HE cycled out of London to see how far he could go and four years later returned with more than 37,000 km behind him.

Rob Lutter, from Moreton, was 27 and disillusioned. He had a degree in filming and photography and had a job with a film company in London as a director's assistant.

But the former Chipping Campden School student felt he needed to do something to get his life on track: "I didn't realise it then, but I was quite depressed. I was unhappy in London and felt I should be doing more. I didn't actually like what I was becoming. I was getting bitter.

"And then at work one day on a table I saw a copy of Mark Beaumont's book The Man Who Cycled The World. I didn't even open the cover, but looked at the picture on the front and thought: 'I wonder what it would be like to get on a bike and just set off?'

"I didn't actually plan to go around the world. I'd never really cycled more than 20 or 30 miles at one go before.

"I saved around £3,000 up, which looking back was nowhere near enough, and on September 8, 2011 I set off telling my dad I'd be back in a year; sorry, Dad!"

A month into his ride and he knew he was going to keep on going. His mission was to head always east and fly between continents before cycling back to London and writing blogs when he could find WiFi.

His journey took him through Europe into Iran and northern Turkey, Asia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, San Francisco and New York. On his return into the UK he flew to Glasgow, climbed Ben Nevis before cycling down to the Cotswolds to help his father move house and then down to London.

There were some difficult times en route, from four weeks of torrential rain in Kansas and minus14 degree chills in China to 49 degree heat in the Kazakhstan desert where he almost died after getting lost and running out of water. He had to leave his bike and walk to a house on the horizon where they filled his water bottles and set him back on track.

Several times he ran out of money. In Hong Kong he sold photographs of his journey and in Istanbul helped run a hostel. People were generous to him.

"I would meet someone who had almost nothing but they still offered me food and welcomed me into their home. I enjoyed being a part of their world and they were fascinated by me.

"Sometimes I had to ask for help from family and friends who donated to my website. I didn't need a lot; just enough to get food and parts to mend my bike when it broke." Eventually he was forced to buy a second bike when his first one broke beyond repair.

"Altogether I spent around a two-and-a-half-years on the road and a year-and-a-half working. I arrived in Australia with nothing but was given work and somewhere to stay. I had intended to visit my sister but I took so long to get there that she had already moved."

Throughout his ride he raised around £6,000 for three charities, Water Aid, Mind and OCDuk. He says his ride has helped him settle his own mind and wants to inspire others to have a go at something that they think may be beyond their reach.

A book is also part of the plan to capture his adventures in print and through his photographs.

You can see Rob's journey by going to his website: thelifecycle.roblutter