According to the Guinness Book of Records, to achieve the distinction of cycling "around the world" requires pedalling 16,000 miles across four of the world’s seven continents. Edinburgh graduate, Alastair Humphreys, has set himself an even tougher personal challenge by attempting to cycle across six of them.

Travelling entirely on his own Alastair recently arrived in Kenya having cycled 8,000 miles from the Yorkhire Dales, in UK. It has taken him eight months to get here and is just the start of his journey!

Kenya is the 19th country he has cycled through so far and he expects to visit over 50 by the time he has completed his odyssey.

Living on a frugal budget of one dollar a day and pitching his tent wherever he finds himself at sundown, Alistair is raising money and awareness for the UK-based charity ‘Hope and Homes for Children,’ which funds orphanages in East European and African countries.

As he pedals round the globe on his bicycle that weighs upwards of 50kg, and more in the desert areas when he has to carry extra water, Alistair has visited schools to talk to the local children about his experiences. The hardest part of the challenge, he says, is the loneliness. If you want to follow his progress or give him a word of encouragement, log on to his website www.roundtheworldbybike.com or e-mail him on roundtheworldbybike@hotmail.com.

Alistair Humphreys in Nairobi after completing his 8,000 mile, eight month long cycle ride from UK. From Kenya he will continue south to Cape Town and on to South America for the next leg of his epic three year journey.