A NORTH Wales couple last night told how they rode into the record books on a three-year round the world motor-bike trip.

Simon and Monika New-bound from Abergele rode their powerful BMW motor-bikes 101,000 kilometres - the equivalent of nearly three times round the equator.

Their epic journey beat the previous long-distance record of 99,600km.

The couple broke the record when they arrived at the BMF motorcycle show at Peterborough last weekend.

Incredibly Simon, 43, and Monika, 33, started the this double record challenge without any knowledge of motorcycle maintenance.

Monika only passed her motorcycle test and obtained a licence weeks before their journey started.

They rode north of the Arctic Circle three times on three different continents.

During their time in North America they crossed coast to coast four times and visited every state of the USA and every province of Canada.

Simon said: "Wherever we have been, we have been well-received by kind and generous people. In Kazakhstan we were unexpectedly given a tour of the city by the Department of Tourism and taken to a traditional dinner banquet where we were served horse testicles and sheep's eyes. The mayor of the city presented us with a handmade rug.

"In Mongolia we rode 1,600 miles off road and lived among the nomads. In North America we visited all the sights including Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the Grand Canyon."

They also had an audience with the Pope in Rome.

But not all their experiences were pleasant.

Monika said Simon's nose was broken by bandits who attacked them in the Urals, and in California they inadvertently camped in a state park and found themselves looking down the barrel of a gun of an overzealous police officer with snarling dogs at her side.

Their record breaking trip started after Simon retired from the Royal Navy where he served as a chief petty officer on submarines.

Simon, 43, said: "You could say our world record challenges are the perfect antidote to 24 years in the submarine service where I estimate I spent ten years cocooned inside a nuclear steel hull."

Monika, who is originally from the Czech Republic, said: "We sold everything we own to attempt this world record, including our home, furniture and car, and the only income we receive is Simon's Navy pension."

During the trip the couple helped raise money for the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

They now aim to be the first couple to visit all seven continents in one journey. Their first destination is Africa.