The fastest known time (FKT) for circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle is awarded for completing a continuous journey around the globe by bicycle and other means, consisting of a minimum 29,000 km (18,000 miles) in total distance cycled.

+ Current Fastest Known Times (FKTs) For Competitive Circumnavigations (150 days or Less) Record Name Year Length (dd:hh:mm) GWR? Unsupported (F) Lael Wilcox 2024 108:12:12 Yes Supported (M) Mark Beaumont 2017 78:14:40 Yes Unsupported (F) Jenny Graham 2018 124:10:50 Yes Unsupported (M) Andrew Nicholson 2015 123:01:06 Yes Oldest and Disability (M) Christopher R. Bennett 2025 129:18:20 Yes (Oldest)Mixed and married couple (M/F)Kyle & Amy Hudson2026123:23:24Yes

By convention, most FKT attempts follow the Guinness World Record (GWR) Rules. One can still have the FKT but not the GWR. For example, Lee Fancourt set an FKT which was not ratified due to him not strictly following the GWR Rules.

The GWR Rules state that the journey should be continuous and in one direction (East to West or West to East), that the minimum distance ridden should be 18,000 miles (29,000 km), and that the total distance travelled by the bicycle and rider should exceed an Equator's length. The clock does not stop for any waiting time for transit flights or ferries or for the duration of the transit (see full rules below).

The GWR Rules do not distinguish between supported and unsupported attempts, even though the latter are much more difficult. The principles for unsupported rides are: do it all yourself, under your own power; carry all your own gear (i.e. no domestiques); and no outside support (deliveries only to public addresses or 'open' homes, no support vehicles of any kind meeting the rider along the way).

'Pure' unsupported rides also preclude any visits from friends or others along the way. These rules require riders to be alone for the entire ride except for 'unplanned' rides with other cyclists (i.e. not pre-arranging company).

Competitive rides recognised as unsupported are Julian Sayarer (2009), Mike Hall (2012), Juliana Buhring (2012), Andrew Nicholson (2015), Lee Fancourt (2015), Jenny Graham (2018), Douglas Concha (2024), and Christopher R. Bennett (2025).

Guinness World Record Rules The GWR rules have evolved over time with those prevailing in 2024 different in key ways from earlier rules. For example, the maximum time of 175 days that prevailed at the time of Jenny Graham does not appear to still be used. A maximum time of 150 days is now accepted as the metric for differentiating riders who 'race' around the world from those who 'tour'. The current rules are: Start and finish points must be the same location. The journey should be continual and in one direction, i.e. East to West or West to East. Any considerable distance travelled opposite to the direction of the attempt (be it on foot or by other means of transport such as an aircraft) will be discounted from any calculations of the overall distance travelled. The journey must be continuous, with each leg of the journey beginning at the point at which the previous leg ended. This means that if riders take a break from the race and travel forward in a prohibited form of transport, they have to backtrack and cycle that distance starting from exactly the same place or risk disqualification. The minimum distance ridden should be 18,000 miles (28,970 km), and the total distance should exceed an equator’s length or ‘great circle’, i.e. more than 24,900 miles (40,075 km). No form of private transport may be used other than that by which the attempt is undertaken. Scheduled public and chartered transport may be used, but the challenger must be a passenger The scheduled public or chartered transport must be operated by a commercial, professional person or organisation. The participant must pass through two approximate antipodal points during the attempt. The participant should not remain stationary (i.e. if he or she does not make any progress towards her destination) for longer than 14 days. No distinction will be made between supported and unsupported journeys.

Except for the 'fastest' there is no recognition by Guinness for speed with other categories (e.g. oldest, youngest, etc.).

Earlier rules had a number of restrictions:

"During the attempt, the challenger is not allowed the aid of drafting. If the challenger is travelling with a support vehicle or other rider(s), the challenger MUST remain a minimum distance of 5 bicycle lengths from the support vehicle or any other rider(s). The challenger must not travel next to the support vehicle or any other rider(s) throughout the attempt." Drafting has been removed from the rules. "When crossing oceans or any other impassable barriers, the participant may use scheduled public transport, such as buses, aircraft, ferries etc. However, private or chartered transport (including taxis) is not permitted." This has been relaxed with regard to chartered transport which is now permitted, as long as: "chartered transport must be operated by a commercial, professional person or organisation"

Alan Bate writes of the early rules, which are still largely reflected in the current rules:

The record criteria requires the rider to cover 28,970 kilometers by bike, in an East to West or West to East direction, wavering no more than 5 degrees off course. The total journey distance must be a minimum of 40,075 kilometers, to include all transit by flight or sea. The ride must start and finish in the same place and must pass at least two antipodal points (these are two points that line up through the earth's centre). When the rider reaches a transit point to connect with a flight or boat to the next continent or country start point, the clock stops with regard to the actual riding time *(no longer the case any more since the rules have changed in relation to transit time, which is NOW included in the total time). As most of the earth's surface is water, this is unavoidable and fair as it applies to all athletes attempting the record. Once customs is cleared at the next destination, the clock immediately starts again. The same bicycle must be used throughout the attempt, although repairs and replacement parts and bikes are allowed for mechanical failure. Satellite tracking is highly recommended by Guinness World Records and a daily log, signatures of dignitaries and photographs at strategic points must be collated as evidence.

The current GWR Rules no longer include the 5 degree off course limitation, however, that convention is still followed by riders. Jenny Graham in 2018 ended her China leg before Beijing so that she would not have to backtrack at all when travelling to Perth. In 2024 when travelling Alaska to Los Angeles, Lael Wilcox kept within the 5 degree principle with a -2.98 degree westward swing from her easternmost point (100 Mile House, B.C. at -121.28) and westernmost point (Ferndale CA at -124.26).

Routes

The requirement to pass at least two antipodal points causes some problems in route planning. For example, among popular countries for around-the-world cyclists, the antipodes of Australia is spread out over the Atlantic Ocean, that of North America over the Indian Ocean, that of Africa over mid Pacific Ocean, and that of Europe and most of Asia over the South Pacific Ocean, without any land mass there. Those land areas would not give any opportunities for an antipodal pair while cycling. Some possible pairs are China/Argentina, Malaysia/Peru, and Spain/New Zealand (for example, the road Lisbon–Madrid crosses the antipode of the road Wellington–Auckland).

The length requirement also requires consideration. To cycle Lisbon–Vladivostok (13900 km), Perth–Brisbane (4300 km) and Los Angeles–St. John's (7200 km) with air travel between legs gives 25,400 km. So some detours are needed (such as Invercargill–Auckland, New Zealand, 1800 km, for the sake of the antipodes requirement).

Mark Beaumont, in a 2024 interview with GCN, provides insight into the challenges and implications of route selection. He comments "If you think about riding around the world in its simplest sense, you want to be able to look at a wall map and it looks like a circumnavigation. [my rides were] faithful to that idea of what looks like an unbroken route around the world." Noting that Asia is the most challenging to ride due to road conditions and complexities of border crossings, those who avoid Asia end up with large north-south loops in North America and Europe to make up the distance which inevitably give them faster times.

Standard Bicycle

Nick Sanders (1984)

Nick Sanders completed a notable ride in 1984,Simon MacMichael, "Cult survivor becomes 'first woman' to circumnavigate the world by bike (at least by Guinness World Record rules)", Road.cc, 24 December 2012. riding around the Northern Hemisphere in 138 days, although this ride did not meet the requirements to be recognised as a GWR record. Mark Beaumont. The Man Who Cycled the World. London: Transworld (Corgi); . P. 39.Strange's website, Wayback Machine (for example here for 10 September 2008).

Phil White (2005) In April 2005, Phil White completed a record attempt in an estimated 299 days. This was not certified by Guinness World Records.

Mark Beaumont (2008)

On 14 February 2008, Mark Beaumont completed a circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle in 194 days and 17 hours.

James Bowthorpe (2009) In September 2009 James Bowthorpe completed an eastward circumnavigation, starting and ending in London, in 176 days.Lara Dunn, "James Bowthorpe home after breaking round-the-world record", Bike Radar, 22 September 2009.Bowthorpe's bicycle is described in "James Bowthorpe's round-the-world bike", Cycling Weekly, 24 February 2010. Bowthorpe's blog (as of 2022, last updated in 2010) is globecycle.org. This was not ratified by Guinness World Records.Simon MacMichael, "Riders set out from Greenwich on World Cycle Racing Grand Tour", Road.cc, 19 February 2012.

Julian Sayarer (2009) In December 2009 Julian Sayarer, a London-based cycle courier, completed a circumnavigation, starting at Rouen and going through Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan and China as far as Shanghai; Bangkok to Singapore; the length of New Zealand; Vancouver to the east coast of the US; and finally from Lisbon back to Rouen. The time was first described as 165 days,Simon MacMichael, "Ex London courier knocks 11 days off round-the-world cycling record – and then attacks past holder", Road.cc, 9 December 2009; retrieved by the Wayback Machine on 10 March 2012. and ratified by Guinness at 169 days.Dave Atkinson, "Vin Cox completes his round-the-world record attempt", 2 August 2010. Sayarer's blog about the ride is at This Is Not for Charity.

Vin Cox (2010)

On 1 August 2010, Vin Cox completed an unsupported circumnavigation of the globe, which was certified by Guinness as the new world record with a time of 163 days, 6 hours, 58 minutes.

Alan Bate (2010) On 4 August 2010, Alan Bate completed a supported circumnavigation in 106 days 10 hours and 33 minutes, which was ratified by Guinness World Records in January 2012.Bate's website, worldcyclingrecord.com, no longer exists, but is partially available via the Wayback Machine (for example here for 19 March 2015).

Mike Hall (2012)

On 4 June 2012, Mike Hall completed his circumnavigation (from Greenwich, eastwards to Greenwich) in 91 days 18 hours.Trackleaders.com His ride was totally unsupported. After the ride, Guinness World Records changed the rules to include total travel time. Under the new rules Hall recorded a time of 107 days 2 hours 30 minutes, which was not ratified by Guinness World Records.John Stevenson, "Round the world racer Lee Fancourt hammers on despite disqualification", Road.cc, 7 April 2014.

Juliana Buhring (2012)