Our Bureau
London
Fayis Asraf Ali, a 37-year-old engineer from Kerala, began cycling for the purpose of staying fit two years ago. He has just completed a major long-distance cycling challenge of traveling nearly 22,000 kilometers across 30 countries from India to the UK. He is now preparing for a similar journey across America.
Ali pedaled for 450 days, finishing his journey at the renowned Tower Bridge in London, after camping in various cities in Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Turkiye, Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, and France last month.
He has two kids, Fahzin Omar and Izin Nahel, aged nine and five. He was ecstatic to be welcomed by them and his mother at the finish line of his cycling expedition that began in Kerala on Independence Day in August 2022.
The goal of the electronics and communications engineer’s project “Ecowheelers” is to raise awareness about various issues, such as promoting a green agenda to push the world towards achieving zero carbon emissions.
Ali used a 50 kg American Surly Disk Trucker bike that was sponsored by UAE travel and luggage accessories company Para John, with support from Dubai-based Emirates First and Rotary International. He is currently looking for backing for a comparable cycling journey across America, which he aims to start in the upcoming months.
Currently, the cyclist is engaged in various university tours and discussions throughout the UK, aiming to inspire more cycling enthusiasts to support similar healthy initiatives.
