Tandem WOW – Around the World by Tandem
Cat Dixon and Raz Marsden, better known as Tandem WOW, will share the story of their extraordinary record-breaking journey around the world on a tandem bicycle.
The pair set off from Oxford with an ambitious goal: to circumnavigate the globe on two wheels. Over 263 days they cycled more than 18,000 miles across 25 countries and five continents, battling storms, headwinds, extreme heat and the logistical challenges of crossing continents by bike.
When they returned to the UK, they didn’t just complete the journey, they set a Guinness World Record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by tandem bicycle, and beat the previous men’s record.
In this talk they’ll share:
What it really takes to cycle around the world
The realities of long-distance adventure riding
Teamwork and resilience on a tandem
The highs, lows, and unforgettable moments from life on the road
Expect an honest, entertaining and inspiring story of adventure on a truly global scale.
Harriet Gruen– An Unlikely Adventure
Harriet Gruen’s story proves that big adventures don’t require years of preparation, sometimes they start with a simple decision to try something new.
After deciding she wanted to take on a major adventure, Harriet ruled out water-based sports, bought a bicycle and in 2022 set off solo from France to Tajikistan to experience cycling the historic Silk Road.
With very little cycling experience, the first few weeks involved plenty of sore legs and a steep learning curve. But what began as an experiment quickly turned into something more, Harriet discovered a love for long days on the bike and the freedom of travelling by bicycle.
That first journey sparked an obsession with ultra-distance cycling.
Since then, Harriet has raced several ultra cycling events and continued pushing her limits on long-distance challenges. In 2025 she set the new women’s Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the UK Three Peaks — completing the challenge with the cycling between peaks included.
In her talk, “An Unlikely Adventure,” Harriet will share:
How a spontaneous idea turned into a life-changing journey
The reality of getting to grips with bike packing while crossing continents
Lessons from ultra-distance racing
Why adventure cycling is more accessible than most people think
Her story is a powerful reminder that you don’t need to start as an experienced cyclist to take on extraordinary challenges.
Sometimes you just need to start pedalling.
