From Novice Cyclist to Record Breaker in 2 Years - Sarah Ruggins

Great British Adventures

In May 2025, Sarah Ruggins made history.

She became the fastest person to cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End and back, covering the 1,677-mile route in an astonishing 5 days, 11 hours, and 14 minutes.

Sarah didn’t just smash the women’s record - she claimed the outright record.

But what makes her achievement all the more extraordinary is everything she had to overcome to get there.

Just over two years earlier, she had barely ridden a bike. Before that, she spent years recovering from a debilitating illness that stripped her of her physical strength and sense of identity. And yet, through grit, precision, and an unshakeable mindset, she transformed herself from a complete novice into one of the most elite endurance cyclists in the world.

This episode is about more than athletic achievement, it’s a story of what happens when you set an audacious goal, back it with discipline, and believe that setbacks are just the start of something greater.

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_ruggins/

Mentioned in the Podcast:

The Bike Project: https://thebikeproject.co.uk/

Bikes for Refugees: https://www.bikesforrefugees.scot/

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