My Preparation for an Around the World Tour
I have been inspired by lightweight around-the-world cyclists like Mike Hall, Sean Conway & Jenny Graham. Although they were racing around the planet to beat records, I am purely doing it for fun. However, I want to utilise their reductionist philosophies to gear and go lightweight and relatively fast.
My five year plan is broken up into 4 sections:
- Gear & Admin
- Physical Training
- Off bike skills training
- Finance
Gear & Admin
The first year is relatively simple. At this point I'm going to log all of my training data on Google Sheets and analyse Monthly.
The only other aspect at this point is in rough route plotting, gear researching and looking at the tech now available that has cropped up since my last trips.
Here is a case study on people who inspired me:
Mike Hall (2012 World Cycle Race)
Hall’s philosophy was extreme minimalism. Because he rode before the modern era of hyper-specific bikepacking gear, his list is intentionally sparse—he prioritized speed and risk acceptance over carrying contingencies.
Bike & Components
- Frame: On-One Dirty Disco (carbon cyclo-cross frame chosen for fatigue resistance)
- Drivetrain: Shimano Ultegra mechanical with a compact chainset (used 9 chains, replaced preemptively)
- Wheels: Reynolds Thirty Two carbon rims (custom-drilled 32-hole) laced to DMR mountain bike hubs
- Tyres: Michelin Krylion Carbon (swapped to Michelin Protek in India, then back to Krylions in Australia)
- Brakes: Shimano cable-operated mechanical disc brakes (front pads lasted 16,000 miles)
- Saddle: Frayed Bontrager saddle (swapped for a WTB Laser in Turkey)
- Shoes: Shimano R191 (buckles adjusted mid-ride because his feet got thinner)
Bags & Shelter
- Bags: Custom-made oversized seat pack (roughly the size of a football)
- Shelter: Nemo Gogo bivy tent (utilizes an inflatable air-beam instead of a pole)
- Sleep: Ultralight sleeping bag and lightweight sleeping mat
Spares & Repairs
- Puncture Kit: Lezyne stick-on patches and a tyre boot (used successfully in Louisiana)
Sean Conway (Europe Crossing Record)
Conway’s setup balanced aggressive daily mileage with the need to survive harsh, self-supported conditions across the European continent.
Bike & Components
- Frame: Stanforth Conway (custom steel frame with carbon fork)
- Drivetrain: Mixed Shimano 105 and Ultegra
- Wheels: Reynolds Aero46 carbon wheels
- Tires: Continental GP4000s
- Brakes: TRP Spyre Mechanical Disc
- Saddle: Brooks Cambium C13
- Hydration: 2x 1-liter water bottles
Bags, Power & Electronics
- Bags: Restrap panniers
- Dynamo: SP dynamo hub
- Lighting: Supernova E3 dynamo light
- Power Storage: Freeloader Sixer battery bank
- Navigation & Comms: iPhone 8 Plus (Quadlock mount), SPOT tracker (with spare AAA batteries)
- Tech Extras: GoPro Hero 6, Bremont Zulu watch, 5x iPhone charge cables (carried due to frequent breakages), 2x headphones (one earbud cut off to hear traffic)
Sleep System & Clothing
- Shelter: Terra Nova Bivvy
- Sleep: Down sleeping bag (rated to -13°C extreme), blow-up pillow
- Riding Kit: Dare2b cycling kit (gloves, leggings, shorts, jersey, waterproof jacket)
- Shoes & Helmet: Quoc lace-up road shoes, Limar aero helmet
- Extras: Down gilet jacket (reserved for sleeping), sunglasses, 1 pair of socks (to prevent the bag from smelling)
Tools, Spares & Survival
- Tools: Bike multi-tool, small knife, 3x tyre levers, pump
- Spares: 2x inner tubes, self-stick puncture repair patches, spare chain quick links
- Consumables: Chain oil, cable ties, super glue
- Security & Admin: Fake wallet with £50 and cancelled cards (for muggers), real money/cards hidden on body, pre-written language cards (for food, water, sleep, plug socket)
- Personal/Medical: Toilet paper in ziplock bag, hayfever tablets, sunscreen, tennis ball (muscle massage), ProjectE2 nutrition, letter from fiancée to open every 1,000 miles, mascot ("Little Flying Cow")
Jenny Graham (Around the World Record)
Graham rode entirely self-supported across four continents. Her kit reflects extreme self-reliance, packing an entire workshop and pharmacy into an aero setup.
Bike & Cockpit
- Frame: Shand Stooshie (steel)
- Cockpit: Aerobars with flip-up armrest poles, a sawn-off broom handle wedged between bars as an accessory shelf, large elastic hair band to stuff loose items under
Bags & Storage
- Seat Pack: Apidura Expedition Saddle Pack (17L)
- Frame Pack: Apidura Expedition Frame Pack (4.5L)
- Top Tube: Apidura Backcountry Top Tube Pack (1L)
- Food Storage: 2x Apidura Backcountry Food Pouches (1.2L Plus)
- Internal Sorting: Selection of Exped drybags
Power & Electronics
- Dynamo & Lighting: SON hub dynamo wired to a Sinewave Beacon front light (with integrated USB charger). Additional lights: Exposure Red Eye, Exposure Blaze MK3, Exposure Link Plus
- Navigation: Garmin Edge 1000, 2x wired Cateye speed sensor computers, GPS Tracker
- Power Storage: 3x battery packs (1x 1000 mAh, 2x 6000 mAh), 3x plug sockets, multiple USB cables
- Tech Extras: Mobile phone, headphones, camera
Sleep System
- Shelter: Terranova Moonlite bivvy
- Sleep: Cumulus X-Lite 200 sleeping bag (customized with no zip and no hood), Klymit Inertia X-lite short mat
Clothing (Riding & Sleeping)
- Bibs & Base: 2x Endura drop seat bibs, Endura BaaBaa merino base layer, Mid-layer merino top, Endura cycling jersey
- Outerwear: Endura Pro Jetstream windproof jersey, Pro Adrenaline Race gilet, MT500 waterproof jacket, MT500 waterproof trousers, Lightweight down jacket, Pro SL Primaloft gilet
- Extremities: Endura BaaBaa socks, Pro Slick toe covers, Freezing Point overshoes, leg warmers, arm warmers, Pro Thermo gloves, Buff, Sunglasses
- Sleepwear: Sleeping shorts, down socks, Endura thermal top
Tools, Spares & Medical
- Hardware: Multitool, folding pliers, 4mm & 5mm Allen keys, spoke key, cassette lockring tool
- Tire Repair: 4x tire boots, 2x tire levers, 2x inner tubes, puncture patches and glue, pump, 2x valve extenders
- Drivetrain & Brakes: Spare rear mech hanger, 4x disc brake pads, spare spokes
- Fix-its: Gorilla tape (1.5m), endless cable ties, 2x Sugru moldable glue, chain lube
- Medical: Broad-spectrum antibiotics, painkillers, bandages, tweezers
- Admin: Passport, wallet, spare coins. Six currencies (Euros, Zloty, Roubles, Tögrög, Renminbi, US Dollars) rolled up inside hollow aerobar poles
Finance
Next is the biggest hurdle: finances. My low income means saving enough for this trip will take roughly five years. But that forced delay solves a second problem; after illness, sectioning and a subsequent eight-stone weight gain, it gives me the runway I need to get fit again.
I have been inspired by Alastair Humphreys' 4-year journey. Rather than waiting until he could afford a specialist expedition rig, he set off on a standard steel mountain bike, relying on zip ties, duct tape, and salvaged inner tubes to keep it rolling.
His approach prioritised extreme resilience over comfort. He favoured stealth wild camping in ditches over hostels, repetitive local carbohydrates over freeze-dried camp food, and even bungeed a £2 wire shopping basket to his front rack in place of an expensive handlebar bag. The core lesson of his ride wasn't about gear selection, it was proof that the ultimate expedition currency isn't cash, but a high tolerance for being uncomfortable.
Alastair Humphreys famously cycled 46,000 miles around the world on a total budget of £7,000 over four years. Here is how that original budget breaks down when adjusted for inflation to 2026 value:
| Timeframe | Original Budget (2001) | Inflation-Adjusted (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Total (4 Years) | £7,000 | £15,028 |
| Per Year | £1,750 | £3,757 |
| Per Month | £146 | £313 |
| Per Day | £4.79 | £10.29 |
Physical
For me, this is actually the fun part. Gaining eight stone over Covid was a disaster, but I enjoy the physical work, and the scale is slowly moving in the right direction.
My Weekly Baseline (Mon–Fri)
| Day | Core Session | Secondary / Fixed Details | Post-Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Threshold Cycle | Short, punchy intervals (Wattbike or Road) | Jacuzzi / Steam / Sauna |
| Tuesday | Gym: Posterior Chain & Core | Lane Swim | Jacuzzi / Steam / Sauna |
| Wednesday | Endurance Cycle | Mid-distance (Strictly Zone 2) | Jacuzzi / Steam / Sauna |
| Thursday | Gym: Upper Body & Core | Lane Swim | Jacuzzi / Steam / Sauna |
| Friday | Long Endurance Cycle | Big mileage (Strictly Zone 2) | Jacuzzi / Steam / Sauna |
The Weather Protocols:
☀️ Sunny Days: Get the road bike out, sit in Zone 2, soak up the vitamin D.
🌧️ Rainy Days: Stay inside on the Wattbike or get back in the pool. Replacing worn road cassettes and chains because of British road grit is an expensive tax I can't afford.
Off Bike Skills
Bike Maintenance
I have found a local mechanic who welcomed my request to study with him on a voluntary basis. So far he has shown me the inside of hubs, different braking systems, hitting a bent seat post with a hammer, fixing tubes and a handy tip showing me dust caps that have a valve remover built in. I plan on gleaning more of his knowledge to make myself as self-reliant on the road as possible.
Spanish
As my intended route will go from Argentina all the way through South and Central America, I have decided to allocate 20 mins a day for Spanish study. Currently, the live chat feature on Gemini is proving to be useful so far.
Here is my five-year plan
| Year | Physical | Off-Bike & Skills | Gear & Admin | Finance Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Drop 101kg to 90kg | Spanish basics; Learn bike mechanics with mentor | Passive spreadsheet logging only, Gear research | £4,800 |
| Year 2 | Zone 2 volume blocks Drop to 85kg |
Spanish study; Practice basic roadside fixes | Route topography research | £9,600 |
| Year 3 | Back-to-back long rides Drop to 80kg |
Spanish study; Advanced wheel/hub skills | Finalise exact rig component list | £14,400 |
| Year 4 | Loaded test weeks Drop to 75kg |
Spanish conversational | The Big Spend: Buy 100% of gear, Finalise route | £19,200 |
| Year 5 | Maintain fitness | Route logistics lock-in | Visas, insurance, final shakedowns | £25,000 |