Adventurer leads world’s highest bike ride bid

Neil Laughton has set out to help a school in the Himalayas - and to achieve a world record

A team of adventurers has embarked on a bid to set a record for the world’s highest bike ride by cycling in the Himalayas.

Neil Laughton, 60, who previously climbed Mount Everest with Bear Grylls, is leading the group of five up the Putha Hiunchuli mountain in north west Nepal.

The current record is held by two German riders who reached 7,211 metres, but the British team is aiming to get 35 metres higher.

Money raised by the cycle ride will go to the Tensing Norgay School in Nepal.

Laughton has set four records including one for the World’s Highest Dinner Party on Everest

Laughton, from Henfield, West Sussex, told the BBC: “There’s a school I discovered in the high Himalayas that is dilapidated – 70 Nepali kids trying to learn maths and English in sub-zero temperatures.

“So we are just trying to raise some money to put some heating and lighting and insulation in the classrooms.

"That gives us the motivation to strive to 7,246 metres high, with a bike strapped to our backs and then assemble it at the summit and cycle down.”

He said £15,000 had been raised so far. Work is already under way on the insulation and heating and solar panels have been added to the roof.

Funds will also be used to install internet access and provide IT training, with 10 laptops for the children.

The team have trained on the South Downs and at an altitude centre in London

A previous attempt at the cycle ride in 2022 was thwarted by a severe storm.

The team have been hiking up the South Downs hills with their bikes and riding down again, to prepare for the attempt.

They have also undergone pre-altitude training at a centre in London.

The group left the UK on Saturday and the climb is expected to take 15 days but the descent to take just three.

Laughton, business entrepreneur, former Royal Marine Commando, helicopter pilot and Special Forces Officer, has already set four Guinness World Records including one for the World’s Highest Dinner Party on Everest.

He is aiming to set five more records this year.