'If we're going that far around, why don't we just go the whole hog' – One record down, one to go as father-son duo cycle the globe

George and Josh Kohler are aiming to become the first ever father and son to ride around the world, and to complete the longest father-son ride

Round the world father son challenge George Josh Kohler
(Image credit: Getty Images)

If good things come in threes, perhaps tough things do as well, as father-son round-the-world duo George and Josh Kohler found out in Uzbekistan just a few days ago.

They had successfully avoided climbing in the worst of the heat by setting out in the darkness of early morning. Nevertheless they still had to take on a triumvirate of bikepacking foes: major climb, unplanned major distance, and a closed hotel.

"We weren't meant to go so far," explains Josh. "But we set off at three in the morning to ride our biggest single climb of the trip… then it was all downhill for about 50 kilometres, and then we turned with the tailwind, and there wasn't really anywhere to stop. It's too hot during the day to camp, so we just kept cycling until we found the hotel. And yeah, it was 203 kilometres. "We were tired, though not completely shattered after it…"

Just a few years ago neither father nor son called themselves bike riders until they conjured up the idea to ride across the US. This they successfully did – "with a warm-up as Land's End to John o' Groats the year before", says George.

They put adventure cycling out of their minds for a couple of years before, at Josh's behest, they cooked up a new idea – this time to circumnavigate the globe on a record-breaking mission.

The records aside, the pair say the 30,000km ride has three main aims: to challenge themselves personally, to inspire others to take on similar adventures, and to raise money for UNICEF and raising men's mental health awareness. They're currently £5,600 into their £10,000 fundraising target.

Despite having been on the road for months already, they are still just a quarter of the way through their 30,000km journey – something they say they do their best not to think about too much.

Hard parts – aside from finding their hotel closed after their longest day on the bike – include a cracked bike frame and a disintegrated bottom bracket (sorted by Trek and a local mechanic respectively) and a four-day desert stint on flat, die-straight roads.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

After cutting his teeth on local and national newspapers, James began at Cycling Weekly as a sub-editor in 2000 when the current office was literally all fields.

Eventually becoming chief sub-editor, in 2016 he switched to the job of full-time writer, and covers news, racing and features.

He has worked at a variety of races, from the Classics to the Giro d'Italia – and this year will be his seventh Tour de France.

A lifelong cyclist and cycling fan, James's racing days (and most of his fitness) are now behind him. But he still rides regularly, both on the road and on the gravelly stuff.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.