Mark Beaumont bumps into round-the-world unicyclist midway through his own trip

Mark Beaumont is currently attempting to ride around the world in 80 days. He’s not the only cyclist making such a journey however. Last week he bumped into Ed Pratt, who is making a similarly gargantuan trip, only with fewer wheels.

While Beaumont is up against the clock, Pratt is now two-and-a-half years into his trip, which he hopes will see him recognised as the first to circumnavigate the globe on one wheel.

“I enjoy riding these bikes,” he explained. “It’s slower than, obviously, a normal two-wheel bike, but I enjoy the challenge and I enjoy the people that you meet because of it.”

He bumped into Beaumont in Australia, just a few days before the Scotsman was hit from behind by a car driver near Melbourne.

Pratt described his fellow adventurer as ‘inspiring’

“Obviously it’s a very different trip from what I’m doing. Mine’s more about travel. I’m doing, what, 80km a day – when I’m riding. Some days I take off. It’s not about record-breaking; it’s not about speeds for me. But seeing someone who’s really pushing themselves that hard – it’s very cool.”

On the road today with @WorldUnicycle who is 2.5 years into his journey around the world on a unicycle. pic.twitter.com/bYrPikZ1PH

— Mark Beaumont (@MrMarkBeaumont) 5 August 2017

Pratt has so far covered over 13,000 miles on his unicycle. He is carrying a tent, sleeping bag, cooking stove and everything else in two custom-made panniers.

He says that as well as being a great physical challenge, unicycling also demands complete mental focus, “because you know if you don’t see a pothole or bump in the road that you’re coming off.”

He is raising money and awareness for School in a Bag, an initiative providing school bags to poor, orphaned, vulnerable and disaster-affected children throughout the world. He has so far raised over £12,000. You can donate here.

You can find out more at his website.