Celebrating Female Adventurers: Annie Londonderry – The First Woman to Bicycle Around the World

Back in the late 1800s, women were just starting to break into activities previously only considered suitable for men. It was a hugely transformative time. One pioneer who pushed boundaries was Annie Londonderry Cohen Kopchovsky, who became the first woman to bicycle around the world. Her courageous journey embodied the adventurous spirit we try to inspire today.

Annie’s Early Life

Born in Riga, Latvia in 1870, Annie Cohen was one of six children in a Jewish family. At age 17, she emigrated to America, changing her surname to Kopchovsky. In Boston, she married a peddler named Max and had three children by age 21. Annie was known for her lively spirit of adventure despite her domestic constraints. In 1894, despite being a mother of three, she decided to embark on an unprecedented trip – cycling across four continents and oceans over 15,000 miles.

The Fateful Wager

The idea for Annie’s groundbreaking trip began at an upscale Boston dinner party, where she boldly declared that women were just as capable as men. To prove her point, she bet fellow partygoer John Barry $20,000 that she could cycle around the world faster than he could travel by horse and wagon. Her motivation? Securing publicity and sponsorship for Londonderry Lithia Springs Water. She soon became a notorious celebrity in newspapers, which closely followed her adventures.

Embarking on the Open Road

In June 1894, attired in a cycling skirt and boots, Annie set out from Boston on a 42-pound Columbia bicycle. She planned to cycle across North America, sail to Europe, continue through the continent to Asia, across Australia, and finally return home via steamship. The ambitious route covered over 15,000 miles. She was sponsored by Londonderry Lithia Springs Water and the Columbia Bicycle company.

Harrowing Adventures Across the Globe

Annie’s worldwide ride was fraught with obstacles. Along the way, she faced immense challenges with resilience and determination: harrowing crashes, mechanical breakdowns, robbery attempts, lack of provisions, and constant opposition as a female athlete. She persisted through it all, displaying incredible physical endurance and courage.

• Early on in her journey, she crashed her bike outside Chicago and was hospitalized, but persevered onward.
• While cycling through the Black Hills in Wyoming, her bicycle suffered several breakdowns forcing her to perform roadside repairs in difficult conditions.
• She almost drowned during a cyclone while taking a ship across the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Vancouver.
• In the Australian outback, she ran out of water and provisions, forcing her to bike over 100 miles in intense heat to find help.
• She fended off robbery attempts in places like Turkey and France from thieves trying to steal her bicycle or supplies.
• She battled steep terrain and winding roads cycling over mountains like the Rockies, Pyrenees and Alps.
• Harsh weather from blizzards to sandstorms often impeded her progress and left her exposed to the elements.

Paving the Way for Female Explorers

Despite enormous odds, Annie Londonderry’s courage and perseverance enabled her to achieve the extraordinary – becoming the first woman ever to cycle around the world. She paved the way for future generations of female athletes and adventurers. Annie’s remarkable story reminds us that with determination and spirit, women can accomplish anything.

Annie’s global journey was groundbreaking. She proved women were capable of incredible athletic feats despite skepticism. Her adventurous spirit paved the way for other female explorers to push boundaries.

Annie Londonderry’s perseverance allowed her to achieve what no woman had done before. She serves as an inspiration for us all to embark on our own adventures, live boldly, and bike forward despite obstacles in our path.

Who are some pioneering female adventurers who inspire you? Share your recommendations!