On July 23 Juliana Buhring will set off from Naples in an attempt to set the first Guinness World Record for female circumnavigation by bike – the strict rules mean that 28,970km must be covered by pedal power (40,075km totalled including sea/flight transits) and no more than 5 degrees variation off a strict East to West or West to East course is allowed. Buhring intends to cycle an average of 210km (135miles) per day for 140 days with her route set to cover 18 countries: Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, USA, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia.
Speaking recently to The Sunday Times Buhring explained her motivation, ‘I would like to see what I am capable of, mentally and physically. I would like to push myself to the limits. I seem to thrive on pain…’ As a childhood survivor of the notorious ‘Children of God’ cult and author of the painfully honest book on her ordeal ‘Not Without my Sister’, Buhring has already repeatedly proven her ability to rise beyond what most would consider physically and mentally tolerable; a cycling circumnavigation record will, Cyclo are sure, be hers. Funds and awareness are being raised through the event for the Safe Passage Foundation (safepassagefoundation.org), which helps provide support for children raised in cults; you can track Buhring’s progress at www.julianabuhring.com
