Inspirational British Female Cyclist on Round the World Bike ride Aged 59

Ann Wilson is an inspirational British female cyclist who set off in July 2009 on a Round the World Bike ride aged 59. Her cycling adventure began in 2007 when a friend inspired her by giving her the book “A bike Ride” by another amazing female cyclist Anne Mustoe.

Ann was so inspired that within 24 months she had quit her job, taken in lodgers to pay the bills while she was away and embarked alone on her around the world bike tour.

Life was suddenly too short to delay this project any longer than necessary.

Since making that decision, she had a bike built for her by Chaz Roberts of Croydon, researched and bought all the kit and devoured as many cycling books as she could – Josie Dew, Dervla Murphy, Alastair Humphreys and dozens of online journals, mainly on Crazy Guy On a Bike.

With little previous cycling experience or training behind her she started slowly, but like the proverbial tortoise and hare has made considerable progress and is currently in Iran having cycled through France, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Turkey.

So here I am, just turned 59, retiring early at the end of June, and about to set off on the biggest adventure of my life. I’m a long way off being ‘bikefit’ but I do know that I can cover 30 miles in a day as I am, and expect to raise that to 50+ after a few weeks in France.

“You’re very brave”, so people keep saying – before I set off. I’ll have to earn those words before I agree. But funnily enough, no one has called me mad – I think they already knew that…

CrazyJourney Community comments on inspirational female cyclists

Im not being ageist but this is truly inspirational especially when I consider my mum is 59 and I could never imagine her doing more than drinking wine in front of the TV! mylesaway.wordpress.com

I love this woman’s story. My parents did something similar in 2006. They sold their house in London. Put their possessions into storage and set off by bike to ride through France. They went on a hunt to buy a house over there and after 3 months riding and over 1500 miles covered they had found the place of their dreams. They returned with powerful thighs and bursting with cycling pride. Reminds us that it is never too late to follow our dreams.
Luke Bream

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To read the fantastic online journal of this British female cyclist please visit Ann Wilson

Credits for the images in this article about cycling around the world by an amazing female cyclist belong to Ann Wilson.

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