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

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My hope for the book was to share a far more raw version of the story than had so far been portrayed using just the highlights in the film, podcasts and more than 100 talks about the well-rehearsed story. Writing it down I wasn’t able to brush or laugh things off (particularly with the ban of using emojis!).

To say this book was inspirational gives it so little credit because this book has moved me in so many levels Im Juni 2018 stand eine junge Schottin mit ihrem Fahrrad am Brandenburger Tor und brach zu einer Reise auf, die schon einige vor ihr unternommen hatten. Jenny Graham war nicht die erste Frau, die die Welt auf dem Rad umfahren wollte. Aber sie wollte die schnellste Frau werden und sie wollte auf ihrer Fahrt ohne fremde Hilfe auskommen. Not only the logistics and planning required, the fundraising and sponsorship to enable the project to get off the ground, but the mental attitude to force yourself to continue day after day for months on end spinning the pedals. As your body craves sleep, as fatigue and exhaustion drain you mentally as well as physically. Add to this the fortitude to overcome the uncontrollables. The inevitable punctures, mechanical failures, the weather, the uncertainty of where and when you will sleep, eat, rest, recover. It's not surprising that the story of "one woman's record-breaking pedal around the planet" reveals as much about the woman as it does about the ride. In 2018 Jenny Graham set the Guinness World Record for fastest female cyclist circling the globe, often covering 150-180 miles daily in her 18,000+ mile journey, supported only by her own wits, grit and resourcefulness. While Graham's achievement itself is inspirational, her storytelling is equally remarkable.The physical benefits of training are easy to measure, but it’s only in times of resistance that you will see the resilience you have built up mentally to adverse situations.” I cycle. I've done a few long distance rides. John O'Groats to Lands End, Aberystwyth to Lowestoft coast to coast. But the idea of cycling around the world, solo and unsupported is hard to appreciate. She does talk about her relationships with family and friends, but the real people aspect of this book is her interactions with those from other countries and cultures. The most heartwarming of these encounters are the many friendly people she met in Mongolia. Just like when talking about her fears and frustrations, Graham talks about these encounters with great energy, humor and joy - one can’t help but smile at some of these passages. You must not leave. It’s far too dangerous for a woman on her own. You must stay tonight. ' OMG, I was actually being kidnapped by kindness'." Graham helpfully bookmarks each day's ride with total time/kilometers on the bike, start/end points and her sleeping venue. Unbelievably, she often camped roadside, sheltering in bus stops, roadway pipes, culverts, or (gross!) in concrete-floored public restrooms. I found myself internally cheering the days she noted motel, hotel or a "warm showers" family for her time off the bike.

This Podcast has been 2 years in the making so it was a pleasure to finally have it confirmed and recorded!

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Outside this book outlining Jenny's quest to break the world record, what this book also reaffirms for me is that kindness exists no matter what language. I have always believe in this wholeheartedly and regardless that the world could be so DAMN DREARY, the acts of kindness and hospitality that strangers extended to her just filled my heart with so much joy and gratitude in knowing that there is always hope and light no matter the circumstance or where you are. Jenny Graham zeigt mit dieser Entscheidung, dass sie flexibel sein muss, wenn sie erfolgreich sein will. Sie muss die Tageskilometer überdenken, um sich nicht kaputt zu machen und Umwege machen, um Hilfe zu bekommen. Das bedeutet aber nur, dass sie sich Ersatzteile oder Werkzeug kaufen darf, reparieren muss sie alleine. Auch das ist eine der Bedingungen, wenn sie den Rekord erreichen will. Auf dem Papier geht die Rechnung auf: Jenny muss jeden Tag eine bestimmte Menge an Kilometern fahren. Weniger, als sie sonst an manchen Tagen fährt, aber sie ist sich dessen durchaus bewusst, dass es nicht die Kilometer pro Tag sind, sondern die Tatsache, dass sie diese Kilometer jeden Tag fahren muss, um ihr Ziel zu erreichen. There are some endurance athletes, there are some excellent adventure writers, but there are few who can combine the two and write such a compelling book. Jenny has an approachable, honest way of writing and by the end of it you’ll want to undertake your own epic adventure. I have read many incredible accounts of super-human endurance, especially by bike. And Jenny Graham's is the best I have read.