Canterbury’s most adventurous cyclists have arrived in South Australia after riding almost 9,000 miles in a world-record bid to circumnavigate the globe on a tandem.

George Agate and John Whybrow have just completed a gruelling crossing of the inhospitable Nullabor, cycling 750 miles between towns – including along Australia’s longest straight road – in just seven days.

Since arriving Down Under, they have been battered by high winds and rains and endured blistering heat and freezing nights camping at the roadside.

But the pair, who left Canterbury in June, say that despite the challenging conditions, they remain upbeat and encouraged by the amazing sights and acts of friendship that have greeted them so far.

Speaking after the Nullabor crossing, 25-year-old John said: "Physically and mentally we’re doing well. That is not to say that it hasn’t been tough. Australia seems to have thrown everything at us so far since landing in Perth.

"We’ve had thunderstorms, hailstorms, headwinds, crosswinds, searing heat in the middle of the days and almost freezing temperatures at night.”

George, 23, added: "The scarcity of shops and water out here has been tough as well. We rode for days and hundreds of miles without a proper shop to re-stock on supples.

"Water was pretty hard to come by as well. One day we rode for six hours non-stop from one roadhouse to another as there was no proper water source in between.

"But retirees in passing campervans – called grey nomads out here – have been very good to us along the way, even giving us things like strawberries and bars of chocolate."

The pair are both former UKC graduates who originally intended to ride to Paris – until the idea snowballed and 18 months later they found themselves setting off on the 18,000-mile challenge.

Politics graduate John used to manage Cafe Des Amis and physics graduate George ran the Ballroom bar in Canterbury.

They are raising money for Porchlight, Water Aid and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Their extraordinary journey has already taken them across Europe and the Middle East and through Asia.

Ahead of them lies Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane, followed by the length of New Zealand. Then it’s a flight to San Francisco before they ride through Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

From there, they fly to Morocco and will make their way up through Spain and France, crossing the Channel to Portsmouth for the final legs of their epic ride to London, arriving home to a hero’s welcome in Canterbury in about April.

The Tandem Men have none other than explorer Ranulph Fiennes as there charity effort’s patron.

To support their fundraising and follow their progress visit www.thetandemmen.com