Then there was Fred. Fred A. Birchmore, of whom likely no one on FR and few elsewhere ever heard about.
Fred, in 1939, not only went around the world on a bicycle - the old one speed sort - but half of his journey (a 25,000 mile trip and another 15,000 crossing oceans) was without one pedal - stolen while in Egypt.
Why mention a bike trip? Because during the early part of his journey, he stopped in a gasthaus on the Swiss side where he mentioned that he had found a watch on the mountain nearby and did any one know who it belonged to so he could return it?
It was an expensive watch few owned in those days. He was told it belonged to a famous mountain climber who had ascended the mountain three years previous. Asked how it came into his possession and suspecting thievery the local constable was called.
Fred explained that he was tried of riding his bike over the mountains (people used the railroad to cross the mountains, as the alternatives were too hazardous and arduous) and had parked it to take a walk, and on seeing the mountain he decided it would be fun to climb it. So he did without any previous experience, rope, pinions gear at all - hand over hand - until he reached the top where he found the watch. Everyone was astounded as no one had ever done this previously - all other attempts were assents with guides by experienced climbers up the most challenging mountain of the time.
The mountain climber (AIR) was G. Gervasutti, and the mountain was the Matterhorn.
After leaving Europe he continued his journey, pedaling up and down the Himalayas where he was chased by a King Cobra, until he reach Vietnam, where he caught a ship and returned to the US pedaling back to his home in North Carolina.
Around the World on a Bicycle, 1939
by Birchmore Fred A. (Author)