Cyclist goes around the world on penny farthing

A cyclist has completed a 22,000-mile cycling trip around the world on a penny farthing. Joff Summerfield pedalled his handmade replica of a Victorian bicycle into Greenwich Market, south-east London, 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 latitude at the Greenwich Observatory. He averaged 11mph and covered up to 40 miles a day as he cycled across Europe into Turkey before riding through Australia and New Zealand.

In Australia, he raced in the Penny Farthing World Championships and came second in one of the 'novice' categories. From China - where he cycled without the correct permits - managed to sneak across the border into Tibet he despite his bike's giant front wheel that is 1.2 metres in diameter.



He then took in India and Nepal, where he crossed the Himalayas at 17,000ft (5,200m) and made it to Everest base camp.

Mr Summerfield, who was forced to abort two previous attempts through injury, next rode through south-east Asia, the USA and Canada before heading for home. En route, he took in landmarks including India's Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple complex and the Grand Canyon in the USA.

He believes he is the first man to complete the circumnavigation on a penny farthing since Thomas Stevens, who was British, in 1887.