Coffee First, Then the World

One Woman's Record-Breaking Pedal Around the Planet

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Coffee First, Then the World

By: Jenny Graham

Narrated by: Jenny Graham

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Bloomsbury presents Coffee First, Then the World written and read by Jenny Graham.

SELECTED FOR THE BBC AND READING AGENCY'S BIG SPORTING READ 2024
SHORTLISTED FOR THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2024 – CYCLING BOOK OF THE YEAR
A WATERSTONES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 – SPORT

'An amazing adventure... I was left in total awe' – Lorraine Kelly

'Brilliant' – Mark Beaumont

16 countries, 124 days and 18,000 miles. This is the story of one woman’s solo lap of the planet by bike.

‘The relief was immense: no longer was I talking, thinking or worrying about this. I was just actually doing it. I, Jenny Graham, was riding around the actual world!’

In 2018, amateur cyclist Jenny Graham left family and friends behind in Scotland to become the fastest woman to cycle around the world. Alone and unsupported, she crossed the finish line at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin four months later, smashing the female record by nearly three weeks.

With infectious wit and honesty, Jenny brings readers into her remarkable Round the World adventure, as she takes on four continents, 16 countries – and countless cups of coffee. Her journey swerves from terrifying near road collisions in Russia and weather extremes in Australia to breathtaking landscapes in Mongolia and exhilarating wildlife encounters in North America. Tight on time and money, she resorts to fixing her bike on the fly, sleeping on roadsides and often riding through the night to stay on track and complete her mission.

As she battles physical and mental challenges to race against the clock, Jenny gradually opens up to the joy of the adventure and all its daily discoveries. She gives in to her impulse to connect with people, making friends with strangers across the globe and embracing new cultures.

Coffee First, Then the World is her account of a record-breaking ride, and how one woman and a humble bike conquered the world.(P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Jenny GrahamJenny GrahamBloomsbury Sport

Adventure Travel

Adventurers, Explorers & Survival

Cycling

Women

Adventure

Inspiring

Heartfelt

Thought-Provoking

Camping

Adventure Travel Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Cycling Women Adventure Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Camping

Critic reviews

An amazing adventure… I was left in total awe.

Brilliant... Brimming with wonderful observations and reflections, this takes pride of place on the adventure bookshelf.

Jenny Graham tackles the world and shares her experiences of the brutal, elite world of endurance cycling with humour, honesty and humility.

A compelling account of a truly remarkable achievement.

Simply astonishing. An astounding feat of physical and mental endurance, told with humour, humility and compassion. A gripping story… I couldn’t put it down.

Gripping, inspiring and remarkably down-to-earth.

I adored this book... I have no doubt it'll inspire so many to keep on pedalling - right through their fears and out the other side… Details of the mind-bending logistics of Jenny's self-supported journey around the planet are balanced beautifully with heart-warming tales of the kindness of strangers, descriptions of wild landscapes and (most importantly) where in the world to find the best cinnamon roll... Bravo, Jenny!

A rollercoaster ride... With a natural, chatty and engaging style that effuses who Jenny is, this is down-to-earth storytelling of her extraordinary ride... a reminder of what a positive mindset, daily intentions, the kindness of strangers and the love of friends enables even when very far away.

Jenny Graham has been an inspiration to me for years. It's exciting to think how many more people will be inspired after reading her book.

Inspiring, funny and gripping, this is one of the best adventure books I’ve ever read.

An astonishing achievement, recounted with humility and style.

A riveting read.

Jaw-droppingly impressive and compulsively readable.

The meticulous account of [Jenny's] ride – filled with details about her struggle to eat well, maintain her bike, and keep it together mentally – provides an intimate look into an impressive accomplishment. This tale of endurance and determination inspires.

A breathtaking account of an extraordinary achievement.

A glorious account of Jenny's adventure around the globe… full of charm… I found myself rooting for her throughout her varying challenges in new cultures, with her slowly deteriorating body and in the internal resistance she so often triumphed over. A raw and incredibly relatable book which inspired me.

Compelling.

Characteristically buoyant, completely astounding...

An inspiring memoir about fulfilling a childhood dream and becoming a record-breaking, round-the-world-cyclist.

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Great book! Jenny's honest storytelling and clear love of bikes made this a really easy listen. I always love it when the author narrates their book too!