Round-the-World Cycling: The Ultimate Challenge for Modern Travelers

Every year, hundreds of travelers from around the world choose the most grueling yet magnificent way to see the world — by bicycle. On average, they spend 1-2 years, crossing 30-50 countries, and riding 30,000-40,000 kilometers. This is not just a trip, but a redefinition of a lifetime.

The Basic Concept of Round-the-World Cycling

What Counts as “Round-the-World”?

Guinness World Records defines a round-the-world cycling circumnavigation as follows:

• Distance: at least 29,000 kilometers
• Departing from and returning to the same point
• Human power only (no motorized assistance)
• Direction: either eastbound or westbound

Speed Records vs. Ordinary Touring

Type	Time	Daily Distance	Focus
Speed record (Kirk)	78 days 16 hours (2017)	375km/day	Racing, almost no stops
Typical touring cyclist	12-24 months	60-100km/day	Exploration-focused
Leisurely traveler	2-3 years	40-70km/day	Deep immersion

Common Round-the-World Route Planning

Major Global Round-the-World Cycling Routes

Westbound (East to West) typical route:
London, UK → Western Europe → Turkey → Central Asia → South Asia (India/Pakistan) → Southeast Asia → Australia → North America (Canada to the US) → back to the starting point

Eastbound route (East to West):
Starting point (New Zealand/Australia) → Southeast Asia → Central Asia → Europe → Atlantic (flown over) → the Americas

Taiwan as a Starting Point for Round-the-World Riders

Taiwan’s geographic position makes it an excellent starting point for round-the-world cycling in Asia:

• Eastward: the Pacific Ocean (requires a ship/flight to North America)
• Westward: into Southeast Asia and South Asia

The Essential Gear List

Choosing a Bicycle

The most common bike types for round-the-world touring:

Bike Type	Pros	Cons	Suitable Terrain
Touring bike	Built for load-carrying, durable	Heavier, not as fast	Mostly paved roads
Mountain bike (MTB)	Adapts to all kinds of surfaces	Less efficient on roads	Mixed terrain
Gravel bike	Road efficiency + off-road capability	Limited load capacity	Modern popular choice
Titanium touring bike	Lightest and most durable	Expensive	Riders with a bigger budget

Most popular round-the-world bike models:

• Surly Long Haul Trucker (steel touring bike, legendarily durable)
• Trek 520 (entry-level touring bike)
• Kona Sutra (steel frame, great off-road capability)

Luggage Systems

Panniers vs. Bikepacking bags:

System	Capacity	Stability	Best for
Front and rear panniers	Large (60-80L)	High	Long-distance road touring
Bikepacking bags	Medium (30-50L)	Medium	Mixed terrain, lightweight touring

Most round-the-world cyclists use a pair of panniers front and rear, plus a handlebar bag and a top-tube bag.

Essential Tools and Spare Parts

Category	Essential Items
Tire repair	Multiple spare inner tubes, patch kit, tire levers
Drivetrain	Spare chain, chain link, derailleur cable
Brakes	Spare brake cable, brake pads
General tools	Hex wrench set, screwdriver, multi-tool
First aid	Basic first-aid kit, disinfectant supplies

Solutions for Intercontinental Segments

Round-the-world cycling inevitably faces several obstacles that cannot be crossed by bike:

The Pacific and Atlantic Oceans

Flying is the most common choice:

• Carrying a bicycle requires disassembling and boxing it, or using a special bike bag
• Some airlines charge a bike fee (up to $100-200 per flight)
• You need to find a bike box at the airport

Cruise ships/cargo ships: a more interesting but far more time-consuming option:

• Container ship voyages from Los Angeles to Yokohama, Japan
• Usually takes 2-3 weeks

Politically Closed Borders

Borders between certain countries cannot be crossed (such as Iran-Israel), requiring a detour or a flight over.

Budget Estimates

Monthly Cost Breakdown

Region	Average Monthly Cost (USD)	Main Expenses
Western Europe	$1,500-2,500	Expensive accommodation and food
Eastern Europe/Balkans	$500-1,000	Relatively cheap
Central Asia	$300-600	Very cheap, but visas are complicated
South Asia (India)	$300-500	Extremely cheap food
Southeast Asia	$500-800	A good balance
North America	$1,500-2,500	Expensive accommodation and food
Australia	$2,000-3,500	High cost of living

Estimated total cost for a one-year round-the-world trip: $15,000-35,000 USD

Strategies for Saving Money

1. Wild camping: pitch a tent for free wherever it’s allowed
2. Warmshowers.org: a free lodging network specifically for cyclists (already has over 70,000 members)
3. Couchsurfing: a free accommodation platform for general travelers
4. Cooking your own food: buy local ingredients and cut down on restaurant expenses
5. Ride slowly: the faster you go, the more flights you need; the slower you go, the less you spend

Physical and Mental Preparation

Physical Preparation

Training schedule (6 months before departure):

• 6-3 months before: build an aerobic base (150-200km per week)
• 3-1 month before: loaded-touring training (simulating real gear)
• The final month: taper training and increase rest so the body can fully recover

Mental Preparation

The psychological challenges of round-the-world cycling often exceed the physical ones:

Common psychological crises:

• Loneliness: traveling alone for long periods, lacking deep connection
• Culture shock: entering entirely different cultures one after another
• Loss of direction: mid-journey, riders often feel “why am I doing this?”
• Homesickness: especially intense during holidays, friends’ weddings, or when a family member falls ill

Coping strategies:

• Set a clear motivation before the trip (“why am I doing this?”)
• Keep a regular communication routine with family and friends
• Accept that “difficulty is part of the journey,” not the exception
• Seek out community along the way (fellow cyclists, travelers at hostels)

Stories of Taiwanese Round-the-World Cyclists

In recent years, several Taiwanese cyclists have completed long-distance journeys:

• Circling Taiwan (1,100-1,300km) is the most common form of long-distance cycling in Taiwan
• Some Taiwanese cyclists have already completed long-distance rides across Asia
• Taiwanese who have completed a full round-the-world ride are still rare, but the number is growing

Useful Resources

Resource	Purpose
CrazyGuyOnABike.com	A cycle-touring journal platform with thousands of round-the-world trip reports
Warmshowers.org	Cyclist lodging network
komoot/Ride With GPS	Route planning
iOverlander	Camping spots and supply point information
WorldCycleTour.com	Route and information hub

Conclusion: Why the Bicycle?

When asked “why did you choose to cycle around the world?”, most travelers give strikingly similar answers:

“Because it’s slow enough to truly feel every place, and fast enough to see enough within a limited lifetime.”

Cycle touring is neither the fastest nor the most comfortable way to travel. But what it offers is something no other means of transportation can give: a genuine encounter with the land, with people, and with yourself.

Round-the-world cycling is not an endpoint — it is a beginning: the beginning of seeing the world, and your place within it, with different eyes.

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