Tough Girl Podcast Caroline Soubayroux - 2024 Guinness world record holder for fastest couple circumnavigation by bike. Wife and mother working full-time and striving to inspire the next generation.
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we sit down with the incredible Caroline Soubayroux—Guinness World Record holder, full-time project manager, wife and mother.
Caroline takes us on a journey through her life, from her early days learning to ride a bike in France, to cycling 18,000 miles around the world alongside her husband, and finally navigating the challenges of balancing fitness, family life, and a demanding career.
You’ll hear about the highs and lows of life on the road, the realities of cycling over 100 miles a day, and how Caroline transitioned into running after becoming a mother. Her story is raw, honest, and deeply inspiring—perfect for anyone striving to balance big dreams with everyday responsibilities.
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Show notes
- Who is Caroline
- Being from France originally but now living in London
- Working as a project manager for an investment bank
- Cycling around the world with her husband
- Her early years and learning how to ride a bike
- Getting into cycling after meeting her husband
- Getting into running later on it life
- Doing a run commute to work
- Learning to be independent on the bike
- Her first race - Race Across France
- How her confidence increased and why it was so transformative
- Seeing an opportunity in 2019 to start planning a big cycle around the world
- Turning the dream into a reality
- Wanting to follow/respect the Guinness world record rules
- Wanting to cycle 18,0000 miles
- Trying to decide how long to take?
- Having to make compromises
- Becoming very focused on the record
- Changing the start route and adapting to new rules and regulations regarding travel during covid
- Leaving from London and cycling west to east and flying on to Canada
- Deciding to cycle through Africa
- The realities and what is going on behind the scenes
- Stress
- Life on the road and cycling 100+ miles per day
- Cycling around the world and how it impacted on their relationship
- Highlights and magical moments from the trip
- Dealing with injury and illness
- Money and paying for the challenge
- The end of the trip and having mixed feelings
- Why it’s hard getting back into reality because no one cares!
- Wanting to have a family
- Cycling and pregnancy
- Deciding to stop cycling and take up running
- What it was like after birth and dealing with high emotions
- Focusing on the baby and being off social media
- Using a running pram
- Wanting to go on bike packing trips with the family
- Fitting fitness and exercise into her life and what that looks like
- How to connect with Caroline
- Advice for working mums who want to take on new challenges
Social Media
Instagram: @caro_sbx