What bike would you choose to break the record for the around-the-world trip? This is Lael Wilcox's

The American ultracyclist Lael Wilcox is about to embark on the biggest challenge of her career. This Sunday, she will depart from the Buckingham Fountain in Chicago with the goal of becoming the fastest person in history to cycle around the world.

Lael Wilcox begins her assault on the absolute record for cycling around the world this Sunday

To achieve this, she will have to surpass the record set by the Scot Mark Beaumont in 2017, when he completed the circumnavigation of the planet in 78 days, 14 hours, and 40 minutes. Wilcox plans to cover about 29,000 kilometers across four continents and maintain an average of around 386 kilometers per day to return to Chicago in less than 78 days.

From female record to the pursuit of the absolute record

Lael Wilcox already knows what it is like to complete a round-the-world cycling trip at a record pace.

In September 2024, she became the fastest woman in history to complete this challenge after returning to Chicago after 108 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes of travel. During that attempt, she covered 29,169 kilometers and beat the previous female record held by the Scot Jenny Graham by more than two weeks.

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At 38 years old, Wilcox was already one of the world's leading references in ultradistance cycling thanks to her records in prestigious events such as the Tour Divide or the Trans Am, but that round-the-world trip further elevated her status within the discipline.

The Guinness World Records rules require that the route be completed in a single journey, always following the same direction, passing through two antipodal points and covering a minimum distance of 28,970 kilometers pedaled. The difference to the approximately 40,000 kilometers of the Earth's circumference is covered by the necessary transfers between continents.

The journey that gave her the female record

The 2024 route also started in Chicago. From there, Wilcox pedaled to New York to take a flight to Portugal.

Her European route took her through Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, the Balkans, and Turkey before reaching Georgia. She then flew to Australia, which she crossed from coast to coast, and then to New Zealand. The last major jump took her to Anchorage, Alaska, to complete the final stretch crossing North America from the Pacific coast to Los Angeles and then back to Chicago along much of the historic Route 66.

During those 108 days, she maintained an average of about 14 hours a day on the bike and documented the entire adventure through her social media and podcast.

An assisted attempt to beat Mark Beaumont

The new challenge will be very different. Wilcox is not looking to improve her own female record but to surpass the absolute record that Mark Beaumont set in 2017. To do this, she will tackle the challenge in an assisted format, the same category in which the Scot competed.

The project organization itself defines it as a "fully supported" attempt, meaning complete logistical support throughout the entire route. This is a very different format from the self-sufficient bikepacking events that have made Wilcox famous for much of her career.

The physical demand will be enormous. Her goal is to cover approximately 240 miles daily, about 386 kilometers, for almost three consecutive months. Maintaining that pace will require a combination of endurance, strategy, recovery, and extreme optimization of all details.

Measuring every last second in the wind tunnel

Aware that every minute can be decisive, Wilcox has dedicated much of the last few months to perfecting her equipment.

She recently visited the Specialized wind tunnel to analyze different aerodynamic configurations before the attempt. There, she tested bikepacking bags, positions on the bike, gear, aerodynamic attachments, and even different hairstyles.

The most striking conclusion was that having her hair tied up in a bun was more aerodynamic than using a ponytail. The difference was significant enough that Wilcox decided to cut her hair to also simplify her daily routine during the trip.

The tests also showed that a small bag placed between the attachments could provide an aerodynamic advantage over riding without it, something particularly interesting in a challenge where it is necessary to transport gear for thousands of kilometers.

Wilcox explained that increasing her average speed by just one mile per hour would save approximately one hour each day. Accumulated over nearly 80 days, that improvement could translate into several days of advantage over the final time.

Specialized S-Works Roubaix: the chosen bike for the adventure

For this record attempt, Wilcox will use a Specialized S-Works Roubaix, a bike designed for long, fast, and comfortable rides, equipped with the Future Shock front suspension system.

The confirmed setup includes:

• Specialized S-Works Roubaix frame
• Future Shock system
• SRAM RED AXS group
• 48/35 tooth chainrings with 170 mm cranks with power meter
• 10-36 cassette
• Zipp Vuka Evo aerodynamic attachments with wireless SRAM Blips
• Zipp Service Course CX handlebar tape
• Zipp 202 NSW and 454 NSW wheels

During the tests conducted in the wind tunnel, Wilcox also worked with Specialized Mondo tires of 32 millimeters, seeking the best balance between speed, comfort, and puncture resistance.

Countdown to a new chapter in cycling history

The departure is scheduled for this Sunday morning from Chicago. From that moment on, Wilcox will have about 29,000 kilometers, four continents, and nearly three months of continuous effort ahead of her.

After becoming the fastest woman to cycle around the world in 2024, she is now aiming much higher. If she manages to return to Chicago before 78 days, 14 hours, and 40 minutes have passed, she will not only improve the female record she set two years ago: she will become the fastest person in history to circumnavigate the planet on a bicycle.