Swedish student trio pedal their way to Beijing Olympics

Dubai: Three Swedish students have given themselves the biggest challenge of their lives: to cycle round the world just for fun.

Nino Jonsson, Erik Tornblom and Tim Bogdanov left Gothenburg, Sweden, last October and are cycling round the world with their last stop at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in August.

Two of the members are making a pit-stop in Dubai later this month, before travelling to India by ferry.

The route has so far taken them from Sweden to Poland, on to Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey, and they will be pedalling through Iran to Pakistan and on to the final destination, China.

They are currently near Amman, Jordan.

The students - all in their early 20s - have been blogging in Swedish about their travels. Dubai-based friend Roman Konovalov has been translating the blog into English.

Konovalov said: "They will come to Dubai on bikes and leave by bikes, just for one or two days' break. They're living in tents and just cycling every day. They met another cyclist in Holland who might be joining them: when you have a crazy plan and are a crazy person, there are other crazy people who will come and join you."

No sponsorship

The trio haven't sought any sponsorship and are not cycling for a charitable cause, but are just taking the trip as a test of endurance before deciding on university degrees.

One Swedish bicycle shop donated spare tyres and wheels before the three set off on their challenge.

Konovalov continued that Bogdanov is now planning to scale a Chinese mountain once the cycling troupe arrives at their final destination - his father will be meeting him in Dubai later this month to deliver mountaineering kit.

Bogdanov is hoping to study travel and tourism at university.

The English blog can be found at: www.romankonovalov.com/category/around-the-world-by-bicycle