Tell Me I Can’t and I’ll Show You I Can

Just last summer, I discovered that I really enjoy mountain biking.  Friends and family had been urging me to try it for the last 20 years, so as a part of my journey and “pursuits” I finally decided to give it a try.  Yes, as any of you cyclists already know, the first couple of rides were definitely a bit shocking to my lungs and my legs! Outside of those first impressions, I realized that this was going to be a blast and incredibly empowering! I truly LOVE IT!

ATTEMPT TO RIDE AROUND THE WORLD!
                                                                                                                                                                                                     Because my “what’s next” includes sharing inspirational stories of fascinating humans who take this notion of a “pursuit” to a whole new level than I could ever imagine, today I am sharing the story of  Annie Cohen Kopchovsky.  Haven’t heard of her?  Don’t feel bad, many haven’t…. but, she is someone you won’t soon forget!
Annie, better known as Annie Londonderry, became the first woman to circumnavigate the world by riding her bicycle “around the world” (across many of the continents north of the equator). More incredible than the simple athletic skill of doing this is that this amazing feat took place long ago in our history of America. At this point in history, when Annie set out on this amazing adventure, no woman had attempted to even ride a bike across the United States on a bicycle let alone the world!

The stories vary as to “why” Annie did this.  Some say it was simply a publicity stunt for money, others say it  was to support the women's equality movements of that time, while others said she simply had an adventurous spirit that was more bold than her desire to stay at home and tend to her family.  The most commonly accepted version of this story has her being a part of a bet whereby two wealthy Boston businessmen bet $10,000 - $20,000 that no woman could travel around the world by bicycle (a feat that had been accomplished by a man just a few years earlier). The simple rules of this bet were that she had to circumnavigate the world on a bike and on top of that had to find a way to earn $5000 above her expenses along the way and finish her trip within 15 months. It is important to add in here that at this point in history,  bets like this were the latest rage.  Some bets and stunts were completely fake while others, like Annie’s, were real.  (The only “fine print” on this bet was the fact that it didn’t specify how many miles she had to to be on the bicycle.)

BIKE 9 HOURS A DAY IN A DRESS...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! 

A French newspaper reported that she started in Boston with a 42 pound Columbia brand bicycle ($100 value) and $500 in cash for initial expenses. Annie would often ride 9 hours a day, dressed in the traditional long dresses that women in that day wore. We might never know her true reason for tackling this unbelievable adventure but it is important to note that so many things going on at this point in American history:  Women’s equality measures were boldly moving forward, sweeping changes to traditional women’s dress attire were speeding ahead and the rise of the bicycle, (with 2 Million of them being sold per year)  was changing the mobility of Americans in general. Some even say that an industrialist manufacturer of bicycles in Boston was the driving force behind this whole concept simply to bring awareness to his brand.  Regardless of what factored into Annie’s decision to take on this challenge, the sheer volume of ways that this could go horribly wrong would have been enough for me to immediately take a “pass” on this adventure.

SHE CRUSHED IT!                                                                                                                                                                

Records show that Annie completed this challenge in just under 15 months! She proved that not only could she withstand the athletic demands of this adventure but also make her way, stay safe, and earn a rewarding stockpile of fees from her lecture fees along the way. This inventive genius is not only one of the most outrageous chapters in cycling history but she arguably might be one of the most colorful characters in America’s history. 
While Lewis and Clark ushered in the 19th century with their famed travels through the Louisiana purchase territories starting in 1803, Annie Londonderry helped close out the 19th century travel feats when she completed her journey around the world in September of 1895!  It is reported she made liberal use of steamships and trains at certain points on her journey but I am none the less impressed! She went on to write sensational articles for a publication called “New York World” and then retreated to family life raising her three children. 

MORAL OF THE STORY                                                                                                                                                              

To me, the moral of this story isn't about having to ride your bike around the world in order to redefine YOUR normal. The moral of this story is to inspire you to be MORE adventurous and open to new “pursuits” so you can experience more of what life has to offer. This is where you will find MORE joy and how to love what’s next. 

If you know someone inspiring that I should write about or have a story to share, leave a comment below. I would LOVE  to hear from you!  

Embrace life!