Mark Beaumont: World record breaking cyclist now on Pan American Highway

Mark Beaumont on his record breaking tour
Mark Beaumont

Mark Beaumont crushed the old world record and became know as the fastest man on earth.  Now he is on a new challenge - cycling the Pan American Highway from Alaska to Argentina.  You can follow his adventures at his website.

See a slide show of Mark's record-breaking ride here.

World Bike Touring Examiner (WBTE):  Would you please explain a tad bit about where you’ve been and where you’re going - including your record-breaking quest and this journey and any others you've taken.

Mark:  When I was 11 I read an article in the local newspaper about a guy who had cycled from the bottom of England to the top of Scotland and wanted to do the same! Firstly I cycled across Scotland, then the length of the UK at age 15, and from there went to Europe for bigger and bigger cycles through my teenage years. After University I decided to break the world record for cycling around the world. After a year of training and fundraising I set out from Paris in France. 18,300 miles through 20 countries and 194 days 17 hours later, I got back to Paris, breaking the previous WR by 81 days. The success of the BBC documentary that I self filmed has allowed me to continue with a career in the adventure world. At the moment I am on route from Alaska to Argentina, climbing the highest mountains in North and South America en route. To complete this in a single climbing season is a unique challenge whilst filming another documentary series - now over halfway through I am still on target and loving the journey.

WBTE:  Had you done a lot of touring before settting out around the world?

Mark:  I had never done any touring on the scale of the world but had done a lot of adventuring alone, in groups, supported and unsupported and so had a good idea of what was involved. That said, most people can attempt a major cycling expedition with little experience. Unless you are trying to break world records you don't need to be a real athlete, just physically able and to have the mental ability to keep going and be self sufficient.

WBTE:  What prompted your journey around the world? And this journey?

Mark:  I was half way through University studying Economics and Politics when I did an internship that made me realise I wasn't made for working in a corporation or in an office. It convinced me to pursue my ambitions in the adventure world and to try and get into documentary making. It was very hard to get started as I wasn't known and had no successes to convince the BBC and sponsors of my ability - but a lot of stubborness paid off! The idea for the Americas expedition has been with me for a few years - I wanted to journey down the length of the Rockies and Andes whilst stopping to climb their highest peaks. I didn't want to do another race after the world, as I needed a fresh challenge.

WBTE:  I know there are plenty of wonderful days when the sun is shining and you’ve got the wind at your back. But there are also days when it’s raining or you face a headwind or you’re climbing a hill that just won’t end. How do you get through those days? What keeps you going?

Mark:  I love being out on expeditions and so the greatest motivation at all times is still from within. I do get a real buzz from the support I get from friends and family, the tens of thousands who follow my expeditions online and the millions who see the documentaries, however, despite all this support the open road would be a lonely place if you didn't love the journey no matter how tough it gets. There is a strange pleasure to be had from grinding through the tough days, a unique sense of achievement that the fun of the easy and beautiful days can't compare to.

WTBE:  As hard as it is to pick out one or two highlights – would you, could you? Tell us about a couple of those incredibly wow-ing, drop-your-jaw experiences you’ve had.

Mark:  My all time most memorable moment was pedalling around the Arc de Triumphe to a huge crowd of friends, family and press at the end of the World Cycle - utterly unforgettable. On this expedition, summiting Mount McKinley was the most intense and memorable moment. My team summited in a blizzard and the final ridgeline we climbed in near zero visability conditions. There was no margin for error and we were all utterly exhaused. The summit day was over 16 hours. Just standing up at above 6000 meters is hard work!

WBTE: What about those days you wish you could forget (but you know you never will)? Those days when everything goes wrong and then even more goes wrong? Tell us about a couple of those.

Mark:  I actually enjoy the tough days if they involve tough climbs or bad weather. However, the dangers I don't enjoy are almost always human caused. I have had three collisions with vehicles during my cycles and these are always very scary. The worst was in Louisiana during the World Cycle. I was left very bruised and the front of the bike was crushed. Later that day I was then mugged by a gang in LaFayette who stole my film camera and wallet. All in all, a day I will never forget and was glad to move on from!

WBTE: You’ve toured through many countries and I know they each are unique and have their advantages and disadvantages. But, if you were to talk with someone relatively new to cycle touring, where would you recommend they go? Why?

Mark:  I always get stumped when asked for advice for novice cyclists. Most countries are within the ability of any cyclist. I have cycled across about 40 countries in my life and Pakistan, India, Iran and Kenya are the only ones I would strongly recommend previous experience. One of my favourite was up the coast on Norway from Trondheim to Narvic, ferry-hopping across all the fjords and then up through the Arctic Circle. Very safe with good supplies along the way but you feel you are on a real adventure!

WBTE:  Why the bike? Why not travel in bus and trains like most travelers. What is it about the bike that makes it your vehicle of choice?

Mark:  I have never been a bike geek - it is simply a means to make my expeditions happen - so I can very objectively say that the bike makes sense as you see so much more than any other means, keep fit mentally and physically and are accepted in such a warm way wherever you go. It breaks down almost all cultural divides.

WBTE:  Any special tips or advice to wannabe tourers?

Mark:  Don't let doubters stop you making your dreams happen. Anything is possible.

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If you enjoyed this interview, you might enjoy these other interviews with world cyclists:
Goat from Riding the Spine - Alaska to Argentina on dirt roads
Sean from Riding the Spine - Alaska to Argentina on dirt roads
Jacob from Riding the Spine - Alaska to Argentina on dirt roads
Friedel from Travelling Two - 3 years around the world
Sonya and Aaldrik from Tour.TK - 3 years on the road, currently in South America
Alastair Humphreys - 4 years on 3 continents - Africa, Asia, America
Peter Gostelow - pedaled from Japan to England; now headed toward Africa
Tim & Cindie from Down the Road - 7 years on the road and no plans to stop

Jaime Bianchini of Peace Pedalers - nearly 8 years through 77 countries on tandem picking up strangers

 There are also a number of families who have adopted a life on the road with their children:

The Williams family is on a open-ended tour on a triple bike with their 9-year-old son.

Rebekka and Florian traveled the Pan American Highway to Tierra del Fuego with their small son in a trailer.

The Verhage family with sons aged 11 & 13 have cycled south from LA.  They are now in Peru.

My family is currently cycling the Pan American Highway - we've cycled 16,000 km from Alaska to Colombia so far. You can find us at Family on Bikes.

Contact me via email at familyonbikes@gmail.com

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