A 41-year-old student from Port St Mary is currently enjoying a challenge to cycle to every capital city in Europe.
Steven Primrose-Smith decided to embark upon the 31,000-kilometre self-funded challenge after he nearly died from a brain haemorrhage in 2009 caused by high blood pressure.
It has prompted him to raise money for the Blood Pressure Association as well as Action for Animals - which supports animal rescue projects around the world - and OUSET, a charity supporting less well-off students fund their education via the Open University.
Steven is combining his cycling exploits with studying degrees in maths and physical science through The Open University.
He left Douglas in March and has visited London, St Helier, Paris, Luxembourg, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Bratislava, Vienna, Liechtenstein, Bern and Andorra and Zaragoza so far.
From Spain he will be heading for Mallorca, en route to Lisbon and Gibraltar.
Speaking from Zaragoza he said: "I had to go over a 2,400-metre pass - the highest on the trip so far – to reach Andorra.
"I'm planning to leave the bike in the Costa del Sol for the winter then start again next spring, when I'll do Madrid and another 16 or 17 capitals, this time in southern and eastern Europe.
"I'm having a fantastic time and have met some wonderful people including lots of Open University students.
"The studying is going well too. I sat a planetary exam in Vienna in June and got the results a couple of weeks ago – a distinction – so I'm very happy with that."
Steven added: "Interestingly, wherever I go, everyone I speak to, regardless of nationality, has heard of the Isle of Man, thanks to the TT."
Capital International has sponsored a cycling kit for Steven and he says the shorts are his favourite and 'holding up well in the heat'.
Capital International's group head of marketing Antony Kelsey said: "We were pleased to lend support to Steven for his challenge.
"Naturally we were attracted by the 'capital' theme and the international nature of his trip, given that we operate an international business.
"We also applaud the fact that he is clearly driven by a will to achieve, a quality which resonates well with the Capital International Group and we wish him continued success in his cycling, studies and fundraising efforts."
For further details about Steven's challenge see www.unicycle50.com
