Youngest Briton to cycle solo around the world returns back to Bristol

A teenager who is believed to be the youngest Briton to travel around the world by bicycle solo has returned home.

Charlie Condell marked the end of his 18,000-mile (30,000km) adventure by cycling over the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge to arrive back in Bristol.

The 18-year-old has cycled across 20 countries in just nine months after setting off in July 2018 from the world-famous landmark.

He left Britain riding a carbon-fibre bike that weighed only 7kg while his entire kit weighed under 15kg – including a multi-tool and many, many patches to repair punctures along the way.

The former Clifton College student will be taking the British record for being the youngest round-the-world cyclist from Londoner Tom Davies, who was 19 at the time of completion in 2015.

Mr Condell, who grew up in Clifton, made headlines in October last year after having his bike and passport stolen while in Australia.

He was also the victim of an attempted mugging and car crash.

A large crowd, including his parents John and Kath Condell and 15-year-old sister Eve, were waiting on the bridge for his return.

“The welcome home has been incredible and completely unexpected,” he said.

“I’ve enjoyed it and hopefully it will set me up and I have lots more plans coming. I’ve got to decide what I want to do next.

“I’m starting a mechanical engineering degree at Swansea University in September but there is more adventuring to be done, maybe a book.

“Australia was a very weird one because it certainly put a stopper on things, although I never thought I would stop doing it as I knew there would be a way to figure it out.

“India was hard and then the cycling itself … you’d be in the middle of nowhere and then think, ‘I’m done with this’. But you have to keep going. Your day isn’t done until you’ve done the hundred miles.

“I’ve enjoyed the trip and being here today has been a certain incentive.”

Mr Condell added: “There’s a lot more, not necessarily cycling, but running, climbing…”

A Just Giving page was set up where supporters helped him financially with his trip and any money left will be donated to Mobile Midwives, a charity that gives bikes to midwives in Africa.