Camera lens air of sanity to American cycle journey

A SCOT who is cycling the length of the Americas has revealed the secret of keeping sane on the long, lonely journey.

Mark Beaumont, who became the fastest man to cycle around the world, explained yesterday that he talks to his camera to stave off the blues.

The 27-year-old cyclist is a week away from finishing his epic 13,000-mile journey from Anchorage in Alaska to Ushuaia in southern Argentina.

During the adventure he has climbed to the summits of North and South America's highest mountains – Mount McKinley, which stands at 20,321ft, and Mount Aconcagua, 22,841ft .

Beaumont has been joined by a BBC cameraman three times but only for a few days. For much of the eight-month journey he has cycled alone, with only his camera for companionship.

The Fife cyclist said: "My constant companions on this journey have been my bike, and my camera. The bike has no name but I call the camera Wilson, as for long periods it's the only thing I talk to.

"Nine months is a very long time to travel like this. People have travelled alone by bike for much longer but not at such a pace, with such specific focus.

"At times it stopped feeling like an expedition and became simply my lifestyle, cycling all day, living wild, eating where I could find food.

"Time often loses relevance when alone for so long."

Beaumont, who should reach the finish line around 19 February, holds the world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle, covering 18,296 miles in 194 days and 17 hours.