For most couples, surviving a weekend trip to IKEA without filing for divorce is considered a major relationship milestone. For British cyclists Amy and Kyle Hudson, the bar is apparently set quite a bit higher.
This May, the pair is setting off on a completely unhinged, highly commendable mission: to break the world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle as a couple. The current record sits at 204 days, but Amy and Kyle told us they are aiming to casually crush that by completing the journey in somewhere between 150 and 170 days.
Because what better way to spend quality time with your significant other than suffering through varying global climates while carrying all of your earthly possessions in a few frame bags?
From Lockdown Hobby to the Tour de France
The origin story of this massive undertaking actually makes a lot of sense. Back during the lockdown—when we were all desperately trying to figure out how to stay sane—Kyle bought Amy a bike. It turned out to be an incredibly effective tool for her mental health.
Fast forward a few years, and Amy has amassed a massive following by taking on absolutely brutal endurance challenges. Just last year, she completed her own Tour de France Challenge, riding all 21 stages plus the transfers between them. She racked up 6,556 kilometers in 29 days and raised a staggering £93,000 for Shout, a 24/7 mental health support charity.
Now, she is bringing Kyle along for the ride. To prepare for the global trek, Kyle has been balancing his full-time job as a builder with high-intensity turbo sessions and long weekend rides. Because nothing sounds better after a long day of manual labor than burying yourself on a smart trainer.
Celestial Chamois Cream
Taking on a 19-country route that spans from Alaska to Malaysia requires serious logistical planning, especially when it comes to wardrobe. Santini Cycling has stepped in to sponsor the duo, providing the highly versatile, packable technical kit required to survive the wildly fluctuating weather they are about to ride through.
The custom Santini jerseys feature a shooting star motif, and the backstory behind the design is peak ultra-endurance cycling.
During the 1,200-kilometer Paris–Brest–Paris randonnée in 2023, Amy was reportedly suffering from agonizing saddle sores in the final stretch. Just as the physical toll was peaking, the couple spotted a shooting star. They took it as a sign of hope and pushed through the pain to the finish line. Most of us just pull over and apply a terrifying amount of chamois cream, but apparently, celestial intervention works just as well.
The Route
Starting in France, the couple will pedal through Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Canada, the United States, Portugal, and Spain.
It is a monumental logistical, physical, and emotional challenge. They are riding to raise even more money for Shout and to prove that humans are capable of far more than we realize. We wish them tailwinds, infinite patience with each other, and a strictly zero-saddle-sore journey.
