Forest Hill newlyweds in two year tandem bike world record attempt (From News Shopper)

Forest Hill newlyweds in two year tandem bike world record attempt

11:12am Thursday 3rd January 2013 in News By Mark Chandler

A FOREST Hill couple have embarked on a honeymoon with a difference - tandem cycling for two years from New Zealand to London in a world record attempt.

Newlyweds Kat and Steve Turner plan to beat the previous tandem journey record of 38,143km, completing the world's longest ride while sleeping in a tiny two-man tent along the way.

Mr and Mrs Turner gave up their jobs as a teacher and parliamentary caseworker last April to embark on the epic adventure which has so far seen them reach Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

Along the way they have braved arctic temperatures, snow, heavy rain and high winds, followed by searing heat and the challenges of pushing Hooch, their heavily-laden tandem, to the limit.

Mrs Turner, 31, who learned how to ride a bike just days before the challenge, said: "The first four months of this trip were so hard. We cycled through gallons of rain and waves of gales.

"My feet felt like they were constantly soaked and at times I wanted to give up so much, so that I could enjoy a beer and good company with friends or the warmth of a fire or a Sunday roast at mum’s or a belly-aching laugh with my brother or a family knees-up."

Mr Turner, 33, said: "We have found the first months very hard and we haven't had the energy or the contacts to do very much other than cycle, which isn’t exactly a traditional way of enjoying a honeymoon.

"At first, we were also not sure whether we could do what we were planning to do but now that we have completed six months and the Australian Outback we feel much more confident that we can do this."

The Asian leg of their journey will take them through Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and into China.

They then plan to hit Pakistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and into Turkey, when the European leg of the ride will start.

Their ride is raising money for sustainable development organisation Practical Action. To follow their journey visit practicalaction/tandemturners.org