Kajsa Tylen's record-breaking year ends with 32,326 miles cycled

Nottingham-based cyclist Kajsa Tylen has this morning completed 12 months of cycling in which she has broken Billie Fleming’s record for the greatest distance cycled by a woman in a year.

The Swedish national, who began her Guinness World Record attempt on 1 January, passed the 29,603 miles ridden in 1938 by Fleming in November.

By the time she climbed off her bike this morning, she had cycled 32,326 miles – an average of almost 89 miles a day. Her travels took her through eight countries – the UK, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland

Tylen said: “I set out on New Year’s Day with the objective to achieve ‘a year in the saddle’ and set a new Guinness World Record and am delighted to have done so.

“It has been exhausting and more demanding than I ever could have imagined.

“Some days it was such a struggle to keep going, overcoming bad weather, injuries and extreme tiredness, but I just kept getting back on the bike and pushing the pedals round. I can now truly claim the title of ‘one woman, one year, one world record’.

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me along the way – my family and friends, my fellow cyclists, my sponsors – everyone who has provided me with the motivation I needed for when the going got tough.

“I’m now looking forward to some much needed recovery, walking the dog, and catching up with friends,” she added.

“I’m going back to work on 9 January, which might be a bit of a shock to the system, but could be exactly what I need to get back to ‘normal’ life.”

In the United States, Amanda Coker has already chalked up a greater mileage than Tylen since setting off on her own record attempt in May, and is on track to ride more than 80,000 miles in the course of 12 months.

Coker, who is riding continuous loops of a park in Florida, is undertaking her effort under Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (UMCA) rules.

While Guinness World Records may recognise her efforts once the 12 months are over – as it did with Kurt Searvogel earlier this year, who also rode under UMCA rules – it would be in a separate category to Tylen’s ride, which will now undergo verification.