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.

Tough Girl Podcast

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