From Mental Health Battles to Biking Around the World: Amy & Kyle’s Endurance Cycling Story
At Love Velo, we’re always inspired by stories that go beyond watts, speed, and distance. Stories that remind us why we ride in the first place.
In the first episode of our Where We Ride podcast, hosts Lee and Georgia sit down with Amy and Kyle, a married couple preparing to take on one of the most ambitious challenges in modern endurance cycling: biking around the world to break a Guinness World Record.
But this isn’t just about cycling travel on a global scale. It’s a deeply human story about resilience, recovery, and the powerful link between mental health and cycling.
From Rock Bottom to Riding Again
Amy’s journey into road cycling didn’t start with performance goals or adventure plans. It started during one of the lowest periods of her life
After working as a mental health nurse, Amy experienced a breakdown that forced her to leave her job. During that time, she was battling an eating disorder and reached a point where she questioned whether she even wanted to be here.
It was Kyle who introduced cycling into her life, buying her a bike simply to help her get outside and find some relief.
“He bought me a bike… to get me outside… and it really did. I don’t know where I’d be without it.”
What started as a small step became something much bigger. Through riding for her mental health, Amy found structure, purpose, and eventually strength.
Today, she reflects on that period as the foundation of her resilience:
“Nothing ever on the bike is as hard as what I went through in my head.”
Why Cycling Became Their Lifeline
For both Amy and Kyle, mental health and cycling are now deeply connected.
Amy’s recovery from an eating disorder required daily discipline, patience, and mental strength. Kyle, who grew up in a difficult environment shaped by domestic abuse and instability, developed his own form of resilience early in life.
When they found cycling together, it became more than just a hobby. It became a shared outlet.
Spending hours on the bike gave them the space to talk openly about difficult experiences, while also offering moments of quiet reflection. They discovered that cycling allows both connection and solitude, something that’s incredibly valuable when navigating mental health challenges.
Over time, this combination of movement, conversation, and shared purpose helped strengthen both their relationship and their mindset.
Cycling as a Couple: Honest, Raw, and Real
One of the most relatable parts of Amy and Kyle’s story is how honest they are about riding together.
Long-distance cycling travel as a couple isn’t always smooth.
“There’s never a long ride without some sort of tiff at some point.”
But what makes them work is how they handle those moments.
Instead of letting disagreements build, they give each other space by riding separately for a short time, allowing emotions to settle before reconnecting. Because they’re married, they don’t feel pressure to constantly talk or perform. They can ride in silence, communicate honestly, and admit when they’re struggling.
That level of openness is crucial when facing the demands of endurance cycling, especially on a challenge that will see them together 24 hours a day for months.
The Challenge: Biking Around the World
Amy and Kyle are about to take on a world record attempt that pushes the boundaries of endurance cycling.
They’ll be biking around the world, aiming to become the fastest couple to complete the journey.
They begin on 1st May, with the current record standing at 205 days. Their target is significantly more ambitious, aiming to complete the route in just 150 days.
To achieve this, they’ll need to average roughly 220 kilometres every single day, across multiple continents and vastly different conditions.
This is not your typical cycling travel adventure. It’s a carefully planned, highly demanding logistical operation.
They must track and submit GPS data daily, gather witness signatures at key points around the world, and manage every aspect of their recovery without a support team travelling alongside them.
Their challenge takes them cycling across Europe, riding through Asia, followed by Australasia, North America and back to Europe.
As Kyle puts it:
“It’s the logistics that’s actually the worst… the riding is one thing.”
The Reality Behind Endurance Cycling
While the idea of biking around the world captures the imagination, the reality is far more complex.
Every day brings new challenges. Fatigue builds over time, weather conditions can change rapidly, and road safety is always a concern. Amy, who has already been hit by a car twice while cycling, is acutely aware of the risks involved.
“There’s risk in everything you do in life.”
Beyond that, they also face unpredictable factors such as extreme heat, difficult terrain, and even wildlife encounters in remote regions.
What defines them isn’t the absence of fear, but their ability to manage it. They focus on preparation, adaptability, and staying present, all key traits in successful endurance cycling.
Riding for a Bigger Purpose
This challenge is about more than just breaking records.
Amy and Kyle are using their cycling travel journey to raise £100,000 for Shout, a UK mental health charity.
Their goal is to raise awareness, spark conversations, and show that recovery is possible, even from the darkest places.
Amy’s story is a powerful example of this transformation:
“There was a time I didn’t want to be here and now I’m riding around the world.”
They’re not just riding for themselves, they’re riding for anyone who has struggled, and for those supporting them too.
Why This Matters for Every Cyclist
You don’t need to be planning to cycle across continents to take something from this story.
The connection between mental health and cycling applies to all of us.
Getting out on the bike can provide clarity after a stressful day, create space to process thoughts, and offer a sense of achievement that builds confidence over time. Whether it’s a short local ride or a long-distance challenge, riding for your mental health is something every cyclist can benefit from.
At Love Velo, this is what cycling is really about. Not just performance, but purpose.
Final Thoughts: More Than Just Cycling
Amy and Kyle’s journey is a reminder that cycling can change lives.
From mental health struggles to a world record attempt, their story shows what’s possible when resilience meets opportunity.
As they set off on this incredible challenge, they’re carrying more than just gear on their bikes. They’re carrying a message that will resonate with cyclists across the UK and beyond. You can come back stronger.
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