One Woman's Record-Breaking Pedal Around the Planet
16 countries, 124 days and 18,000 miles. This is the story of one woman's solo lap of the planet by bike.
'An amazing adventure... I was left in total awe' - Lorraine Kelly
'Brilliant... Brimming with wonderful observations and reflections, this takes pride of place on the adventure bookshelf.' - Mark Beaumont
'A compelling account of a truly remarkable achievement' - Tim Moore, travel writer
In 2018, amateur cyclist and GCN star contributor Jenny Graham, left family and friends behind in Scotland to become the fastest woman to cycle around the world. Alone and unsupported, she crossed the finish line at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin four months later, smashing the female record by nearly three weeks.
With infectious wit and honesty, Jenny brings readers into her remarkable Round the World adventure, as she takes on four continents, 16 countries – and countless cups of coffee. Her journey swerves from terrifying near road collisions in Russia and weather extremes in Australia to breathtaking landscapes in Mongolia and exhilarating wildlife encounters in North America. Tight on time and money, she resorts to fixing her bike on the fly, sleeping on roadsides and often riding through the night to stay on track and complete her mission.
As she battles physical and mental challenges to race against the clock, Jenny gradually opens up to the joy of the adventure and all its daily discoveries. She gives in to her impulse to connect with people, making friends with strangers across the globe and embracing new cultures.
Coffee First, Then the World is her account of a record-breaking ride, and how one woman and a humble bike conquered the world.
The relief was immense: no longer was I talking, thinking or worrying about this. I was just actually doing it. I, Jenny Graham, was riding around the actual world!'
