Scottish cyclist and adventurer, Mark Beaumont, broke the Guinness World Record by circumnavigating the world in less than 80 days. This incredible feat was captured and shared with the world by South African Sports Production agency, MoonSport. The previous record was held by New Zealander, Andrew Nicholson, who managed the feat in 123 days.
Early flight through Edinburgh airport and saw this installation about Mark Beaumont’s fundraising for the amazing work of @Orkidstudio If passing through please stop, read and donate to this great charity pic.twitter.com/KUoASv9h5b
— Fiona Robertson (@barristerfiona) February 24, 2019
Beaumont says that he has been building towards this dream.
“This is my biggest dream I have building towards this since I was a 12 year old boy that I’m going to cycle around the world in 80 days from Paris, 18000 miles.”
It was a massive undertaking that was done in 4 stages, first from Paris through Europe, Russia, Mongolia then to Beijing and China then across to Australasia and then across North America. From anchorage to Halifax and then the final stage was Lisbon though Madrid all through the Pyrenees to Paris, in total about 18000 miles across the globe.
For Beaumont, it was the test of ultimate endurance both physically and mentally.
Two weeks into the challenge and in the city of Moscow with a population of 50 million, lots of trucks and busy roads provided obstacles. Beaumont hit a deep pothole which through him over the bike and left him badly injured. The critical thing for Beaumont was to stick to his pace through rain and cold and many punctures.
Lack of sleep was an issue, getting up at half past three in the morning to start cycling at four.
“I’m feeling it 13,14,15 hours into a day it hurts it really hurts, but there’s nothing that stops me from riding my bike and keeping the wheels turning. Mentally, I can keep going so physically I can keep going.”
He faced extreme highs and lows, being fragile and also hit rock bottom with the continuous challenge committing to not stopping.
The MoonSport crew was also committed to 80 days non-stop, 16 hours a day of work, in very challenging conditions to document the feat.
Beaumont circumnavigated the world by bicycle in 78 days, 14 hours and 40 minutes. He used the journey to raise funds for Orkidstudio, a charity dedicated to uplifting communities through innovative architecture and construction such as the Sachibindu hospital in Northern Zambia.
