AMERICAN cycle historian David Herlihy is on a mission to track down paperwork, pictures or mementos of Thomas Gaskell Allen Junior's three-year round-the-world bike ride with William Sachtleben in 1890.

American-born Mr Allen had twin daughters, one of whom was Ila Martha Adams, who lived at Red Lion Cottages, Culworth, near Banbury.

The pair published a book which only recounted the Asiatic section of the trip entitled "Across Asia on a Bicycle."

She was married to David Rees Adams, an aviation engineer who died in 1982. She had no children and left everything to a neighbour who had looked after her.

A secretary at the solicitor's office which handled Mrs Adams's estate believes she saw information relating to the cycle trip, but the information has since disappeared.

Anyone with information should call cycle historian Tony Hadland on 01367 870403.