A PEDALLING pensioner has penned the tale of an epic cycling feat which saw her bike more than 10,000 miles across the globe.

Despite not being much of a cyclist, Ann Wilson, of Ulverston, decided at 59 that she was ready for an adventure.

Her trip saw her venture across Europe, through parts of the Middle East, India, South East Asia, South Korea, Japan and Canada. 

Along the way, she kept an online journal and now, seven years later she has published ‘Mainly by Bike, a Senior Cyclist Tours the World’.

“I had done a little cycling before but somebody lent me a book by a lady called Anne Mustoe and she had done a cycle ride like this in her early 50s and I was in my late 50s,” said Ann, who is now 67.

“I just thought there is no time like the present!” 

Taking in 20 countries over the course of 14 months, the retired IT worker was covering around 45 miles a day and spending her evenings camping, staying in hostels, coach surfing or in cheap hotels. 

However, it was not all plain sailing for Ann and she said there were ‘one or two mishaps’ along the way.

“My first bike was stolen in Bulgaria. I was knocked down by a buffalo car in India - that was quite dramatic,” she said. “I was very ill in India and was looked after by a Chinese family in Malaysia for a month.”

However, despite a limited budget and a few hiccups, Ann’s experience was overwhelmingly positive. 

“What struck me was the depth of human kindness that I experienced,” she said. 

“It’s broadened my outlook on different cultures. I discovered that every country thinks that they are the centre of the world just like we do. How kind people are. People will help a touring cyclist. We are no threat to them and we are vulnerable to them and they want to help.”

Ann has been on several trips since she returned from her around the world adventure in 2010 and next year is thinking of going to South East Asia or back to Eastern Europe.

And although she has clocked up thousands of miles, she said that she does not cycle all that much when she is at home as she does not like having to turn back and go home. 

“There’s something fresh around every corner when you keep going,” she said. 

She is giving a series of talks in connection with her book, taking place at Ulverston Library on November 29 at 2pm, Barrow Library on November 27 at 2pm and Grange Library on December 5 at 2.30pm.

“The only reason you can do it is if you want to do it,” she said, offering advice to those who want to go on their own adventure.  “If you want to do it you will overcome all the obstacles.”

lAnn’s book is available from Amazon, in local bookshops and bike shops.