British adventurer Neil Laughton, aged 60, has achieved a new milestone in high-altitude cycling by riding a fold-up bike to the summit of a 7,246-metre peak in Nepal. Laughton, a former Royal Marine Commando, embarked on this challenging expedition with Sherpa Nima Kanchla, carrying his Brompton bike to the snow-covered peak of Putha Huinchuli over several days. Upon reaching the summit, he completed a brief cycle ride to surpass the previous world record of 7,211 metres set in 2009.
"To secure the Guinness World Record, I had to cycle 20 metres at the highest point," Laughton recounted to Cycling Weekly. "The summit was covered in deep snow, making it difficult to gain momentum, especially near the top. Descending the mountain was equally arduous." He noted, "Mountain slopes are inherently tricky, with numerous rocks and holes to navigate."
In preparation for this feat, Laughton trained by carrying his bike on an inclined treadmill while wearing an oxygen mask to simulate high-altitude conditions. "The Himalayas are unlike any other terrain on Earth; it's simply magical. However, while cycling, one must remain intensely focused on the path ahead, as disaster can strike in an instant," he explained.
This marks Laughton's second world record, following his previous achievement of hosting the world's highest dinner party at 7,050 metres on Mount Everest in 2018. His latest adventure also contributed to raising funds for the Tenzing Norgay School, located in the remote village of Karakot.
