Nearly 6000 miles into the Americas expedition and this week I am heading for the Pacific coast in Mexico. After the arid borderlands, I have recently crossed the Tropic of Cancer into more mountainous and greener terrain as I pedal across the Tierra Madre Occidental (Mexico’s largest mountain range). I have just posted a new set of photos at www.flickr.com/photos/cyclingtheamericas and the full blog is at www.bbc.co.uk/cyclingtheamericas.
Congratulations to James Bowthorpe, who at 6pm on Saturday 19th September finished his 18,000 mile cycle around the world. Guinness World Records have still to verify this as a new World Record but I am sure they will do soon. Only 18 months after I set the World Record at 194 days and 17 hours I am delighted that James has taken on the challenge of the ultimate endurance cycling record. It was my dream when I set out to make this circumnavigation a coveted record, like so many other circumnavigations are. With the success of the BBC1 documentary ‘The Man who Cycled the World,’ the world cycle was suddenly put on the radar for the adventure world and I knew it wouldn’t be long before someone made a bid. I am delighted – this is a new era in endurance cycling. Gaining the World Record has opened many doors for me and I continue to do what I love, so I have no regrets about seeing it beaten. Who will be next?
People email me on a daily basis to ask for help planning their expeditions and getting started in a career like mine. I am always delighted to hear these ambitions and will reply when I can. However, I regret that I can not help as fully or as fast as I would like whilst away on full time expedition.
One graduate who has set himself a great challenge and needs everyones support is Sean. To find out about his cycle to Cape Town click on www.ridingouttherecession.co.uk
You might also be interested to read about David and Kelly who are cycling the reverse of my current expedition and blogging on www.cyclingnomads.com
Talking about a completely different sport, I wrote an article for the Daily Mail Ski and Board Magazine, October issue which is in shops now.
Lots more news soon but for now I have to go and film a volcano!
