Lael Wilcox Targets New Around-the-World Cycling Record
On 11 September 2024, Lael Wilcox returned to Chicago after breaking the women’s around-the-world cycling record by more than two weeks. Her remarkable journey spanned 18,000 miles, traversing remote mountain ranges and crossing 22 countries. Despite this achievement, Wilcox is now contemplating whether she can surpass the overall record of 78 days and 14 hours.
Achieving a 30-day reduction in time demands a significant shift from adventure cycling to a racing mindset, focusing on efficiency, aerodynamics, and meticulous planning. Driven by the ambition to demonstrate that women can compete equally with men in ultra-cycling, Wilcox plans to commence her second attempt on 7 June in Chicago.
Background and Previous Achievements
Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Wilcox has a history of outperforming male competitors in prominent races. In 2016, she won the Trans Am Bike Race, a 4,200-mile event across the United States. The following year, she set the fastest time on the Baja Divide, a 1,700-mile self-supported race along Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. Additionally, she established the women’s record on the Tour Divide in 2015, an event regarded as the World Series of ultra-cycling. However, Wilcox acknowledges that the around-the-world record attempt will require an elevated level of preparation, strategy, and execution.
Support Crew and Route Strategy
For the first time in her 11-year racing career, Wilcox will be supported by a full crew responsible for managing her nutrition, logistics, and bike maintenance. This support will enable her to concentrate on cycling for approximately 16 hours daily. The planned route prioritizes speed over scenic value, minimizing elevation gain compared to her initial circumnavigation, which included a formidable 630,000 feet of climbing. Although she will be riding continuously for about two and a half months, Wilcox anticipates that her margin for error in breaking the record will be extremely narrow, likely measured in minutes.
“This is the most ambitious thing in my life, by far, so I’ve become obsessed with efficiency,”Wilcox states.
“I even plan to shave my head right before I start, so I won’t have to wash or brush my hair, which saves a lot of time!”
Wilcox intends to share her route publicly, allowing fans to follow her progress or join for segments, though she will maintain her pace without slowing for others. During her first global ride, she averaged 15 mph for about 12 hours daily. This attempt aims to sustain that speed for an additional four hours each day. Riding faster than 15 mph would permit more nightly rest. Eliminating unnecessary stops, aside from sleep breaks, is a key focus for this attempt.
“After watching the video of my first ride, I realized that I stopped all the time,”Wilcox reflects.
“Anywhere I saw a fan, I would stop to chat. It was fun, but I could have ridden so much more. Ten minutes of talking each day is 13 hours overall – that’s a half day of stopping!”
Record Rules and Logistics
Breaking the record involves more than speed and endurance. Since a continuous loop around the world is impossible, the record follows strict criteria: the cyclist must cover at least 18,000 miles, cross all lines of longitude, and travel in a single direction. The start and finish points must be the same, and the route must include two antipodal points, or opposite locations on Earth’s surface. The clock runs continuously, making direct flights between the seven route sections essential. The cyclist must use the same bike model throughout, though replacing parts or using a new bike of the same model is permitted.
Wilcox’s crew, including her wife Rue Kaladyte and three to four additional members, will travel in an RV, checking on her several times daily. They will manage camping arrangements, meal preparation, route adjustments due to weather, and monitor bike component wear, often while Wilcox rests.
During her first attempt, Wilcox did not schedule maintenance stops in advance, instead relying on local bike shops.
“When my tires had around 3,000 miles I would just Google shops nearby and sit there while they were working on my bike,”she recalls.
“This year I have a mechanic taking care of that. We’ll have a spare bike and spare wheelset, spares for all the proprietary parts on the bike, plus an extra pair of shoes that are a size bigger in case my feet swell, which happens.”
The crew will also handle meal preparation, improving her diet compared to her previous circumnavigation.
“I raced across Europe last summer where there was a lot of good food available and I rode so much better,”Wilcox notes.
“I felt indestructible with peach juice, yogurt, and pizza. I used to not care much about fueling, but when that changed I rode a lot better.”
Wilcox will not adhere to a fixed caloric target.
“The quality of food matters more than the quantity to me,”she explains.
“The trend in bike racing right now is all carbs, but for efforts like this, I also eat a lot of fats. Mostly carbs with some fat, protein, fruits, and veggies. Plenty of sugary drinks too.”
Route Challenges and Daily Schedule
In self-supported races, Wilcox managed route changes due to road closures or severe weather herself, but this time her crew will handle logistics. She aims to cycle 240 miles daily, starting at 4 a.m. and finishing around 9 p.m., with most nighttime riding occurring in the early morning hours when she is more alert.
Certain route segments, such as the Australian outback and rural North America, present challenges due to limited cell service and long distances between towns. Nevertheless, Wilcox remains unconcerned about potential setbacks like RV breakdowns or border closures.
“I don’t do doomsday stuff,”she says.
“If I don’t get the record, who cares. It’s a privilege to just get to attempt it. Worst case I still get to ride my bike a lot.”
Training and Preparation
Wilcox has been training throughout the winter, concentrating on efficiency and power on flat terrain, which is not typically her strength. Her regimen includes more time at a lower cadence, developing seated power, strength training in the gym, and enhancing mobility through yoga classes.
“Each week I also do a long ride to get used to the distance and make sitting in aero bars for 10 hours feel normal,”she says.
Although she will cross multiple time zones, Wilcox does not intend to use an expedition clock to maintain a single time zone throughout the ride.
“It’s better to just stay in tune with the sun,”she explains.
“I’ll be losing hours all the time, but then I gain a day at the end. The weirdest part is going to the dead of winter in Australia and New Zealand, but I have to hit opposite sides of the globe. Luckily I’m only in winter for a third of the trip.”
Outlook and Goals
Beyond breaking the record, Wilcox’s primary objective is to enjoy the experience.
“I know there will be hard moments, but I want to like 90% of it. I get to see so many new places with my wife and take on a goal that we’re both excited and terrified of. I’m so lucky I get to do this again.”
