Father and Son Bike 18,000 Miles, Break 3 World Records

A chimney sweep and his filmmaker son just pedaled their way into the record books after cycling 18,000 miles around the planet together.

George Kohler, 57, and his son Josh, 23, left their home near Norwich, England, on March 29, 2025, with two bikes and zero professional cycling experience. They returned 400 days later with three Guinness World Records for the fastest father-son bicycle circumnavigation, the longest father-son cycling journey, and the most countries visited by a father-son duo on bikes.

The idea started in high school when Josh heard a talk by adventurer Leon McCarron. He bought McCarron's book about cycling across North America and couldn't shake the idea of doing something similar with his dad.

There was just one problem. Neither of them owned bikes or had any long-distance cycling experience.

The pair started small, cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats in 2021 for charity. In 2022, they tackled the 3,728-mile journey from New York City to San Francisco. When Josh suggested going around the world, George's response was simple: "Perfect, why not?"

Their route took them through South America, Australia, Asia, and Europe. They shared breakfast with a Turkish shepherd who didn't speak English but communicated through gestures and smiles. Serbian locals welcomed them for lunch. Monks in Asia offered food and rest.

Not every moment was magical. Chinese police escorted them out of restricted areas. The Nullarbor Desert tested them with brutal heat and seven-mile stretches without civilization. Living together 24/7 led to disagreements, but they kept one unwritten rule: never go to sleep angry.

Josh admits they prepared for the physical and mental challenges but underestimated the emotional ones. Spending every moment with the same person, even someone you love, tests patience in unexpected ways.

Why This Inspires

This story reminds us that the biggest adventures don't require elite training or perfect conditions. George was a regular guy with a regular job who said yes to his son's wild idea. They learned as they went, argued along the way, and kept pedaling anyway.

Their journey shows that meaningful experiences often happen in the in-between moments: sharing eggs with a stranger on a Turkish hillside, or pushing through disagreements because the relationship matters more than being right.

On May 2, 2026, seventy cyclists joined them for the final 15 miles home. Friends and family George hadn't seen in years stood waiting. Josh said he'd imagined that moment since day one, playing it out in his mind across four continents.

Sometimes the best way to strengthen a relationship is to challenge it with 18,000 miles of road.