Why a Booktrail?
2015: Mark Beaumont wanted to ride the length of Africa in under 50 days
Africa Solo
What you need to know before your trail
In the spring of 2015, Mark Beaumont set out from the bustling heart of Cairo on his latest world record attempt – solo, the length of Africa, intending to ride to Cape Town in under 50 days. Seven years since he smashed the world record for cycling round the world, this would be his toughest trip yet. And he would set a new mark that would simply break the limits of endurance.
Travel Guide
Africa
From the obvious dangers of Egypt, Sudan and Kenya, over the unpaved, muddy, mountainous roads of Ethiopia, through the beautiful grasslands of Tanzania and Zambia, to riding at night in Botswana in the company of elephants and giraffes, Mark brings Africa to life in all its complex glory, friendship and curiosity:
“At 6750 miles, Cairo to Cape Town is three tines the distance of the Tour De France,twice of the distance of the Race across America and with exactly ten Everest of climbing. I wanted to do it solo and unsupervised”
Something he admits he was criticised for is the fact he wanted to race against time and so wouldn’t have time to explore or really see the countries he was racing through. This was a race to push his limits and to go fast, like the little boy inside him what was excited to see just how fast his little legs would carry him.
In the end, they carried him for 41 days, 10 hours and 22 minutes, after cycling 6,762 miles, spending 439 hours in the saddle (sometimes up to 16 hours a day) and climbing 190,355 feet through 8 countries. Wow.
Booktrailer Review
Susan: @thebooktrailer
I remember holding this book in my hand and thinking – how on earth do you manage to ride from Cairo to Cape Town? However fit you are, that must be tougher than tough. It’s not just the physical side of things but the stamina you must need? I got a bit tired even thinking about it. But I opened up that cover and got stuck in – and it’s quite a journey in more ways than one.
Mark is the kind of guy you get on with straight away – he’s affable, witty and talks openly about his determination yet worries at the same time. He’s nervous about leaving his family but thankful for their support, wonders how he’s going to cope with maintaining his bike etc and all the other everyday challenges such as finding somewhere to sleep. I’m not a cyclist myself unless you count wobbling around Paris on the free bikes (THAT was an experience – maybe Mark could cover this is later books? 😉 but I got the cyclist urge, the terminology dropped in so smoothly as the oil in the bicycle chains. And at the end a hint of what is to come….It might even be Paris after all or then again maybe not.
Booktrail Boarding Pass: Africa Solo: My World Record Race from Cairo to Cape Town
Destination: Africa Author/Guide: by Mark Beaumont Departure Time: 2015
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