Coffee First, Then the World

“I, Jenny Graham, was riding around the actual world!”
How can you read the title of this book and not want to learn more about the inspiring attempt at a world record by Jenny, an endurance cyclist and kind-hearted mum? She's chasing a goal to be the fastest woman to circumnavigate the world on a bike, and we get the privilege to accompany her on her adventure. Along the 18,000 miles over 16 countries, we get a glimpse of what it's like to sleep in desolate areas, fight through storms, mend gear, deal with unsavory locals, and narrowly make checkpoints as she strives to make it to the finish line on time. It's a reflective and inspiring book about a young woman who is putting everything on the line to achieve an amazing goal. What she is attempting is akin to Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler when they summited Everest or Amelia Earhart when she flew across the Atlantic. For years, I have recommended Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air as the de facto adventure story, but this sits right alongside it. Jenny Graham certainly brings adventure writing to a whole new level.

“Like so many other things on the road, ‘home' had been stripped back. It was no longer a physical place, but rather a self-defined place within me.”

Before I get ahead of myself, I must say that this is not a traditional sports biography by any means. Each chapter reads like a travelogue. You start off each section learning details about her mileage for the day, the cities she crosses, and where she attempts to sleep, but you do not need to be an expert in cycling to enjoy the story. She takes you by the hand and leads you through more of the technical details of cycling, such as saddle material, chains, fittings, techniques, and more. It's an incredibly fascinating world, to say the least. If you love incredible adventure stories where incredible people accomplish incredible feats, this book is for you. That's three Incredibles in the last few sentences, so if you did not know already, I LOVED this book.

“You must not leave. It's far too dangerous for a woman on her own. You must stay tonight. ‘ OMG, I was actually being kidnapped by kindness'.”

As you traverse the world with Jenny, she keeps you updated along the way with quick snippets of people she encounters on the journey. Whether it's being shepherd around some bears on the road or putting her trust in mechanics to overhaul her bike hours before she is to set out again, Jenny seems to always have it together. The goal is always at the forefront of her mind, and no minor detours will keep her from achieving it. It was impressive to see her breaking down language barriers with individuals all over the world and laughing when seemingly insurmountable delays were thrown her way. From start to finish, it was an emotional rollercoaster.

“The physical benefits of training are easy to measure, but it's only in times of resistance that you will see the resilience you have built up mentally to adverse situations.”

If you think for one second that this is some sort of commercialized setup like so many other endurance-based books, think again! Even though the Guinness Book of World Records does not distinguish the difference, she is attempting this feat in an unsupported fashion. This means that she is in control of her lodging, food, logistics, gear, timekeeping, and more! Her bike is essentially her desk, where she must tackle a multitude of administrative tasks for future arrivals. As you can imagine, the more nail-biting sections include getting through customs without losing an absorbent amount of time, making sure you have enough supplies if you encounter a puncture, and braving the monstrous trucks on the road. Oh, and finding coffee. That was incredibly important too!

“As the least important person on the road, I was the pawn that could be sacrificed at any moment.”

Let's talk about her lodging for a moment. I was so incredibly nervous for her safety because she was sleeping outdoors alone most of the time and vulnerable to the elements and wildlife that stalked around at night. She carries on through it all. Nothing seems to affect her when she's dealt an uninspiring view, has plane booking nightmares, or has to miss meals by cycling throughout the night, topping off with calories from the food scraps in her bike bag. Her encounter with a bear was truly terrifying, and I was pleased when she attached a significant number of noisemakers to her bike to let any would-be animals know she was barreling down the road. She is a bonified wonder woman! In fact, move aside Diana Princess; we have a new sheriff in town, and her name is Jenny Graham.

“While I'm a fan of dreaming big and wild, I have come to realise that true contentment for me is actually found on the journey to the start line.”

As the book comes full circle and you gaze upon the pictures of the journey and read the humbling epilogue, you have to take a breath and marvel at what she was able to accomplish. It makes you want to mount your own personal dreams and tackle them with gusto.

Bravo, Jenny. Thanks for letting us get a small glimpse into your journey and your life.

❖ Category: Adventure / Cycling / Extreme Sport / Travelogue
❖ Rating: 5/5