BIKING doctor Steve Fabes is preparing for his cycling assault on the Alps with the aid of some French pastries.

The 28-year-old medic aims to cycle 50,000 miles around the world in just five years — but almost didn’t make it past Dover.

Dr Fabes, who grew up in Southdale Road, North Oxford, has covered more than 600 miles so far and is now east of Dijon heading towards Switzerland.

He is munching on patisserie goodies in an attempt to recover from his gruelling first leg through England.

After setting off, the weather turned so bad he couldn’t find anywhere to camp on his way to Dover.

In the end, two people he stopped to ask for ideas gave him a bed for the night.

Dr Fabes said: “It was great to see so many mates at my send-off on Tuesday, January 5.

“However, the following day the snow began to fall and by the late afternoon three inches had settled on top of each pannier.

“I cycled past abandoned cars and the air reeked of burning rubber as vans and lorries tried to ascend inclines on the ice.

“By 7pm I still hadn’t found anywhere to spend the night after turning my nose up at two roadside Premier Inns, a night in which would equal my entire weeks budget.

“It was late. I was getting progressively colder. No pub I passed offered accommodation and there was nowhere to camp.

“I stopped to ask a passing couple. I explained my predicament and five minutes later I was sitting on the couch, mug of tea in hand and the promise of a bed for the night.

“A kind act from total strangers and in miserable England as well.

“The next day came with the biggest challenge yet. Frostbite? No. Exposure? No. This was far worse.

“The children of Kent.

“Across the county more than 200 schools had closed because of the snow. Manic hordes of kids were running wild and hurling snowballs at anything mobile.

“They flanked bridges and underpasses and fired at will and without restraint.

“I wasn’t a good target, I was the ultimate prize. Kids would immediately turn their attention from passing lorries to me.”

The former Abingdon School pupil is aiming to cycle across six continents to raise £50,000 for Merlin, an aid agency that gets remote medical clinics running again.

Dr Fabes, who worked at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, will visit more than 60 countries, from Australia to Zambia, travelling on average 100 miles a day. In the Sahara he is expecting temperatures in excess of 50C, while in the Arctic Circle he is bracing himself for lows of -20C.

So far he has had one puncture, got lost three times and consumed “incalculable” amounts of chocolate.

Despite his difficulties in England he is on schedule as he prepares for the mountains.

He added: “I’m loving life on the road and, as I continue across continent number one, I am getting ever nearer the next obstacle... Les Alpes.”

dhearn@oxfordmail.co.uk To follow his progress or to make a donation, go to the website cyclingthe6.com