When we hear about those bold souls taking part in endurance challenges, many of us think of the physical and emotional difficulties they face pushing their bodies to their limits.
But The Jenny Graham Round-the-World Podcast paints a more complete, human picture of what it’s like cycling around the planet with no assistance. To comply with Guinness World Records rules, she had to complete the task alone, which meant she had no one to sort out her meals or accommodation, to wash her clothes or to help her to cross borders.
The Inverness native didn’t have anyone there to cheer her on either, apart from kind strangers she met along the way. Itchy skin caused by insect bites; Russian truckers with murky motives; heavy rain; fatigue; and problems with the gears on her bike, affectionately known as Little Pig, were just some of the challenges she faced.
Before this epic journey, the longest bike ride Graham had done was from Land’s End to John o’ Groats. Her round-the-world trip, completed in autumn 2018, began and ended in Germany, taking in 16 countries, including Russia, China and the US.
It was something of a last-minute decision for Graham to record her audio postcards to capture her thoughts and experiences. It wasn’t until she got home that she and her producers decided to work them into this engaging podcast. The result is a blend of highlights from her diaries on the road and reflections from home.
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While away, Graham was cautious in her audio diaries, personal messages and social media posts not to give her loved ones back home any cause for alarm — even when sleeping (without a tent) in the wilds of Alaska during bear season, and meeting people who couldn’t believe she was travelling without a gun.
“I was quite careful, if I was scared of things, about who I spoke to because I didn’t want to worry people for the sake of it,” Graham recalls. This may explain why she sounds so cheerful on the podcast, even though she may have been freezing and hungry.
After cycling for 18,000 miles, she succeeded in setting a new fastest time for circumnavigating the globe on a bike. She completed the challenge in 124 days, cutting almost three weeks off the previous women’s record.
Graham is writing a book about her experience if you want to know more about her adventure, but, in the meantime, this podcast is an inspiring taster to listen to while planning a big trip or simply appreciating being comfortable.
