Oil company engineer Mahazizi Abd Latif, 34, succeeded in his bid to become the first Malaysian to cycle solo for 1,300 kilometres along the Karakoram Highway (KKH).

KKH at 4,693 metres above sea level is the highest international paved road that connects Punjab, Pakistan, Kashgar and China.

The hilly stretch was a challenge for Mahazizi but this was compensated by the enchanting panorama along the way, he said.

According to him, although KKH was a world tourist draw, the road could not be compared to those in Malaysia.

"Certain parts of the road had been badly damaged by floods so I had to pedal cautiously to avoid debris and stones as well as falling snow at the hillside.

"The reduced oxygen at high altitude and having to sleep in a camp while the temperature is at -15 degrees Celsius were some of the challenges I faced," he told Bernama in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Nevertheless, said the father of two daughters, the hospitality of the residents, their unique culture and the beautiful landscape all the way along KKH made up for the tiredness and pressure.

Originally from Terengganu, Mahazizi took 21 days beginning April 25 to complete the endeavour. He started off from Kashgar to Punjab before heading to Lahore, where he took a flight back to Malaysia.

Cannot cycle at two stretches

The intrepid solo cyclist recounted that he was not allowed to use his bicycle at two stretches, that is, from Tashkurgan to Khunjerab Pass in China and from Gilgit to Abbottabad in Pakistan because of security reasons.

"I had to take a van and bus and be escorted by armed security personnel of both countries," he said.

Mahazizi also recalled a harrowing experience when he became very ill after consuming food believed to be contaminated and had to be warded at Tajik General Hospital in Tashkurgan, China for three days.

"I had bacterial infection and bleeding of the intestine. I was forced to fast for three consecutive days and only received antibiotic injections and water.

"By the time I was discharged from hospital, I had lost 6kg in weight," he said.

On why he had chosen to cycle solo, Mahazizi replied: "It allows me freedom to determine my direction, purpose and to make my own decisions during the journey.

Meanwhile, another cyclist, Mohd Shahrizaifuddy Shamsuddin, 42, who was in the group of four that made it to the Malaysia Book of Records after their successful KKH bid in 2014, acknowledged that Mahazizi's solo endeavour was no mean feat.

"It was not easy because of the risks, and mentally challenging as well," Shahrizaifuddy said.

- Bernama