16,250 MILES - AND STILL PEDALLING AROUND THE WORLD

Nathan has no plans to stop epic cycling adventure just yet

- LOIS MCCARTHY Reporter

AFTER months of pedalling across continents and through some of the world’s most rugged terrains, Nathan Hurley has finally reached Sydney Harbour, completing a remarkable 16,250-mile journey that began in Cardiff Bay on St David's Day in 2024.

The 35-year-old from Blackwood, Caerphilly, set out with little more than a bike, a tent and a goal. What started as a personal challenge soon turned into an unforgettable adventure, raising both awareness and £4,000 for the Multiple System Atrophy Trust.

Nathan's journey took him through 26 countries, crossing alpine ranges, vast deserts and diplomatic borders on a route that spanned more than a year, and a quarter of the globe.

But for someone who never considered himself adventurous, the decision to leave home with a tent, a stove and a blow-up pillow was a leap far beyond his comfort zone.

Self labelled as an “urban dweller”, he confesses he wasn’t exactly an experienced cyclist when he began.

"I wasn’t even an accomplished bike rider as I recall nearly falling off just 50 metres into the ride near the Senedd with my parents’ heads in their hands.”

He went on to joke that among his friends, he's always been the one least prepared for outdoor escapades.

“I’m the guy who doesn't do adventure well,” he laughed.