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Cyclists

A celebration of women cyclists who push boundaries on two wheels — from classic endurance routes across Britain to world-record rides that inspire adventure, resilience, and freedom.

Cycle from London to Paris in 24 hours

A popular endurance route connecting two iconic capitals, London, UK and Paris, France. The challenge draws cyclists from around the world, testing stamina and speed over roughly 300 miles, often completed in just one day.

Cycle from London to Brighton

 A classic UK cycling challenge covering around 55 miles (88 km) from the capital to the south coast. It’s a favourite first long-distance route for many women taking up endurance cycling, offering a rewarding mix of scenic countryside and coastal views.

LEJOG – Land’s End to John o’ Groats

The traversal of the whole length of the island of Great Britain between two extremities, in the southwest and northeast. There is no continuous long-distance path from Land's End to John o' Groats. 

  • Fastest woman to cycle Land’s End to John o’ Groats — Christina Mackenzie (Scotland) — 51 hrs 5 mins 27 secs — 30 July 2021.

    • Christina broke the women’s record for this historic ride, averaging remarkable speed and consistency across the 874-mile route. Her performance stands as a modern benchmark for endurance cyclists in the UK.

  • Youngest girl to complete Land’s End to John o’ Groats on her own bicycle — Evangeline Towers (UK) — age 10 — 14 August 2020.

    • Evangeline completed the 1,020.74-mile (1,642.72 km) journey over 22 days, cycling alongside her father and uncle. She covered the distance in 110 hours and 5 minutes, becoming the youngest solo girl to achieve the feat.

  • Youngest to complete Land’s End to John o’ Groats on a trailer bike — Rhoda Jones (UK) — age 4 years 4 months — 2 September 2018.

    • Rhoda, cycling on a trailer bike with her parents Katie and Tom Jones, finished the journey in 22 days, 3 hours and 26 minutes. Her sister Ruth Jones (UK), aged 5, completed the same journey earlier and became the fastest on a trailer bike.

 

Famous Routes & Endurance Races

  • First female to win the Transcontinental Race — Fiona Kolbinger (Germany) — 2021

  • First woman to ride the Everest equivalent elevation in 24 hours by bicycle — Sarah Hammond (Australia) — 2014

  • First to cycle the length of the Alps and climb the 8 highest Alpine mountains — Sophie Radcliffe (UK) — 2014

 

More Female Cycling Achievements

  • First woman to win the inaugural Tour de France Femmes — Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands) — 25 years old — July 2022

  • First French woman to win Tour de France Femmes — Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt (France) — 33 years old — 3 August 2025

  • First American to win the Tour de France Féminin — Marianne Martin (USA) — 1984

  • Oldest female to cross the USA east-to-west solo by standard bicycle — Lynn Salvo (USA) — 73 years 359 days — 15 September 2023

  • Fastest female solo 200 km road record by recumbent bicycle — Sandy Earl (USA) — 6 hrs 39 mins 50 secs — 12 March 2023

 

Community & Inspiration

Pushbike Girl – Interviews with Solo Female Cyclists

An inspiring collection of stories from solo female cyclists around the world who travel vast distances, explore new cultures, and challenge what’s possible on two wheels.

Related Tough Girl Podcast Episodes

Heidi Beierle

Author, Artist, and Slow Traveler on Biking Across America, Accessible Outdoor Adventures, and Finding Creativity on the Road

Josie Fouts

Athlete, mentor, advocate, film maker and tread setter, Josie is trailblazing for mountain biking to be a Paralympic sport!

Meaghan Hackinen

Bikepacker and writer sharing more about her new book - Shifting Gears: Coast to Coast on the Trans Am Bike Race

Charlotte Garner

Discovering the power of running and cycling in midlife. Advocating for the physical and mental benefits of sports for women in their 50s.

Vicki Anstey

Overcoming Limitations, Conquering Fears, and Breaking Records—From SAS Challenges to Rowing the Pacific and Cycling 3,000 Miles Across America.

Emma Kingston

Unveiling Bikepacking Secrets - Discover Adventure in Unexpected Places with Insights from "Bikepacking Wales: 18 Multi-Day Off-Road Cycling Adventures”

Fadeelah Kenny

Sharing More about Endurance Running, Motherhood, and Running Comrades Marathon 3x

Claire Wyatt

Passionate about bicycle touring and sharing stories of kindness from around the world. Currently cycling 16,000km around Australia.

Amanda Harris

Overcoming Adversity with Adapted Cycling, Fundraising, and Inspiring Resilience After a Life-Changing Spinal Cord Injury.

Dr. Meera Velankar

Scientist turned tandem cyclist. Exploring India since 2015. First woman to complete India’s Golden Quadrilateral, which connects Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata, on a tandem bike (6,000km in 41 days).

Mari Funabashi

Film Composer, Endurance Cyclist, and Triathlete, Bringing Together Her Passion for Music and Outdoor Adventure to Create a New Film - “Beyond Words” - to Amplify the Voices of Underrepresented Folks and Inspire Change.

Vanessa Ruck

AKA The Girl on a Bike: From Adversity to Adventure on Two Wheels.

Women Who Have Cycled Around The World

Kiko Matthews

Kiko Matthews - KIK PLASTIC 2019 - Cycling 6,900km around the UK and Ireland’s coasts, beach cleaning and building a community against plastic!

Juliana Buhring

Juliana Buhring - Ultra-endurance cyclist & Guinness World Record for Fastest Woman to Cycle the World!

Loretta Henderson

Loretta Henderson - quit her normal life at 36, and having never cycled before, set off to cycle around the world!

Sami Sauri

Exploring the World Through Multi-Sport Adventures and Creative Storytelling

Christine Armstrong

Christine Armstrong - Has just returned from 2 years cycling the world!

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