A CHAMPION mountain biker from Par is planning to smash a world record circumnavigating the globe.

In February, Vin Cox, 34, an IT consultant turned cycle safety instructor, will say goodbye to his 33-year-old wife Helen, a teacher at Poltair School, to cycle 18,000 miles in the same direction around the world, starting at Greenwich Meridian.

Blogs

His journey will see him ride across six continents and more than 20 countries, raising £1 for every mile for a leukaemia research charity.

He will take in the Andes in winter and the Saudi Arabian desert, writing blogs and capturing his adventure on camera along the way.

Vin said: "I have been a cyclist for a long time and a couple of years ago my wife and I were watching a documentary about a man who used to hold the record.

"I sneered a bit at it as he did less than 100 miles a day.

"In 2008, after a lot of thought, I said to my wife I was going to be going away for a few months – it seemed possible and I wanted to have a crack at it.

"It will be a real adventure."

Vin has spent the past year training and planning his route.

The money he raises will go to the Geoff Thomas Foundation which supports people with cancer and was set up in 2003 after ex-England and Crystal Palace footballer Geoff Thomas was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Vin said: "I used to race with a lot of the people involved with the charity and it seemed like a good idea for me to get involved too. The charity does fantastic work."

He hopes to beat the current record holder James Bowthorpe's time held in September 2009.

Vin added: "I think there is some expectation for me to break the record as I am a professional cyclist.

"I need to do it in less than five months.

Challenge

"I think the biggest challenge is the amount of time I will be spending alone.

"I'm a very sociable person and not being able to have a conversation with someone I have known for more than 20 minutes will be hard.

"But I think by keeping a blog and video diary – that will be like my imaginary friend and keep me going."

His route will take him from Britain through France, down to South Africa, across India, through Thailand and Indonesia and into Australia and New Zealand.

He will then travel to Canada, crossing America, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Argentina before arriving at Portugal and making his way up to the ferry at Roscoff.

He said the Guinness rules stipulate he must start and finish in the same place; travel at least 18,000 miles and not back-track, but the rest is up to him.

He aims to be the first record holder to have ridden through both Africa and South America in the same attempt.

"Anyone who would like to join me along the way is more than welcome – it would be company for me and I'm sure they would get a lot out of it," said Vin.

To make a donation, go to www.greatbikeride.com