alongapath 's review for:

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

5.0

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Jenny Graham has won me over as a raving fan. Her achievement of the self-supported Round-the-World record is astounding. She strictly adheres to self-imposed rules about what 'self-supported' means (since Guinness doesn't differentiate yet) and she follows them even when other options present themselves, like denying to ride in someone's slipstream or only staying in homes that are part of the Warm Showers network. She sleeps in culverts, public toilets, farm fields and bus stops. She does all her own bike maintenance, except when bike shops are en-route to help. She books all her accommodation (when not sleeping rough) and her flights from the dashboard of her bike while on the move. She films and photographs herself, sends info along to her sister for various social updates, and messages/face times with family and friends, all while riding about 280km per day, for 125 straight days.

This is very different than a 'supported' record which may involve a team with a mechanic, a shopper, a cook, a navigator, a launderer, a social media manager and a travel agent all driving nearby in an RV, offering warm drinks, wholesome meals, statistics and encouraging distraction.

But, instead of coming across as some elite, unreachable athlete, Jenny makes everything seem attainable. I feel empowered by her ride and it truly makes me want to go out and do big things too. It would be brilliant to spend a day with her. She is brutally honest about who she is (this untamed woman