the French Alps, completed two Ironman triathlons, cycled the Three Gorges in China on a £15 folding bike, come 6th in th Highland Trail 550, crossed the Indian Himalayas and done many more bike tours in the UK.

I have written a best selling book about the trip, named "Every Inch of the Way; My Bike Ride around the World" and am currently writing another about my recent trip to India. I've spoken at conferences, schools, scout groups, rotary clubs, adventure events and have been on the cycling panel at the Royal Geographical Society Explore conference. Please get in touch via the link above to book me to speak at your event.