The unique model of this text was first revealed Might 20, 2024.
On Might 26, 2024, ultra-endurance bicycle owner Lael Wilcox set off on a quest to pedal her approach into the historical past books but once more, hoping to set a brand new Guinness World Document by circumnavigating the world in simply 110 days.
Wilcox left Chicago’s Grant Park at 7:06 a.m. on Might 26, 2024, and returned to the Buckingham Fountain 108 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes later — thereby smashing each her personal estimate and Jenny Graham’s file of 124 days, 10 hours and 50 minutes.
For an around-the-world bike journey to qualify for a Guinness World Document, the rider should full the identical distance because the circumference of the Earth — 18,000 miles— in a single course, beginning and ending in the identical place. The rider might make their personal route, and air and sea journey is allowed to bounce between continents so long as no less than 18,000 miles are really ridden by bike.
On her around-the-world journey, Wilcox tackled North America first, then Europe. Subsequent, she flew to Australia and New Zealand, racking up miles alongside the best way, earlier than flying again to her dwelling state of Alaska, and using again to the place all of it started in Chicago, Illinois. She accomplished 18,125 miles (29,169 km) with 630,000 ft (192,024 meters) of climbing. She averaged roughly 170 miles a day.
“I really like competitors and a chance to attempt to be the quickest. However to be the quickest for one thing that takes like three and a half months is simply loopy,” Wilcox advised Biking Weekly earlier than the beginning. “I at all times get aggressive and I need to do my greatest however this one is so lengthy that I’ve to provide my greatest effort as a result of I do not need to have to come back again and do it once more.”
Let’s have a take a look at the bike that carried Wilcox 18,125 miles all over the world.
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The Across the World bike
(Picture credit score: Rue Kaladyte)
The bike frameset is the most recent Specialised Roubaix, launched in fall 2023. This iteration sports activities a light-weight carbon body with aerodynamic tube shapes, 40mm tire clearance, loads of accent mounts and an improved Future Shock under-stem suspension system.
Wilcox used SRAM’s latest 2x Purple groupset with a 10-36t cassette. She carried 2-3 spare AXS batteries and a charger. Wilcox advised Biking Weekly that she stayed in resorts no less than each different night time for good relaxation and battery charging functions.
Her wheels had been Zipp 303 Firecrest rims laced to a SON dynamo hub within the entrance and wrapped with 35mm tubeless Specialised Mondo tires.
Wilcox is well-known for her chamois-free using, and depends on the Specialised Energy Professional Mirror saddle to maintain her girl bits pleased. Her belongings had been stuffed in bikepacking luggage from Revelate Designs.
Whereas the frameset is a inventory subject, her cockpit is something however. Minimalists, avert your eyes —this cockpit is packed! The bottom consists of ordinary drop bars with Zipp’s clip-on aerobars to supply a extra snug long-distance using place. There are additionally a bunch of different equipment, together with a custom-made sleeping bag harness by Revelate Designs, journey snacks, a telephone, a Wahoo bike pc and a dynamo mild unit. But, due to Shawn Small of Ruckus Composites, the setup stays neat and environment friendly. Small crafted {custom} carbon mounts for the aerobars, offering an organized area for all these equipment.
Wilcox stated the entire package deal is” by far the most effective setup I’ve ever had—so streamlined.”
Wilcox’s spouse, photographer and videographer Rue Kaladyte, documented the journey on social media and revealed every day podcasts. A full-length documentary of the try is forthcoming as nicely.
