Juliana Buhring

Juliana Buhring is a British-German ultra-endurance cyclist and writer who gained international recognition by setting the first Guinness World Record for fastest female global circumnavigation by bicycle in 2012. She completed the journey in 152 days total, with 144 days of actual riding time, despite only taking up cycling in 2011 at age 30. As a competitive cyclist, Buhring has achieved numerous notable accomplishments, including being the sole female participant in the inaugural Transcontinental Race from London to Istanbul in 2013, where she placed 9th overall. She went on to win the women's category in the first Trans Am Bike Race in 2014, finishing fourth overall, and later won the women's category while placing third overall in the 2018 Bikingman Oman Sprint. Beyond cycling, Buhring is an accomplished author who has written about both her athletic achievements and personal history. Her memoir "Not Without My Sister," co-authored with her sisters and translated into 11 languages, details her experiences growing up in the Children of God cult, while "This Road I Ride" chronicles her record-breaking cycling journey around the world. Currently, Buhring serves as Race Director for the Two Volcano Sprint (2VS), an unsupported bicycle challenge in southern Italy that connects Mount Vesuvius and Mount Etna. The event combines athletic achievement with environmental sustainability initiatives and economic development for local Italian communities.

Readers connect strongly with Buhring's raw honesty in describing both her cycling adventures and traumatic past. Her books receive high ratings across platforms. What readers liked: - Direct, unvarnished writing style - Detailed descriptions of mental and physical challenges during rides - Balance of adventure narrative with personal growth - Clear explanations of technical cycling aspects for non-cyclists What readers disliked: - Some found "This Road I Ride" lacking deeper emotional reflection - A few readers wanted more detail about bike maintenance and gear choices - Occasional criticism of abrupt transitions between story segments Ratings: "This Road I Ride" - Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.5/5 (200+ reviews) "Not Without My Sister" - Goodreads: 4.1/5 (3,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.6/5 (500+ reviews) One reader noted: "Her ability to convey the pure determination required for ultra-cycling while maintaining humanity throughout is remarkable." Another wrote: "The narrative power comes from its simplicity - no dramatics needed when the story itself is this compelling."

Not Without My Sister (2007) Co-authored memoir detailing Buhring and her sisters' experiences growing up in and eventually escaping from the Children of God cult.

This Road I Ride (2016) Autobiographical account of Buhring's world record-setting bicycle journey around the globe, covering 18,060 miles across four continents.

Cheryl Strayed writes about personal transformation through extreme physical challenges, focusing on her 1,100-mile solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Her memoir style combines raw personal narrative with the practical realities of endurance challenges, similar to Buhring's approach.

Dervla Murphy documented her solo bicycle journeys across multiple continents starting in the 1960s, writing about both the physical demands and cultural encounters. Her work connects cycling adventures with social observation, as seen in "Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle."

Mark Beaumont writes about his experiences setting cycling world records and undertaking extreme endurance challenges around the globe. His books detail the technical and logistical aspects of long-distance cycling while incorporating personal growth narratives.

Elizabeth Gilbert chronicles personal transformation through travel and life-changing experiences in her memoirs. Her work combines elements of spiritual seeking with physical journeys, reflecting themes similar to Buhring's escape from her past.

Rebecca Solnit explores themes of wandering, physical movement, and personal discovery in her writing about travel and exploration. Her work examines the connection between physical journeys and internal transformation, often focusing on women's experiences in traditionally male-dominated spheres.