Fearless Freddie, 23, completes Leeds to China bike ride

An adventure-lover from Boston Spa said he is 'overwhelmed' after successfully completing his ambitious mission to cycle 6,500 miles to China on his dad's old bike.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Oct 2018, 11:31 BST
Updated 15th Oct 2018, 11:33 BST
Freddie Oxland, who set off on his bike from Boston Spa in Leeds in April, reaches his finish line at the Chinese border.Freddie Oxland, who set off on his bike from Boston Spa in Leeds in April, reaches his finish line at the Chinese border.
Freddie Oxland, who set off on his bike from Boston Spa in Leeds in April, reaches his finish line at the Chinese border.

Freddie Oxland, 23, has reached his destination after five months on the road and, emailing from the Chinese border, told the YEP, he is “extremely proud” of what he has achieved.

He said: “The feeling was amazing. Me, like many of my friends and family thought even reaching Istanbul was extremely ambitious. My sister was confident I wouldn’t even get to Hull before turning back home. So the fact that I have made it all the way to China was pretty overwhelming. I am extremely proud but a large part of me would love to continue around the world.”

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As previously reported in the YEP, the thrill-seeker set off in April after repairing his dad’s old Dawes bike and has cycled through dozens of countries including Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The last leg of the journey over the Parmir mountains into Kyrgyzistan saw the road rise to 4,655 metres above sea level - almost the height of Mont Blanc - with temperatures dipping to minus 10 at night.

But Freddie reflected: “The journey as a whole has been incredible. I decided to do a bike tour as I thought it would force me to go slowly through countries and meet people outside the major tourists cities, definitely not because of a love for cycling. However, a fondness has grown. The people I have met made the trip very special. Local people in every country I have visited are so quick to offer me food, shelter, and vodka, as mentioned in the [YEP’s] last article.

“People’s kindness far exceeded anything I have experienced before.”

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He added: “For now, I plan to go home, watch this crazy Leeds United season unfold and use my degree for a couple of years before setting off on another bike adventure.

“My goal is to do a number of bike trips until I have cycled around the world! I am thinking next, to go from east to west acrosss USA, something a little bit more comfortable.”

Related topics:LeedsChinaPeople