Mark Beaumont (cyclist)
Encyclopedia
Mark Beaumont is a record-breaking long-distance British cyclist. He held the record for cycling round the world
, completing his 18297 miles (29,446.1 km) route on 15 February 2008, having taken 194 days and 17 hours. On 18 February 2010 Beaumont completed his latest quest, cycling from Anchorage, Alaska
, USA to Ushuaia
in Southern Argentina, for a BBC
Television series.
. He has two sisters called Heather and Hannah. Aged 15, he completed a solo ride the length of Great Britain from John o'Groats to Land's End. He also has a degree in Politics from Glasgow University
.
points. The route began and ended in Paris, France, taking in 20 countries across Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia, Australasia
and North America. The bicycle used for the attempt was a Koga-Miyata with a Rohloff internal gearing hub
. As well as the bike, he was carrying 66 pounds (29.9 kg) of equipment such as tools, cameras and other equipment to support him on the journey.
Beaumont endured many hardships during his journey. In Lafayette, Louisiana
he was involved in a collision with a car and robbed later the same day, and elsewhere struggled with illnesses such as dysentery
.
As a result of breaking the World Record, Mark Beaumont has raised £18,000 for charity.
Beaumont's video diaries of the journey formed the basis of a BAFTA nominated documentary, "The Man who Cycled the World", which was broadcast by the BBC
in August 2008.
Beaumont's around-the-world cycling record was recently broken by Vin Cox
and South America, McKinley
and Aconcagua. Along with commenting online throughout the journey, he has recorded the adventure for a BBC
One documentary series, 'The Man Who Cycled The Americas'. The first in a series of three episodes was broadcast on Tuesday 23 March 2010 on BBC1. Beaumont bypassed Colombia and the Darien Gap
on his journey.
and rower
. In June 2009, he planned to participate in a 12-strong team attempt to row across the North Atlantic in a record-breaking 45 days. The team would have been led by Edinburgh
stockbroker turned adventurer Leven Brown whose 14-man La Mondiale crew has beaten the record from the Canaries
to Barbados. However, the boat he was going to use sank in the Atlantic.
Around the world cycling record
The Guinness World Record for fastest 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 , of which at least must be cycled...
, completing his 18297 miles (29,446.1 km) route on 15 February 2008, having taken 194 days and 17 hours. On 18 February 2010 Beaumont completed his latest quest, cycling from Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
, USA to Ushuaia
Ushuaia
Ushuaia may refer to the following:*Ushuaia, a city in Argentina.**Ushuaia Department, an administrative division**Ushuaia River**Ushuaia International Airport**Colegio Nacional de Ushuaia, National School of Ushuaia....
in Southern Argentina, for a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Television series.
Early life
Beaumont was home-schooled until the age of 11 by his mother, Una. He was then educated at the High School of DundeeHigh School of Dundee
The High School of Dundee is an independent, co-educational, day school in the city of Dundee, Scotland which provides both primary and secondary education to just over one thousand pupils...
. He has two sisters called Heather and Hannah. Aged 15, he completed a solo ride the length of Great Britain from John o'Groats to Land's End. He also has a degree in Politics from Glasgow University
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
.
The Guinness world record
To qualify for the world record, Beaumont was required to travel a route that passes through two approximately antipodalAntipodes
In geography, the antipodes of any place on Earth is the point on the Earth's surface which is diametrically opposite to it. Two points that are antipodal to one another are connected by a straight line running through the centre of the Earth....
points. The route began and ended in Paris, France, taking in 20 countries across Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia, Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
and North America. The bicycle used for the attempt was a Koga-Miyata with a Rohloff internal gearing hub
Rohloff Speedhub
The Rohloff Speedhub is an epicyclic internal hub gear for bicycles, developed and patented by Rohloff AG. It has been manufactured and marketed by the German company since 1998. The Speedhub 500/14 has 14 equally-spaced sequential gears with no overlapping ratios and is operated by a single...
. As well as the bike, he was carrying 66 pounds (29.9 kg) of equipment such as tools, cameras and other equipment to support him on the journey.
Beaumont endured many hardships during his journey. In Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
he was involved in a collision with a car and robbed later the same day, and elsewhere struggled with illnesses such as dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
.
As a result of breaking the World Record, Mark Beaumont has raised £18,000 for charity.
Beaumont's video diaries of the journey formed the basis of a BAFTA nominated documentary, "The Man who Cycled the World", which was broadcast by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in August 2008.
Beaumont's around-the-world cycling record was recently broken by Vin Cox
BBC – Cycling the Americas
Beaumont cycled from Anchorage, Alaska, USA to Ushuaia in Southern Argentina, arriving on 18 February 2010. In addition to cycling 13,080 miles in 268 days, he also climbed the highest peaks in NorthNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and South America, McKinley
Mount McKinley
Mount McKinley or Denali in Alaska, United States is the highest mountain peak in North America and the United States, with a summit elevation of above sea level. It is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve.- Geology and features :Mount McKinley is a granitic pluton...
and Aconcagua. Along with commenting online throughout the journey, he has recorded the adventure for a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
One documentary series, 'The Man Who Cycled The Americas'. The first in a series of three episodes was broadcast on Tuesday 23 March 2010 on BBC1. Beaumont bypassed Colombia and the Darien Gap
Darién Gap
The Darién Gap is a large swath of undeveloped swampland and forest separating Panama's Darién Province in Central America from Colombia in South America. It measures just over long and about wide. Roadbuilding through this area is expensive, and the environmental toll is steep. Political...
on his journey.
Future
In addition to being an accomplished cyclist, Beaumont is a skierSkiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
and rower
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
. In June 2009, he planned to participate in a 12-strong team attempt to row across the North Atlantic in a record-breaking 45 days. The team would have been led by Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
stockbroker turned adventurer Leven Brown whose 14-man La Mondiale crew has beaten the record from the Canaries
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
to Barbados. However, the boat he was going to use sank in the Atlantic.
External links
- MarkBeaumontOnline.com official website
- BBC Mark Beaumont Cycling The Americas