During the Easter holidays in Cornwall me and my girlfriend hired bikes and went for a sunshine cycle along the camel estuary’s camel trial stopping for an excellent glass of wine at the Camel Valley Vineyard – proving that world class wine can be made in England! After a good two hours cycling along the flat trial we reached Padstow to recoup before heading to my Mum’s house for a well deserved dinner. The next day I felt a tightness in my buttocks – so this is what exercise feels like, I thought.

It was around the same time that Matt Downing, a good friend of mine told me what he was planning for the summer of 2011…

…to cycle from Calais in the North of France to Gibraltar the most southerly point of Spain.

“Ok” I hear you say, “that doesn’t sound too hard” as you, unlike myself, might not consider cycling quiet so tough.

But wait I haven’t told you what he will cycling the 2000 + miles on. As if cycling across two of Europe’s biggest countries wasn’t enough, he is going to be doing it on a UNICYCLE – for those who are unclear of what that is; think circus’.

A unicycle only has one wheel meaning riding a unicycle is unlike riding a regular bicycle – as well as expending energy on turning the pedals, you have to use all your core muscles to remain balanced at all times also there is no freewheeling – that means pedaling the whole time!

The world record for the longest unicycle journey is over 9,000 miles set by Lars Clausen in the USA and taking over 6 months. However Lars had a support crew following him. Matt will be travelling solo and taking everything he needs with him in a backpack – making the task even more grueling.

It is not pure madness that is fuelling his mission though, he is raising money for Cancer Research and also hope to promote travelling overland instead of by plane as he feels this is better for travelers minds and for the environment.

I am not sure what this adventure will do to Matt’s mind but I wish him the best. I may even buy a cheap Spanish black market bike and join him for a week around halfway; to boost his morale and tighten my butt muscles further, but only for a week mind you, I’m not crazy!

So if you are passing through France or Spain this summer (2011) keep an eye out for this brave unicyclist, and offer him some encouragement. If not visit his blog www.1newheel.wordpress.com to learn what has been happening to him along his way.

TravelReflex’s Writer: this article was written by ccooley.