Nottingham cyclist plans to ride 50,000km in 2016 to break women's Year Record

Nottingham-based cyclist Kajsa Tylen will attempt to cycle 31,069 miles (50,000km) in 2016 in a bid to break the women's Year Record, which has stood for 78 years.

The distance, equivalent to 35 journeys from Land's End to John O'Groats, will surpass Billie Fleming's record of 29,603 miles set back in 1938 - the year before Tommy Godwin set the men's record.

Tylen, a business analyst and small business owner, will begin her journey will begin in Nottingham on New Year's Day. She will need to ride 85 miles a day to meet her demanding schedule, but she has a few tricks up her sleeve.

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Firstly, 2016 is a leap year, so she has a day to spare if she fancies a bit of a rest (although her schedule has her finishing on December 30) and she also plans to cycle in Europe, including her native Sweden. Reaching the north of Scandanavia in June will allow her to ride through the night in the midnight sun of the Arctic Circle.

“People have asked me why I believe that I can achieve this," said Tylen. "This isn’t exactly straightforward to explain, but I believe in myself and have the confidence that I can set a new world record.

"It is not a challenge I am taking lightly, there has been a lot of planning and a detailed training plan, beyond that the rest will be psychological. Apart from highlighting the tremendous achievements of Billie Fleming last century and hopefully setting a new world record, I am hoping that this challenge will be a life-changing experience and will open many doors.

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"I am also particularly keen on encouraging others to take up fitness challenges and their pledges of commitments to exercise will spur me on while I’m riding all those thousands of miles.”

Tylen's team predict she will burn the equivalent of 4745 cinnamon buns in calories during the attempt (1.4m cal), as she spends 2,190 hours in the saddle.

Find out more information about Kajsa's ride on www.ayearinthesaddle.com