Chislehurst Resident Embarks on 23,000km Cycle Ride Across Europe
Meet Agis Apostolopoulos, an ordinary 54 year old man about to embark on an extraordinary adventure...
Tomorrow (31st May 2026) a resident from Chislehurst will begin a 23,000km cycling trip around Europe to raise money for the World Cancer Research Fund. Graphic designer and web developer Agis Apostolopoulos, aged 54, has decided to sell his belongings, cancel his rent and do what most of us only dream of - follow the wind (and his sat nav). I caught up with Agis a few days before he embarked to find out what he’s planning, why and how we can support.
CO: It’s so good to interview you on this, the dawning of your trip. It feels like yesterday that we met at the back of Costa. So tell us, what are you going to be doing over the coming months?
Agis: So what I’m about to do, is on Sunday, the 31st of May, I’m gonna... leave London on a 23,000-kilometre cycling expedition.
CO: How many countries are you hoping to visit?
Agis: 41 countries.
CO: Wow. How long is it gonna take you?
Agis: I expect it to take me around 20 months, 20 months or 20 years.
CO: Okay, so what inspired you to pack up a job in graphic design and web development to start cycling around the world?
Agis: So that goes back to 2021 when I lost my Mum to cancer. I’m using this journey to raise cancer awareness around Europe, and fundraise in aid of the World Cancer Research Fund, particularly around how changing our diets can reduce cancer.
CO: Very good. What country are you looking forward to? What countries aren’t you so keen on?
Agis: I’m really looking forward to visiting Sweden and Scandinavia. I have friends there waiting for me and I’ve never been there before. It’s quite exciting. Of course, I’m also looking forward to visiting my home country, Greece.
CO: So your plan is to go clockwise around Europe, covering northern Europe before winter, and then coming down south into warmer climates as the chill sets in?
Agis: Hopefully I’ll get to some warmer climates eventually, but it’s going to take a while. Because my trip will take around 2 years, covering on average 50km a day, it’s not 100% certain that I will escape winter in the Nordic and Eastern Europe. I will have to camp at some point in a cold climate, which is part of the adventure.
CO: What! Just to clarify, so you’re planning to camp all the way?
Agis: Yeah. Yeah.
CO: You also mentioned you are planning to cook meals for people?
Agis: That’s the hope. One of the huge bits of research the World Cancer Research Fund is doing is how food affects and protects from cancer. So they have a huge database of research on food, recipes, and I’m going to be using this to cook with people and talk about the importance of a healthy diet. Obviously, cycling is a very physical activity, so the more meals I eat the better.
CO: Now, have you done any training?
Agis: Well, I have been cycling a lot, and I’ve joined a local club. But no, I haven’t ever done cycle touring before. I’m just gonna take it slowly and avoid dangerous situations.
EH: And I notice you’re going to Moldova. You don’t fancy going further east into Ukraine?
Agis: I’d love to. I’ve been talking with some friends in Poland, but I cannot be 100% sure about this right now. I think I’ll see how it goes when I’m in the location and I’ll take it from there.
EH: Hopefully, by the time you get there, there’ll be peace. Hey, maybe you can bring it with you on your bike.
Agis: That would be wonderful.
EH: How can people keep up to date with what you’re up to? How could people support you?
Agis: So, I have this web page, AgisRidesTheWorld.com, where people can track my route and location, and find links to my social media, follow and connect with me. If anyone fancies it, you can track me down and ride alongside me for a day or two along the way.
CH: Truly inspirational! On behalf of everyone in Chislehurst and the surrounding areas, Godspeed.
Agis: Thank you very much.
