A record-setting adventurer and author will be travelling to Ayr to give a talk on his life and career.
Markus Stitz will visit Ayr Town Hall on September 27 at 7.30pm as part of a series of talks in town organised by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society [RSGS].
The thrill seeker – who is originally from Germany but moved to Scotland 14 years ago – is known for being the first person on the world to travel the world on a single speed bike.
Markus also founded Bikepacking Scotland which creates scenic and lengthy routes for cyclists looking to travel throughout the country and has penned three books ‘Big Rides’, ‘Great British Gravel Rides’, and ‘Bikepacking Scotland’.
Earlier this year Markus created a film promoting the Culzean Way walking and cycling route between Ayr and Girvan.
An RSGS spokesperson said: “Growing up in East Germany, Markus Stitz soon discovered the freedom a bike could give him, even as a child living behind the Iron Curtain.
“He made Scotland his home in 2009, and after mapping his first bikepacking route, he went on a lap of the world on a single speed bike, cycling 34,000km across 26 countries in less than a year, fully self-supported.
“In 2019–20 he successfully completed the Highland Trail 550, the Silk Road Mountain Race, and the Atlas Mountain Race.
“He takes us on a journey through his life, reflecting on a career defined by pushing the boundaries of what is possible on and off the bike.”
Six talks – including Markus’s – are set to take place as part of the series which starts in September and continues until March 2024.
Other dates for your diary are as follows.
October 25: Leon McCaroon on 'Wounded Tigris - A River Journey through the Cradle of Civilisation'
November 29: Lee Craigie on 'Other Ways to Win'
January 31: Professor Charles Withers on 'Mungo Park and the Exploration of the Niger'
February 28: Sue Stockdale on 'Unleashing your Adventurous Spirit - A Modern Necessity'
March 27: Professor Roger Crofts on 'The Future of Trees'
All the talks take place in the Council Chambers at Ayr Town Hall, starting at 7.30pm.
The RSGS is an educational charity which aims to promote geographical understanding and inspire people to learn more about the world.
For all talks, general admission tickets cost £10, while the event is free for RSGS members, under 18s and students.
Tickets for the discussion with Markus Stitz as well as more information on the Ayr events are available at www.rsgs.org/pages/events/category/ayr.
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