Coffee First, Then the World: One Woman's Record-Breaking Pedal Around the Planet

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I feel very at home at mountain festivals, adventure panels and organisational training days across the country either in person or online I will deliver a professional, engaging and meaningful event.

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!' It only lasted for six months but during that time we were skiing and snowboarding in the high Alpine mountains, running rapids in kayaks, tromping about the hills learning to navigate, and going on overnight camps with our mountain bikes. In the end I found the process somewhat therapeutic. I combined the memories with reflection, looked up the facts and replayed my words from the time to create a fuller picture of what I experienced. It was such a personal story and one that held a lot of emotion, so I struggled to find a writing pattern that worked for more than a couple of weeks at a time. I create films, written pieces, social bytes, and undertake public speaking engagements. This has led me to the most amazing collaborations with:

That course changed my life

Laughing, Jenny, 43, adds with self-deprecation: “It has taken me two years to write this book. It only took me 124 days to circumnavigate the world on my bike.” I grew up in the best adventure playground ever – the Scottish Highlands – cementing a deep-rooted love of the outdoors and mountainous environments. Videos

A Highland cyclist is to embark on an 18,000 mile cycle around the world | Press and Journal". Press and Journal . Retrieved 4 September 2018. Jenny Graham was overcome by self-doubt before she launched herself on the pursuit of history and a place in the Guinness World Records (GWR) book in 2018. I soon released that outdoor sport should become central to my life – signing up to that course was a pivotal moment for me. It completely changed the trajectory of my life and my worldview was burst wide open with new possibilities. After smashing the solo and unsupported female Guinness World Record by almost three weeks, she found herself suddenly in demand for TV, radio and newspaper interviews.I started my own family young, having my wonderful son Lachlan when I was just 18 and the outdoor adventures continued in the same vein throughout my early 20’s. Camping every summer, beach days and endless picnics. One of the major and, in my opinion, most impressive aspects of Jenny's record was the self-supported element. The pros and cons of this are conveyed well in the book, as are the strategies and coping mechanisms that Jenny rolled out with, and developed over time. Again, I don't want to give too much away here...

It’s over two years since Jenny Graham cycled through the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin with a big grin on her face and became a world record holder. She’d just ridden 18,000 miles in 124 days, unsupported and carrying all of her kit, smashing the previous record by 20 days.

a b "Scottish cyclist Jenny Graham aiming to set new round the world record". road.cc. 7 June 2018 . Retrieved 4 September 2018. In 2018, Jenny Graham broke the round-the-world cycling record by nearly three weeks. This book is her story of this unsupported, solo adventure. Encounters on the road, both human and animal, always get a mention, albeit briefly. They are frank, entertaining and invariably analysed by Jenny as battles with her own conscience (for riding away). She also freely admits making mistakes out on the road. All of this really makes you warm to her character; exceptionally tough on so many levels but a hundred per cent compassionate and human inside. The account of Jenny’s privations is brilliantly conveyed. People who imagine that these assignments are in any way romantic should take a bite from a reality sandwich.

In fact, I’ve realised only recently that I’m probably dyslexic and so I’ve had this terrible imposter’s syndrome about the book. I have worried constantly it would not be good enough and I couldn’t do it. I could go at my own pace and make my own plans as I went. Quite often, I’d just decide to have another coffee – and then get going, just like the book title says.” With infectious wit and honesty, Jenny recounts her friendships with strangers and the myriad different cultures she comes across that gave her a new perspective on the world.

But she held firm all the way

In writing the book, which many friends had encouraged her to do, Jenny has had the opportunity to give a more in-depth account of her journey. a b c "Jenny Graham; Taking on the 'Around the World' Record - Apidura". Apidura. 6 March 2018 . Retrieved 4 September 2018. Jenny needed to carry enough tools and spares to keep her bike working for the duration of her 29,656km journey. Whereas a handful of puncture patches will see the average rider safely through even the longest events, Jenny had to carry a much larger supply, alongside tire boots, spare spokes and ‘endless’ zip ties. By carrying more spares, Jenny was able to avoid having to divert to bike shops or lose too much time dealing with mechanical issues. A set of multi-tool pliers, a bike multi-tool and two Allen keys might be overkill for most bike rides, but meant Jenny could overcome pretty much any mechanical challenge she encountered en route.