Growing up in Manchester, United Kingdom, Jamie Hargreaves and his brother were captivated by stories of their father, Phil, who cycled more than 14,000 kilometres from England to Australia in 1984.
"He had the most amazing experiences on his journey, and he raised me and my brother on those stories and how we should have similar experiences," Hargreaves told SBS News.
So when Hargreaves turned 22 — the same age his father started the journey — he decided to follow in his footsteps, revisiting some of the places his dad had passed through.
He set off from Derby in England in May 2024, pedalling through Europe to Russia, before heading to Pakistan and Indonesia.
After flying to Brisbane, he resumed his ride, ultimately completing the journey at a pub in The Rocks, Sydney, where he was greeted by a crowd of followers from his Instagram account, where he had been documenting the adventure.
"I actually can't believe it, it's been a mad old journey!" Hargreaves wrote on his Instagram on Monday, with Sydney Opera House in the background.
"This trip has changed me [in] so many different ways."
A 40-year father-son legacy
Recalling the day when he told his dad about the cycling trip, Hargreaves said Phil wasn't surprised about his decision.
"I think he always sort of knew [about the trip], because I've always said since I was young that I was gonna cycle across the world as well," the younger Hargreaves said.
He described being raised in a "pretty active" family, and before the cycling journey, he was an active climber who frequently hiked with friends in Germany.
Throughout the trip, Hargreaves tried to recreate photos Phil had taken 40 years earlier.
Jamie Hargreaves often recreates photos from his father's cycling trips taken 40 years ago. Source: Supplied / Jamie Hargreaves
He said that, ahead of his journey, Phil advised him to take every opportunity to hang out with locals when visiting other countries.
"If somebody invites you to stay and you've got like 20km left to cycle, it's going to be a nicer experience to stay with a local and sort of learn about their culture and their family and stuff," Hargreaves said, referencing his father's words.
Hospitality 'remained the same'
Over the past year, the father-son duo often spoke on the phone as Hargreaves followed parts of his father's route, comparing what they had each seen along the way.
But Hargreaves couldn't fully replicate his father's journey, as some countries had become difficult to access.
"Iran, we couldn't get through, whereas my dad could go through," he said.
After arriving in Türkiye, he adjusted his route, travelling to Russia via Georgia, then visiting Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, before rejoining his father's path in Pakistan.
"So there are numerous countries which are harder to get into now, and some which are easier to get into, with the politics of it all, but that's changed dramatically," he said.
Hargreaves said compared to other countries, Australia had more rules on cycling, "and you just sort of have to adapt with it".
Throughout the journey, Jamie Hargreaves (left) said he met many "kind strangers". Source: Supplied / Jamie Hargreaves
He encouraged people to travel and see the world through their eyes.
"When you actually get out there and go to these places that you're warned about, they're the most friendly places on Earth.
"And in actual fact, the world is a much kinder place than it seems to be."
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