Around the world cycling record
The Guinness World Record for fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle is awarded for completing a continuous journey around the globe by bicycle and other means, consisting of a minimum 29,000 km in total distance cycled.
- The unsupported record is held by Jenny Graham of Scotland. Graham completed her attempt in October 2018 in a total of 124 days. She cycled the route solo and totally unsupported often sleeping rough in drainage ditches or behind bushes.
- The supported record is held by Mark Beaumont of Scotland, who completed the route accompanied by a motorized support vehicle in 78 days 14 hours, and 40 minutes.
The principles for unsupported rides are:
- do it all yourself, under your own power;
- carry all your own gear ; and
- no outside support. 'Pure' unsupported rides also preclude any visits from friends or others along the way. These rules require riders to be alone for the entire ride, with a minimum 5-bicycle-length distance from any other riders or support vehicles.
Guinness rules
Alan Bate writes, "The record criteria requires [sic] the rider to cover 28,970 kilometers by bike, in an East to West or West to East direction, wavering no more than 5 degrees off course. The total journey distance must be a minimum of 40,075 kilometers, to include all transit by flight or sea. The ride must start and finish in the same place and must pass at least two antipodal points. When the rider reaches a transit point to connect with a flight or boat to the next continent or country start point, the clock stops with regard to the actual riding time *. As most of the earth's surface is water, this is unavoidable and fair as it applies to all athletes attempting the record. Once customs is cleared at the next destination, the clock immediately starts again. The same bicycle must be used throughout the attempt, although repairs and replacement parts and bikes are allowed for mechanical failure. Satellite tracking is highly recommended by Guinness World Records and a daily log, signatures of dignitaries and photographs at strategic points must be collated as evidence."
The requirement to pass at least two antipodal points causes some problems in route planning. For example, among popular countries for around the world cyclists, the antipodes of Australia is spread out over the Atlantic Ocean, North America over the Indian Ocean, Africa over mid Pacific Ocean, and Europe and most of Asia over the South Pacific Ocean, without any land mass there. Those land areas would not give any opportunities for an antipodal pair while cycling. Some possible pairs are China / Argentina, Malaysia / Peru, and Spain / New Zealand.
The length requirement also requires consideration. To cycle Lisbon–Vladivostok, Perth–Brisbane and Los Angeles–St. John's with air travel between legs gives 25,400 km. So some detours are needed.
History
Nick Sanders
set the original record in 1981, riding around the Northern Hemisphere in 138 days. Sanders still holds the Guinness World Record for fastest ride around the coast of Great Britain, riding a verified in 22 days. In 2017 Mark Beaumont completed a route around the British coast in 14.5 days.Jay Aldous & Matt DeWaal
From 2 April to 16 July 1984 Jay Aldous and Matt DeWaal rode 22,997 km/14,290 miles in 106 days to break Nick Sanders record set in 1981. Aldous and DeWaal started and ended in Salt Lake City, USA and traveled in an easterly direction passing through 15 different countries.Andrew Slodkowski
In December 1993, Andrew Slodkowski completed a record riding ‘Around the World in 80 days on a bicycle’. Andrew started and ended in London UK, and traveled in an easterly direction passing through 14 different countries.Steve Strange
On 13 February 2005, Steve Strange completed the first record attempt under the new Guinness rules, achieving a world record of 276 days and 19 hours.Phil White
In April 2005, Phil White completed a record attempt in an estimated 299 days. His time did not beat the one set two months earlier by Steve Strange.Mark Beaumont (2008)
On 14 February 2008, Mark Beaumont completed a circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle in 194 days and 17 hours.James Bowthorpe
In September 2009 James Bowthorpe completed a circumnavigation in 175 days. This was not ratified by Guinness World Records.Julian Sayarer
In June 2010 Julian Sayarer completed a circumnavigation in 169 days.Vin Cox
On 1 August 2010, Vin Cox completed an unsupported circumnavigation of the globe, which was certified by Guinness as the new world record with a time of 163 days, 6 hours, 58 minutes.Alan Bate
On 4 August 2010, Alan Bate completed the circumnavigation in 125 days 21 hours and 45 minutes, which was ratified by Guinness World Records.Mike Hall
On 4 June 2012, Mike Hall completed his circumnavigation in 91 days 18 hours. His ride was totally unsupported. After the ride, Guinness World Records changed the rules to include total travel time. Under the new rules Hall recorded a time of 107 days 2 hours 30 minutes, which was not ratified by Guinness World Records.Juliana Buhring
On 22 December 2012, Juliana Buhring, of British-German nationality, completed the circumnavigation in 152 days including total travel time, becoming the first woman to attempt and to complete a circumnavigation of the world by bicycle using a route that complies with the requirements of Guinness World Records. This was an unsupported ride.Thomas Großerichter
On 31 December 2012, Thomas Großerichter from Germany, completed the circumnavigation in 105 days 1 hour and 44 minutes. This was not certified by Guinness World Records.Lee Fancourt
On 13 June 2014, Lee Fancourt completed a circumnavigation in 103 days, 23 hours,15 minutes.This was not ratified by Guinness World Records. Fancourt's record attempt was disqualified after failing to return to the point in India where he took a taxi in order to help out his support crew.
Paola Gianotti
This record was 144 days for Paola Gianotti who started and finished at Ivrea, Turin, Italy, from 8 March to 30 November 2014. This was a supported ride. During her voyage, on 16 May 2014, Gianotti was injured in a road accident which resulted in a fractured vertebra. Although the Guinness World Record rules state that the clock does not stop, Gianotti's time was frozen for four months till she recovered and resumed her attempt on 18 September 2014. Her route is . Its legitimacy was much debated at the time, when this was ratified at the time by Guinness as being the world record.Andrew Nicholson
Former speedskater Andrew Nicholson completed an unsupported cirmumnavigation in 123 days and 43 minutes, starting and ending his journey at Auckland International Airport, New Zealand, between 12 August and 13 December 2015.Mark Beaumont (2017)
On 18 September 2017, Mark Beaumont arrived in Paris having completed a supported circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle in 78 days 14 hours, and 40 minutes. This beat his previous unsupported attempt by 115 days and beat the previous world record by 44 days and 10 hours and should be regarded as the record. This attempt was verified by Guinness World Records as he finished in Paris. The BBC reported, "During the trip, Mark was also awarded the Guinness World Records title for the most miles cycled in a month, from Paris to Perth, Australia, verified at 7,031 miles ". Beaumont had significant support on his ride from a "base camp" team who stayed in Scotland, and "on the road" teams who followed in camper vans which provided him a comfortable place to rest when off the bike. The support team covered duties ranging from preparing his meals and ensuring optimum nutrition, optimising his route to avoid ratification pitfalls, providing massages to help alleviate the discomfort of spending long hours in the same position, and psychological support during low points.Vedangi Kulkarni (2018)
Between July and December 2018, Vedangi Kulkarni attempted to become the fastest woman to circumnavigate the world on bicycle, but, she failed in her attempt. Instead she became the youngest woman to do so by cycling 18000 miles in 160 days by her own account. Unfortunately this couldn’t be verified as the 18,000 miles were never ratified. She was 19 when she started and 20 when she finished the ride. 15% of her ride was solo and unsupported.Jenny Graham (2018)
On 18 October 2018 Jenny Graham arrived in Berlin having completed an unsupported circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle in 124 Days, 10 hours and 50 minutes. This has now been verified by Guinness World Records and as such is the new woman's record.Tandem Record
John Whybrow and George Agate
On 25 March 2017, John Whybrow and George Agate, set the first tandem bicycle circumnavigation record. Starting and finishing in Canterbury, UK, the pair completed their attempt in 290 days, 7 hours and 36 minutes aboard an Orbit Tandem. This was an unsupported ride.Lloyd Collier and Louis Snellgrove
On 16 May 2019, Lloyd and Louis cycled 29,140km and crossed the finishing line at the Adelaide Oval, Australia in 281 days to achieve the Guinness World Record. They cycled through 24 countries and 5 continents. Both Emergency doctors, they raised money for Spinal Research and The Brain foundation. Their cycle was unsupported and they cycled westerly around the world to achieve their title.Unicycling
Wally Watts
Between 1976 and 1978, Walter J. Watts, known as "Wobbling" Wally Watts unicycled 12,000 miles around the world. Travelling eastward, he started and ended in New York. Some countries he unicycled in: UK, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, India, Australia, New Zealand, USA.Ed Pratt
From March 2015 to July 27, 2018, Ed Pratt 21,000 miles for 3 years, 135 days, starting and ending in Somerset, England. He had a specially made pannier that allowed him to complete the trip unsupported. The trip was discontinuous, suspending his trip during the winter time due to cold conditions. Since these discontinuities lasted longer than 14 days, Pratt did not receive the Guinness World Record for Unicycling around the world. He was awarded the award for using the trip to fundraise for the charity School in a Bag, which delivers school equipment to children in need around the world.The "Year Record"
The "Year Record" was awarded for the longest distance cycled in a single year. It was awarded to Tommy Godwin, who held the record for 75 years, riding from 1939 to 1940. Godwin also set the record for fastest time to cycle. The record was verified by Guinness World Records and recognised at the time by Cycling magazine.In 2014, the published a set of rules for a , conceived as a continuation of Tommy Godwin's 1939–40 record. Three riders set out to break this record in 2015: of the UK, of the US and William Pruett, also of the USA. Kurt Searvogel went on to break the record.
In 2016-2017 Amanda Coker set the world record by 86,573.2 miles.