Blog Post

Fastest woman to cycle around the globe, Lael Wilcox sets world record

September 19, 2024

Chicago, Illinois, United States--American "ultra-endurance" cyclist Lael Wilcox completed her 29,169 km journey in 108 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes, starting and ending in Chicago and setting the new world record for the Fastest woman to cycle around the globe (Fastest circumnavigation by bicycle-female), according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"American "ultra-endurance" cyclist Lael Wilcox has shattered the world record for the fastest woman to cycle around the globe, setting a new benchmark with her remarkable achievement," the NewsBytes.com reports.

"Wilcox completed her 29,169 km journey in 108 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes, starting and ending in Chicago. She crossed the previous record set by Scotland's Jenny Graham in 2018 by nearly 16 days."

"The fastest circumnavigation by bicycle (female) is 124 days 11 hours, and was achieved by Jenny Graham (UK), starting and ending in Berlin, Germany, from 16 June to 18 October 2018," the Guinness World Records says.

"Jenny completed the journey unsupported, meaning she had to carry all of her equipment with her while cycling! The two antipodal points she crossed were Madrid, Spain and Wellington, New Zealand."

"Wilcox's first leg of the trip was a week riding from Chicago to New York City. Then she flew to Portugal, spending a month riding east through Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia," the NPR says.

Next it was a flight to Australia, where she spent about another month traveling from Perth to Brisbane. Then she spent a week biking through New Zealand, and afterward it was back to North America. She landed in Alaska and rode from Anchorage through western Canada and down the U.S. West Coast, before heading east through the Southwest and back to Chicago.

Riding 18,125 miles over nearly 109 days means averaging over 166 miles a day. Sometimes she rode more than 200. And the world is not flat. Wilcox climbed a total of 629,880 vertical feet on her bike — equivalent to scaling the height of Mount Everest more than 21 times."

"After 108 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes, Lael Wilcox has officially broken the women’s Guinness World Record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle, shaving 16 days off Jenny Graham’s 2018 time," the BikePacking.com says.

"Lael finished her ride in Chicago, Illinois, today, riding approximately 18,130 miles in 108 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes, setting a new women’s Guinness World Record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle.

"Lael rode a Specialized Roubaix with the new SRAM RED groupset, Zipp wheels with a SON dynamo hub, and Specialized Mondo 700 × 35mm tires. She used a minimal bag setup from Revelate Designs, including a Spinelock Seat Pack, the new Pitchfork Aerobar System that Logan covered at Sea Otter, and a Mag Tank top tube bag."

"Her bike was built by Brook Fowler, the technical marketing manager at SRAM. Brook put it together it at the Madrean workshop in Tucson, and SRAM made this video to document the process. Watch below and scroll down for build details and more about Lael’s kit choices," the BikePacking.com says.

Frame: Specialized Roubaix
Suspension: Future Shock 3.3 with Smooth Boot
Saddle: S-Works Power
Seatpost: S-Works Pave
Stem: S-Works Future
Handlebar: S-Works Shallow Bend
Tape: Ergon
Front Brake/Shift: RED AXS
Rear Brake/Shift: RED AXS
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB BSA
Front Derailleur: RED AXS
Chain: RED AXS
Crankset: RED AXS 46/33t, 172.5
Rear Derailleur: RED AXS
Cassette: RED AXS 10-36T
Front Tire: Specialized Mondo 700×35
Rear Tire: Specialized Mondo 700×35
Front Wheel: Zipp 303 Firecrest on SON Dynamo hub
Rear Wheel: Zipp 303 Firecrest
Pedals: Time XPRO 12

"At 6:14 p.m. CST on Wednesday, September 11, Wilcox pedaled up to the Buckingham Fountain in downtown Chicago and unclipped from her bicycle. An ear-to-ear grin broke out across her face. The 37-year-old had just set a new record: the women’s Guinness World Record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle," the Outside Magazine says.

"Wilcox, a decorated ultra-cyclist and bike packing racer, completed her monumental ride in 108 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes, smashing the previous record of 124 days and 11 hours, held since 2018 by Scottish cyclist Jenny Graham.

"The sheer scale of Wilcox’s effort was impressive. She covered 18,125 miles — 125 more than the required 18,000 miles (28,970 kilometers) needed for the record. Her ride followed Guinness’s strict criteria: traveling in one direction only (west to east), veering no more than five degrees off course (about 300 miles), and passing through at least two antipodal points (Madrid, Spain, and Wellington, New Zealand)."

"Ultra-cyclist Lael Wilcox has become the fastest woman to ride around the world solo. Wilcox crossed four continents during the 108-day, 12-hour, and 12-minute ride, clocking up 18,125 miles / 29,169km in the process," the Strava.com says.

"Starting in Chicago on May 26, Lael cycled to New York before flying across the Atlantic to Portugal. She then cycled through Europe to Georgia, before taking a plane down to Australia and cycling from Perth to Brisbane. New Zealand was next, before she boarded a flight to Alaska, headed down to LA, and then returned to Chicago yesterday evening.

"To break the previous record set in 2018 by Scotland's Jenny Graham (124 days, 11 hours), Lael spent up to 14 hours per day in the saddle, often covering distances of more than 186 miles / 300km, and occasionally more than 248 miles / 400km."

"An Alaskan has broken the record for the fastest around-the-world bike ride by a woman. Lael Wilcox was born and raised in Anchorage and is a familiar name in ultra-distance cycling," the Alaska Public Media reports.

"She holds records in the 2,745-mile Tour Divide and 4,400-mile Trans Am Bike Race. But a course of over 18,000 miles, circumnavigating the globe, was something else entirely.

"Wilcox did it in 108 days and 12 hours, more than two weeks faster than the previous record, finishing in Chicago on Wednesday. As for why she would want to bike around the world, Wilcox says it seemed like a good way to spend her summer."

"Lael Wilcox entered the history books this morning as she completed her record-breaking Around The World ride. Riding a custom Specialized Roubaix SL8, Wilcox rode 18,125 miles / 29,169 kilometres in 108 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes," the BikeRadar.com says.

This sees the American ultra-distance specialist take the official Women’s World Record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by bicycle from the previous record holder, Jenny Graham, by almost 16 days.

"Wilcox has been documenting her latest feat via Strava, giving a fascinating insight into the extraordinary ride. Let’s check out some of the stats from her ride, and the bike and equipment she used."

Photos: Fastest woman to cycle around the globe, Lael Wilcox sets world record

(1) Lael Wilcox arrived at the finish of her around-the-world bike ride in Chicago on Sept. 11. She rode more than 18,000 miles. Photo by: Rugile Kaladyte/NPR

(2-11) Facebook/Lael Wilcox