How bike ride from Hong Kong to Paris changed four young men

They knew the destination was within touching distance and a few more hours of easy cycling on flat roads would bring to an end 7½ months of sweat and bustle. What remained would be a sense of achievement and sweet memories they could take pride in for life.

On the afternoon of December 15, four young Hong Kong cyclists full of dreams and passion arrived at the Eiffel Tower in Paris - the place many call "The City of Light", where enlightened people dream and achieve the extraordinary.

"We are here, finally," said Law Yip-man, 25, sounding relaxed and calm, as he thought back to the pain and gain from the monumental 12,000 kilometre journey from their home city halfway across the globe.

Law, who was a construction supervisor and developed a passion for backpacking travel under the influence of his mother, initiated the journey last year after being inspired by a Taiwanese computer engineer who had cycled from Beijing to Paris to promote environmental protection.

"I don't want my life to be bound by work. Why can't we achieve something different that can make us proud for life?" Law said.

His like-minded friends Taylor Chung Tai-loi, 24, a graduate in policy studies and administration, and adventure coach Prince Wong Tze-kin, 22, embraced the plan. Quantity surveyor Tim Yu Tin-yu, 27, also quit his job to join after learning of the plan in an online forum.