Lael Wilcox around the world

[Dogtrousers]

Surprised we don't already have a thread. Or have I missed it?
She's already 6 days and 1100 miles in

Website: https://www.laelwilcox.net/around-the-world
Tracker: https://www.followmychallenge.com/live/lael/rtw/
Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/26754270
Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lael-rides-around-the-world/id1743983335

CW article: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/...rd-by-circumnavigating-the-planet-in-110-days

 

[13 rider]

And even more amazing she doesn't wear padded shorts 🥴

 

[Cycleops]

I didn't know you took such an interest in ladies nethergarments @13 rider but I'll take your word for it

 

[13 rider]

I didn't know you took such an interest in ladies nethergarments @13 rider but I'll take your word for it

Don't ask me how I know I just Know

 

[Cathryn]

I'm thoroughly enjoying her daily podcasts - just 10 mins or so but really great. I listen on my drive to work each day and it's a great start to the day. This morning she described how Bordeaux is a bicycle city - I'm going there in the summer and it's made me very excited to visit.

 

[matticus]

Thanks for this - I was unaware!

Her route looks even odder than previous attempts I've read about. Big chunk of eurasia gets missed out - she flies Tbilisi-to-Perth. (I think she kinda makes up the minimum mileage by zigging upto North NED on this leg, then zagging down to Los Angeles on her final homebound leg).

Jenny Graham rode on land from Lisbon to Beijing (taking in Germany, Latvia, Russia and Mongoli - a proper trip!!!)

It's all subjective of course; the perfect route in the spirit of Phileas Fogg is impossible, and they are - at the end of the day - chasing records!

 

[LucretiaMyReflection]

Lael wrote about her kit choices on instagram and someone asked there about bib shorts. She‘s always ridden chamois-less apparently. Makes laundry much easier with wearing shorts instead. It would be useful for multiday trips but I suspect trying it might be painful.

 

[Cathryn]

Thanks for this - I was unaware!

Her route looks even odder than previous attempts I've read about. Big chunk of eurasia gets missed out - she flies Tbilisi-to-Perth. (I think she kinda makes up the minimum mileage by zigging upto North NED on this leg, then zagging down to Los Angeles on her final homebound leg).

View attachment 733247

I think her route is WEIRD! Utterly weird! But I’m obviously still cheering her on!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Daily Average of 182.5 miles. With 48% of the time stopped. Her route choice seems to be working just fine for her target time.

 

[chriswoody]

Her route looks even odder than previous attempts I've read about.

It's unfortunately due to the current state of the world. I'd read she was understandably not comfortable traveling through Russia, there are also some land borders closed and as an American she couldn't travel through Iran, so it left her with few options.

Reading through Jenny Graham's book on her attempt, Russia stands out as quite a harrowing part of the ride for her and I certainly understand why, current world politics notwithstanding, you would want to avoid it.

 

[Cathryn]

It's unfortunately due to the current state of the world. I'd read she was understandably not comfortable traveling through Russia, there are also some land borders closed and as an American she couldn't travel through Iran, so it left her with few options.

Reading through Jenny Graham's book on her attempt, Russia stands out as quite a harrowing part of the ride for her and I certainly understand why, current world politics notwithstanding, you would want to avoid it.

Of course! I should have thought of that!

 

[matticus]

Daily Average of 182.5 miles. With 48% of the time stopped. Her route choice seems to be working just fine for her target time.

Were there concerns about her route? It looked efficient to me ... tell me more!!!

 

[T4tomo]

yeah Russia or Iran or fly to Perth and make up miles elsewhere, seems like an obvious choice, She will probably on average encounter better road surfaces too by skipping chunks of Eurasia

 

[matticus]

Current Speed↑
AVG Speed
AVG Moving Speed
Distance
Daily AVG
Moving Time
Time Idle


LW
Lael Wilcox
On Track

17.65 MPH*
7.76 MPH*
14.66 MPH*
2819.96 Mi*
186.27 Mi
8 d 00 h 21 m (53%)
7 d 02 h 59 m (47%)

300km a day!!!

 

[Cathryn]

Listened to today’s podcast! She cycled 179 miles in torrential Dutch rain and wind and still had a fantastic day! How does she do this?