Former Lymington man Lawrence Walters aims to be fastest to ride around Australia on fixed-gear bike, raising money for RNLI

A FORMER Lymington man is aiming to be the fastest solo person to ride around the whole of Australia on a fixed gear bike to raise money for the RNLI..

Lawrence Walters is hoping to break the record for an unsupported circumnavigation of the country – known as the ‘hot lap’.

He set off for Perth as a participant in the Indian Pacific Wheel Race to Sidney on his track bike. The 14,200km lap travels east across the the Nullarbor Plain, through southern Australia before traversing the Australian Alps and finishing at the Sydney Opera House.

Lawrence, who attended Ashley Junior School, then intends to continue on the long route back to Perth anticlockwise to finish the lap via the Gold Coast and Northern Territory.

The current record for the lap on a fixed-gear bike stands at just over 142 days.

Lawrence, a naval architect, said: “By aiming for a daily average of around 300km per day with rest days in each of the major cities, I hope to set a new unsupported fastest known time.

“I will be fundraising for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution split with local surf lifesaving charities in Australia. I will be raising awareness of the trip and supporters through weekly videos.”

Lawrence has previously ridden the Pan Celtic ultra endurance road race in Europe three years in a row and won the this year’s Pan Celtic Magnum Opous short course – racing 2,000 miles in 11 days.

In 2015 Lawrence spent 93 days at sea, rowing as a pair from New York to Devon across the North Atlantic Ocean breaking four world records and raising over £100,000 for the Brain Tumour Charity.

Mum Vanessa, who still lives in Lymington, has been in keeping in touch with her son whom she says is “doing brilliantly”, adding: “He has already completed half of the route in just over a month.”

She told how Lawrence was a keen sailor and member of Keyhaven Yacht Club as a teenager, competing nationally and internationally in Laser racing.

Vanessa said: “The father of his friend at college died of a brain tumour which inspired them to undertake the North Atlantic crossing. He has done so much since, it’s remarkable.”

To check on Lawrence’s progress in his latest adventure visit: https://bit.ly/42fReo4

To donate to his cause visit: justgiving.com/page/lozwalters