In famously conservative, risk-averse Singapore, adventurer Khoo Swee Chiow is something of a national hero. The 39-year-old has gone where others only dare to dream, conquering Mount Everest and the world's summits, planting Singapore's flag on the North Pole, and now, it's China's turn.

In an extreme sports, Asian version of ``Around the World in 80 Days,'' Singaporean adventurer Khoo Swee Chiow is biking 8,000 kilometers -- from Singapore to Beijing -- in 80 days, a feat that may give even professionals like Lance Armstrong pause. But Khoo, who calls himself ``an amateur cyclist,'' was glowing with confidence when he arrived in Shanghai on the last day of October, almost two months after leaving the city state on September 3. He'll ride into Beijing, he says, in 11 days by the end of the week.

Perhaps it was the adrenalin, but even after almost 60 days on pedals, Khoo appeared energized during his ``rest day'' in Shanghai, where he spoke to the Singapore community.

In his sneakers and jeans, the 39-year-old could have blended into the crowd -- if not for the tanned, obviously super-fit body beneath, the navy T-shirt smothered with sponsors' logos, and a real charisma.

Khoo's fiery eyes are the mirror to a barely suppressed, intense energy that threatens to bubble over at any minute, tempered by a delightful belly laugh that speaks volumes about his personality.

``Life is pretty short,'' says Khoo. ``So I think we should have fun and try to do something that we think we can't do. Just to live within challenges -- it's the same spirit in business. If you have earned a million, you have to go after the next challenge -- 10 million. Your future is what you make it.''

Khoo has dubbed his Singapore-Beijing journey a ``friendship ride,'' something he felt was sorely needed in this time of globlization, and which also fosters good relations between Singapore and China, which, at 4,500 kilometers is more than half the 8,000 kilometer route.

Khoo's inspiration for this trip came from a 1,000-kilometer bike trip from Malaysia to Singapore in 2001. Doing a long-distance ride had nagged at him ever since, so he combined it with a longtime desire to see his grandfather's hometown, Yongchun County in Fujian Province in southern China.

``I really wanted to see my roots,'' explains Khoo. ``And this was a very unique way of doing it. It was very moving for me, seeing my grandfathers' house, seeing where my grandparents cooked and where my dad slept. The whole village came to visit me and couldn't believe I had ridden a bike there.''

He makes it sound like a Sunday ride, but in truth, the demands of the journey have challenged Khoo's physical and mental limits beyond imagination.

Khoo's land route took him through Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam to China. He had to rely on his compass to figure out direction in Laos' depopulated mountainous areas, conquer the endless uphills and downhills in Fujian Province -- ``truly, it left me in tears,'' he says -- and fight through the crowded traffic on Chinese mainland.

``It's been a huge physical challenge,~'' he recalls. ``But most importantly, it's still a mental game.''

It's a mental game that Khoo is used to playing, as an experienced mountain climber and adventurer. He scaled Mount Everest in 1998, trekked the South Pole in 1999, and in 2000, conquered the world's other six summits, including North America's Denali, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe, Aconcagua in South America, Carstensz in Oceanica and Vinson in the Antarctic, and flew the national flag of Singapore at the North Pole in 2002.

In a country where being risk-averse is part of the national character, Khoo is a rare personality. He credits his explorers' genes to his Fujian grandfather, who, about 100 years ago, sailed alone to Singapore from his hometown, an extremely risky, challenging venture at the time.~

Khoo began his adventures in 1988, on mountain-climbing trips to Malaysia and Nepal. The bug bit, and he began going on annual adventure trips, working around his schedule as a computer technician at Singapore Airlines. Two years ago, he quit his day job to became a professional adventurer and motivational speaker.

``There was nothing wrong with my previous job,'' Khoo says. ``But I was not happy with it. My mind was always in the mountains. In order to be really good at something, you have to dedicate yourself to it. Now I can do what I love to do, it's extremely satisfying.''

With a budget of S$30,000 (US$17,000) for his friendship ride, it has not been a comfortable, luxurious journey. Khoo's photos of the Laos' mountain scenery and the beauties in Vietnam may disguise the real hardship, but only the man himself can tell the true story of the rigors of the road.

He's up at 6 am, breakfasting at 7 am, and on the road by 8 am. Each day, he rides 150 kilometers in eight hours, with a one-day break every 10 days.

``For a nonprofessional cyclist, 150 kilometers a day is a lot. It took me about 900 kilometers to adapt to this sort of riding. But at the same time, I have to make sure that I can last 80 days -- so I don't push myself too hard,'' he explains.

Amos Sim Seng Chye, Khoo's childhood friend and mountain-climbing partner, drives the support vehicle, serving as mechanic, support man and companion.

Sim's job may be less physically demanding than Khoo's, but the 37-year-old has his own challenges.

``Keeping awake is the hardest thing for me,'' says Sim. ``Driving all the time really makes you sleepy, and I have to go slow to keep pace with Khoo.''

Nonetheless, Sim says that his first trip to China has been a thrill.

``The trip has been an eye-opener for me. I decided to come because I had never been to China before. By driving slowly, I have an excellent perspective on the country, the people and the scenery,'' he says.

Khoo's ride has been eagerly watched and monitored in Singapore, with support from the highest levels.

``There's a great deal of determination and courage required to accomplish a feat like this,'' says Chia Tuck Keong, consul-general of Singapore in Shanghai. ``It really takes a lot of drive, both physical and mental, to be able to achieve this.''

According to Chia, the main purpose of the ride is to spread friendship.

``He is like an ambassador from Singapore,'' says the diplomat.

Khoo is one of a kind in the island nation, but the Singapore government would like him to have some company. According to Chia, the government is trying to promote the idea that people should ``have more passion, dare to dream, and have the determination to make those dreams come true.'' Khoo is clearly the poster boy.

The hero is now heading for the Chinese capital, for the final sprint.

In Shanghai, before his journey was even completed, Khoo revealed that he had already begun thinking of his next challenge -- northward, for more mountaineering and climbing. ``That's what I think about, all those hours on the bike,'' he says.

As the Chinese saying goes, ``a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step,'' and Khoo is well on his way toward his destiny. Good luck, man! Khoo Swee Chiow is all excitement when talking about his long-distance adventure during his short stay in Shanghai.

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