Mike Hall smashed Round the World Cycle Record!

18,000 miles through 20 countries and four continents in 92 days to beat the previous world record for circumnavigating the globe on a bicycle by nearly two weeks.

Big thanks to all the folk who followed me on my round the world race, the blogs and tweets were great and special thanks to everyone who has made a donation.

Everyone asks me whether it was more of a physical or a mental challenge. The biggest thing I’d done beforehand was the Tour Divide [2,745 miles off-road across North America] and that was 19 days. You know you’re falling to bits but because the end’s coming it doesn’t matter. But when the end isn’t coming, you’ve got to keep yourself going. 18,000 miles. That’s the thing.  Almost 200 miles a day for weeks on end.

At first there were quite a lot of aches and pains although not particularly tiredness; it was more tendons pulling and me having to stretch constantly and manage my saddle position. I was constantly chasing these ailments around my legs. When I got to warmer countries that was less of a problem. Then later, as the ride went on, it was more mentally tough.

I got across Europe and onto Asia Minor without a puncture. Then I got my first one about 50 miles outside Ankara [the capital of Turkey]. I got one or two in India and then I didn’t get any more until Sydney. Then I got three in about half an hour and I stopped counting after that.

I have had lots of questions about my diet, my kit, my shoes - they worked well except I had to move the buckle because my feet got thinner!

My epic ride is not quite finished, I set out to raise a minimum of £3,000 for my charity Newborns Vietnam to support training for nurses and life-saving equipment. Please dig deep and donate to help me make a difference to the number of newborn babies that survive in Vietnam - the final goal for my round the world ride is to hit the £3,000 - more if possible.

In May next year along with 25 other intrepid cyclists we are going off to be pioneers in Vietnam – only 850 miles in ten days. I am along to help the ride captain make this a great team ride and to help clean the bikes and ease aching muscles at the end of the day and tell a few stories ….. the worse bit, I rode into a hole in Albania. … to hear the story, join us on the Challenge Vietnam ride or invite me to speak at your event or be your after dinner speaker – and make a donation to my cause, Newborns Vietnam. I promise not to be dull.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving Cycle a Difference page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Newborns Vietnam and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

For more information on the charity, visit www.newbornsvietnam.org and cycle-a-diffference.com

(Finish picture is from Road.cc Check out their article at http://road.cc/content/news/59544-mike-hall-smashes-round-world-record-time-91-days-18-hours)