Lael Wilcox: The cycling legend cycled around the world in 108 days!

Lael Wilcox is an American ultra-endurance cyclist who has become an icon in the cycling world. Her latest achievement is breaking the Guinness World Record for the fastest woman cycling around the world . As reported in the BBC article, she achieved this record in 108 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes. She traveled a total of 29,169 km , which is 18,125 miles. She beat the 2018 record held by Scotland's Jenny Graham. That journey took 124 days and 11 hours.

Let's introduce Lael, this inspiring woman and her journey. 

Beginnings and motivation

Lael Wilcox was the first female driver to win the TransAm, a 4,000-mile race across the length of the United States . She also set records in the Tour Divide, a grueling race that crosses America's continental divide along the Rocky Mountains.

She started her journey around the world on May 26, 2024 in Chicago and returned there on September 11, 2024 . Her goal was not only to break the record, but also to inspire other cyclists around the world . The idea was not to ride alone, but to make this ride a globally connected ride. Encourage as many of your followers and friends as possible to join her.

Her wife Rugile (Rue) Kaladyte, a professional photojournalist, documented the whole journey and that:

• photographs

• by film

• a daily podcast capturing the details of this amazing adventure and inspiring others to ride again

Challenges and preparation for the journey

Preparing for such a journey requires not only physical but also mental endurance. Lael had to cover an average of 282km (175 miles) a day , which meant that her bike had to be in perfect condition. She replaced some of the parts on her bike at fairly frequent intervals just to make sure they were performing at their peak when needed the most. Otherwise, the bike would probably last the whole trip without replacing them. According to her own words , she changed the chain and tires about every 2,000 to 3,000 miles.

In terms of cycling clothing and overall gear, Lael Wilcox wore one cycling helmet and one pair of cycling shoes at all times. She only changed her cycling clothes once and had to buy some merino wool layers in New Zealand due to the cold temperatures.

The support and community was key

One of the key factors in Lael's success has been the support of its community . Her wife, a professional photojournalist, documented the entire journey. Along the way, Lael met more than 3,000 friends and fans who joined her at various points along the route . Some pedaled as little as a mile and others as long as 100. Thanks to them, she didn't spend a lot of time listening to podcasts or audiobooks, which she tends to do during other races.

Lael comes from Alijaška and has already broken various cycling records more than once . She has been pushing her own limits for more than a decade, but this year she wanted to take the effort to an international scale and cycle the planet in one fell swoop. She also managed to do that on September 11, when she returned to Chicago. 

What the trip around the world looked like

During the trip , Lael crossed 21 countries and 4 continents (USA, Europe, Australia, New Zealand). On her journey, she cycled up to 14 hours a day , while experts estimate that she could burn 6,000 to 10,000 calories during the day . Undoubtedly, behind her efforts is perseverance, a strong will and an effort to persevere in doing the same thing for 108 days . The cross-section of her journey looked as follows:

• After leaving Chicago, Wilcox headed to New York, where she boarded a flight to Portugal.

• She then spent several weeks traveling north to Amsterdam, down through Germany, across the Alps, into the Balkans and finally through Turkey to Georgia.

• She then flew to Australia, from Perth along the south coast to Brisbane, where she hopped on a plane to New Zealand.

• After covering both islands, she flew to her hometown of Anchorage, pedaled along the Pacific coast to Los Angeles, and then on Route 66 to Chicago.

Lael charted her journey with a series of videos on social networks, including on her Instagram , which she filmed with her wife. They also posted a daily podcast while driving, chronicling the daily ups and downs of the trip. You can also read a more detailed description of her journey HERE .

When does the Guinness record apply?

In order for the Guinness record to be valid, the entire journey, or driving, including flights, ferries and public transport, must equal a total distance equivalent to 40,000 km - the circumference of the Earth's equator. The minimum distance traveled by bicycle must exceed 28,970 km . It seems that all these conditions have been met and Lael can look forward to another broken bike record.

Lael Wilcox is an example of what one can achieve with determination, community support and a love of cycling. Her success is an inspiration to anyone and everyone who strives to push their limits and achieve their dreams.

Author: Gabriel Galeštok, Katarína Bačíková

Photo source: https://content.rapha.cc/us/en/story/laels-ride-around-the-world

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