Notts rider sets out to beat Billie Fleming Year record

A cyclist from Nottingham has set out this morning to try and break the late Billie Fleming’s record for the greatest distance cycled by a woman in a year.

Kajsa Tylen aims to ride 31,069 miles (50,000 kilometres) in this year, which would take her nearly 1,500 miles beyond the distance Fleming set in 1938.

The 38-year-old, who was born in Sweden, started her journey at the Breaston branch of Leisure Lakes Bikes, who have supplied the Specialized Ruby Comp bike she is riding.

Another sponsor is Specsavers, where her mother, Tina Tylen, 65, worked until her recent retirement. She will spend this year supporting her daughter, including driving their caravan.

Tylen will need to cover 85 miles a day – today’s ride was planned to be 100 miles – between now and 30 December, the final day she is able to accrue distance, given that 2016 is a leap year.

She will spend most of the year in the UK, but will also cross over to the continent with and plans to head to Sweden – via France, Belgium, Germany and Denmark – to benefit from the midnight sun during the summer.

The ride isn’t looking to raise money for charity – instead, Tylen wants people to set their own challenges and pledge to undertake exercise, which she says will help motivate her.

A Strava group, The Sweat Pledge, has been set up for people to record their efforts, and more information is available on Tylen’s website.