Bournemouth University student becomes fourth fastest woman - and the youngest - to cycle round the world

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

Now I think of it, I remember being quite cynical when told to I had to celebarate some round-the-world-solo-yatchtswoman.  I recall thinking 'big deal, she went on a very long holiday, I hope she enjoyed it, but how does it make the world better in any way?'.

 

But I find myself reacting completely differently to this.  I'm honestly impressed and happy to cheer her (though with a tiny twinge of envy).

 

I guess I'm just modeist (prejudiced based on mode of transport).  Maybe I can justify it by arguing she's promoting an environmentally-beneficial form of transport?

 

 

Yeah, I'm gonna go with "there's a difference between pushing a normal everyday means of getting around to its limit, vs indulging in a minority affluent-person's hobby".

How much do you think it would cost to cycle around the world over the period of time it was done in, plus all the flights involved.

You know so that we can assess if it requires somebody being affluent in a minority hobby, because that applies to cycling too doesn't it?

You do realise that she (McArthur) didn't own the boat she sailed around the world in, that it was a sponsored boat (B&Q being the main one), her parents were teachers, hardly 'affluent'.

MCArthurs first boat was bought (a rubber dinghy) with her own money she saved over three years! McArthurs achievement is beyond what was done here IMHO and by a long way

There's no packing up and going home if things get a bit tough, there's literally nowhere to hide and your life is at risk every day, the physical and mental demands of a solo circumnavigation by boat, particularly in that timescale and type of boat is beyond what most people can imagine.

Suggest you bother to actually understand what others are doing and how they got to do things instead of making stupid and wildly inaccurate presumptions! 

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

Now I think of it, I remember being quite cynical when told to I had to celebarate some round-the-world-solo-yatchtswoman.  I recall thinking 'big deal, she went on a very long holiday, I hope she enjoyed it, but how does it make the world better in any way?'.

 

But I find myself reacting completely differently to this.  I'm honestly impressed and happy to cheer her (though with a tiny twinge of envy).

 

I guess I'm just modeist (prejudiced based on mode of transport).  Maybe I can justify it by arguing she's promoting an environmentally-beneficial form of transport?

 

 

Yeah, I'm gonna go with "there's a difference between pushing a normal everyday means of getting around to its limit, vs indulging in a minority affluent-person's hobby".

How much do you think it would cost to cycle around the world over the period of time it was done in, plus all the flights involved.

You know so that we can assess if it requires somebody being affluent in a minority hobby, because that applies to cycling too doesn't it?

You do realise that she (McArthur) didn't own the boat she sailed around the world in, that it was a sponsored boat (B&Q being the main one), her parents were teachers, hardly 'affluent'.

MCArthurs first boat was bought (a rubber dinghy) with her own money she saved over three years! McArthurs achievement is beyond what was done here IMHO and by a long way

There's no packing up and going home if things get a bit tough, there's literally nowhere to hide and your life is at risk every day, the physical and mental demands of a solo circumnavigation by boat, particularly in that timescale and type of boat is beyond what most people can imagine.

Suggest you bother to actually understand what others are doing and how they got to do things instead of making stupid and wildly inaccurate presumptions! 

 

Nah.  Still don't care about yachting.

don simon fbpe wrote:

A quick Google says a minimum of 29, 000 kms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Around_the_world_cycling_record

We done Vedangi, I'm trying to remember what I was doing at 19/20 years old.

Good point. I tried to do LEJOG when I was 19 but gave up after a week because it was a bit wet (though I was camping and probably missed my mum as well).

don simon fbpe wrote:

A quick Google says a minimum of 29, 000 kms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Around_the_world_cycling_record

We done Vedangi, I'm trying to remember what I was doing at 19/20 years old.

That's an easy one for me, I joined the army straight out of college, 88/89 was a very memorable period of time and the start of a new adventure and shaped my life forever, I think I'd rather have been cycling every day instead though.lol!

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

 Out of interest, how is 'round the world' defined?

At one of the polar research bases they have a regular 'round the world' race.  I think the winning time is usually a matter of minutes!

 

Good going though. A test of fitness, dealing with the world's border cops, and coping with the everything the planet's crap drivers can throw at you.  Not sure which would be the greater challenge.

IIRC you have to visit both N and S hemispheres and pass through a two points that are globally opposite.

CygnusX1 wrote:

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

 Out of interest, how is 'round the world' defined?

At one of the polar research bases they have a regular 'round the world' race.  I think the winning time is usually a matter of minutes!

 

Good going though. A test of fitness, dealing with the world's border cops, and coping with the everything the planet's crap drivers can throw at you.  Not sure which would be the greater challenge.

IIRC you have to visit both N and S hemispheres and pass through a two points that are globally opposite.

New Zealand and Portugal are the usual antipodal points that people choose. My pipe-dream rtw has me going through Mongolia and Chile.

https://www.antipodesmap.com/

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

 Out of interest, how is 'round the world' defined?

At one of the polar research bases they have a regular 'round the world' race.  I think the winning time is usually a matter of minutes!

 

Good going though. A test of fitness, dealing with the world's border cops, and coping with the everything the planet's crap drivers can throw at you.  Not sure which would be the greater challenge.

Guinness World Records have a very detailed definition, minimum of 18,000 miles, 2 antipodal points, and no significant East/West backtracking (which in itself makes for an interesting challenge in selecting the route).

simonmb wrote:

It's a shame the writer didn't extend any effort in the selection of the photo - that's not even her circumnavigation bike.

Given that the World's media and a plethora of professional photographers weren't there to greet her, I would guess the author possibly didn't have much to choose from, this looks like a quick picture grab by a bystander or friend and might be all that was available.

OnTheRopes wrote:

simonmb wrote:

It's a shame the writer didn't extend any effort in the selection of the photo - that's not even her circumnavigation bike.

Given that the World's media and a plethora of professional photographers weren't there to greet her, I would guess the author possibly didn't have much to choose from, this looks like a quick picture grab by a bystander or friend and might be all that was available.

It's from her Facebook feed. And whoever picked it will have had to scroll past much better and more appropriate images to get to it.

Just sayin'.

simonmb wrote:

OnTheRopes wrote:

simonmb wrote:

It's a shame the writer didn't extend any effort in the selection of the photo - that's not even her circumnavigation bike.

Given that the World's media and a plethora of professional photographers weren't there to greet her, I would guess the author possibly didn't have much to choose from, this looks like a quick picture grab by a bystander or friend and might be all that was available.

It's from her Facebook feed. And whoever picked it will have had to scroll past much better and more appropriate images to get to it.

Just sayin'.

Another Hurrah! from me to Vedangi.  What an amazing woman.  That's an achievement to be incredibly proud of.

Isn't that the picture that was used in the article (that probably I read here) when she was planning her journey and raising funds?  The article may well have been on road.cc, but I've tried the search farcility too often to expect to find the article again.

simonmb wrote:

 

It's from her Facebook feed. And whoever picked it will have had to scroll past much better and more appropriate images to get to it.

Just sayin'.

Fair enough 

CygnusX1 wrote:

Chapeau, Vedangi. SpikeBike - do one.

Ditto

SpikeBike wrote:

Could have got a better picture. She looks as miserable as sin

A woman barely out of her teens manages an achievement as amazing as this and the only thing you can do is comment on her appearance. What a nob.

Mathemagician wrote:

SpikeBike wrote:

Could have got a better picture. She looks as miserable as sin

A woman barely out of her teens manages an achievement as amazing as this and the only thing you can do is comment on her appearance. What a nob.

Sorry please don't try and make this comment into something it isn't! We are all cyclists on here and I of course I am in amazement at the achievement. I should have led with that and for that I am totally sorry. It was an off the cuff comment about getting a picture of smiling happy pic of that achievement. Nothing more.

Again sorry for any offence.