Beaumont - The Man Who Cycled the World

This book is a work of nonfiction based on the life, experiences, and recollections of the author. The author has stated to the publishers that, except in such minor respects not affecting the substantial accuracy of the work, the contents of this book are true.

Copyright 2009, 2011 by Mark Beaumont

All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Broadway Books,
an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group,
a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
www.crownpublishing.com

BROADWAY BOOKS and its logo, a letter B bisected on the diagonal, are registered
trademarks of Random House, Inc., New York.

Originally published in slightly different form in Great Britain by Bantam Press,
an imprint of Transworld Publishers,
a division of the Random House Group Limited, London, in 2009.

Grateful acknowledgment is made to the Estate of Raymond Chandler for permission to reprint an excerpt from Red Wind by Raymond Chandler 1938.

Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the Library of Congress.

eISBN: 978-0-307-71666-8

v3.1

From a secret ambition, nurtured through university, the world cycle grew arms and legs to launch my career in the adventure world, which I am now able to continue. It is one thing being good at what you plan to do, but it is quite another to find the emotional, financial, and logistical support to fulfill your dreams. For that mountain of help I owe many people a great debt of gratitude. These brave souls said yes when most said no. After achieving my 18,000-mile target, it is easy to say in retrospect that it was a sure bet, but if you looked at my CV and my ambition after leaving university, then I can understand if you would have wished me luck and given your apologies like most did.

I am dedicating this book to Una, my mum, who has been the rock of support for all my ambitions from an early age, and who continues to work with me.

Heather and Hannah, I am very lucky to have two such cool sisters who have always gently ribbed my ways, but who have always been there to support. Heather, a special thanks for all your help with Mums work while I was on the road, and for the hundreds of text messages encouraging me. Although not family, I would also like to put David Peat right at the top of this list. David has become a great friend and supporter over the last few years, and made the Scottish BAFTA-nominated BBC series The Man Who Cycled the World happen.

I had a pretty unique childhood thanks to the rest of my family, including Dad, Granny, Grampa, and Grannie. Dad, thanks also for your help when I was most in debt.

David Fox Pitt (www.eventsandactivities.co.uk) is the man whom I must thank for having the most energy to get this expedition off the ground, through contacts and personal support. Thanks also to Ken Hills for another crucial introduction. I could not have gone anywhere and am most grateful for the capital support from Lindsay Whitelaw at Artemis Investment Management (www.artemisonline.co.uk), Darryl Eales and Rob Pendleton at Lloyds TSB Development Capital (www.ldc.co.uk), and Pia Heidenmark Cook from the Rezidor Hotel Group (www.pfp.rezidorsas.com).

A huge thank-you to all my sponsors, including Helen Sayles at Liberty Mutual, Helen and Bill at Trident Sensors, Ric Searle at Yellow Brick, Lindsay Manson at Ian Burke Associates, the team at Run4It, Tim and James at The Bike Chain, Sir Chris Bonnington at Berghaus clothing, Graeme Gibson and Ashley Thompson at the Radisson Hotel in Glasgow, Pieter Jan Rijpstra at Koga Miyata, Ruth Casson at Amba Marketing, Lyon Equipment for Ortlieb, Petzl and Exped, Escape Gym at The Scotsman Hotel, Healthlink 360, Footprints Outdoor Shop, the team at Events and Activities, High 5, and Kluge Estates Winery.

For their many skills and giving of time I would like to thank every one of my support team, including Dr. Niall MacFarlane and the technicians at Glasgow Universitys IBLS faculty, Bruce Murray (www.bcgwebdesign.co.uk), Fiona Lindsay (www.athletesangels.com), Ruth McKean, Craig Ali (www.craigalihealth.com), Bobby Burt, Andrew Robertson, Dave and Judy Denton, Val and John Vannet, Alan Parkinson (www.geobloggingwithmark.blogspot.com), Alan Ferguson and Bill Gold (www.thesportsbusiness.co.uk), Alex Crosby at Wexas Travel, Inge Husselbee, David Lowe, and Heather.

For help while on the road I owe many thanks to Piotr and Jagwega, Albert Payon, the team at ProBike in Poland, Rob Lilwall, Okan Bayramoglu (www.warmshowers.org), Farhad, Farank, Faz and Kirsten, Ali Manoochehri, Mr. Ehsanfar and the Iranian cyclists, Dermot (www.redspokes.co.uk), Nasir Hussain (www.karakorumexplorers.com), the Levvy patrols, Suman Chakraborty, Celia Duncan, Chris and Toi Schofield, Eunice and Phil Cook, Margaret and Mike Whitfield, Sats and Aldo, Stewart Forsyth, Shonnie and Kym Pascoe, Damian Richmond, Guy at the Bike Box, Grant Pedan, Jo Starky, Adam and Catriona Scott, Paul Robertson, Jill, Des and Troy Gilmore, Margaret and Sandy Macfarlane, Tim and Tracy Cooke, Brett Purchase, Joe and Annette Legallet, Hugh and Bill Brown, Simon Levay, Clay Goldberg, Shannon Neil, Greg and Tina Box, Joshua Rosby, Gary and his family in Baton Rouge, Richard and Chris Reichle, Amy Warpinski, Felipe in Spain, the numerous massage therapists around the world organized by Athletes Angels, Christopher Tiran, the City of Paris transport police, Alberto Ruiz, Tess Mendie, Mike Ridley, and Matthew Dickens at OnEdition. A huge thanks also to the network of British embassies around the world, and in particular to Sir Peter Westmacott for coming to witness the finish.

For the making of a superb BBC documentary and allowing me to share the world cycle with millions around the world, I would like to thank Neil McDonald, Ian Stroud, Jonathan Seal, Peter Capaldi, Steven Jones, Laura Deponio, Jim Preacher, Ian Pugsley, Kaye and Nick the cameramen, Fiona Baird-Crawford, and of course David Peat himself.

Thanks also for the help from Doug Scott, HRH Prince Philip, Sir Muir Russell, Sarah Fisher, Catie Friend, Michael Duncan, Sharon Tonner and the pupils of the High School of Dundee, John Beattie and Katie Still at Sports Weekly, Amarilis Espinoza, Carlos Martinez, Alastair Humphreys, Jenny Kinnear, Andy Barlow, John and Sally Watson, James Bracker, Jamie Corr, Ed Moro, Richard Moore, Irene Johnston, Richard Benner, Rev. Stuart MacQuarrie, Emily Wallace, Kate Richardson, Ray McHugh, Grania, Brigadier John Graham, Gordon Dickinson, Ann and Ally, Peter van der Lans, Stuart McPhee, and Phil White.

Many personal friends are mentioned above, but I still must thank some great friendships that have meant a lot in making my dream a reality. These include Brendan Keller, Phil Bartlett, Grant Fraser, Graeme Brown, Chris Morris, Ally Ford, Emily Frier, Laura Turner, Angus Spiers, Jimmy Clyde, Addict, Dave, Ross, Helen, and Vicx. This list is by no means exhaustive, and to all school, university, and other friends who have listened to, advised, or simply abused me (Spinks!) over the last few years, many thanks. Thanks also to the patience and constant support of Nicci Kitchin while writing this book.

Writing this book has felt like an expedition in itself and was a far tougher challenge than I had imagined. Many thanks to everyone who has encouraged and guided me, including Stan my agent (www.jennybrownassociates.com), Giles my editor (www.booksattransworld.co.uk), Caroline MacKechnie for translating the many hours of audio diaries, Rachel Lin for doing months of first edits and research with me, Mum for all her many reads and edits, Daniel Balado-Lopez for taking me through the copy edit, Madeline Toy for all the publicity, Phil Lord for the design of the picture section, and Matt Johnson for the cover design.