CARING FO RW OM EN AT EVERYA GE

When it comes to gynecologic care, it can be hard to know what’s normal and when it’s time to ask acompassionate provider. From periods to menopause, ourgynecologists, certified nurse midwives, obstetricians and advanced practitioners are here to answer all yourhard to ask questions. Women’s health care like nowhere else.

Around the world

But how does one go from riding through various states to seeking to break a world record by riding around the world?

In summer 2021, McCutchen’s older brother Thomas, who had previously ridden to South America, first brought up the idea of circumnavigating the globe by bike.

“I thought, no, it’s not possible,”

McCutchen said, “and then I kept thinking about it and kept thinking about it and I was like, why not.”

She explained how sometimes dreams take a moment to formulate, shedding off fears or concerns.

“There’s so many things that you tell yourself ‘no’ before anyone else does. And I think it’s much better to let other people tell you ‘no’, than to tell yourself ‘no’ before you even get anywhere,” she explained.

After a few weeks of mulling it over, McCutchen decided she was going to do it.

“It was a back and forth in my mind. Somewhere along the way, it just became, I wouldn’t say less daunting, but more accessible. The reasons why I couldn’t became less than the reasons why I wanted to,” she said.

The route

The adventure is to begin this August, starting from her home and then south through the United States. Next, she will ride through Mexico and Central America, eventually making her way to South America. She hopes to arrive in Argentina by early Spring 2023. From there she will have her bike shipped to Europe.

She’s currently working on finding a new route through Europe as her original plan has been affected by the war in Ukraine.

“This is the type of trip that one cannot plan out ahead of time,” McCutchen said. “You start riding, you know the direction, but won’t exactly know when you will arrive in town or where you will stay.”

Is she worried?

“I’m nervous, a healthy amount of concern is how I would put it. I’m nervous about being able to do things, but I’m not really scared about what’s going to happen. Maybe I should be,” she said with a laugh.

Pushing herself into unfamiliar territory and determining her route will be a way to grow. Plus, her history in solo adventuring is apparent.

“I’ve always adventured and done motorcycle trips pretty much by myself. For the most part, I’ve found people to be very accommodating, especially when you are on a motorcycle, because there’s a certain amount of respect you bring into a room when you are traveling somewhere alone on a motorcycle.”

Setting the record

The current record for the youngest person to travel the world by motorcycle is 23 years old, set by Henry Crew in 2019.

“Your age isn’t when you start, it’s when you finish,” McCutchen explained. McCutchen, who turns 22 in November, hopes to complete her tour in summer 2023, completing the tour prior to her 23rd birthday.

There are many specifics that Guinness World Records requires.

“It has to be continuous; I can’t stop for more than two weeks in any one place,” McCutchen said. “And it has to be on the same motorcycle. I have to go through two antipodal points, which are two points on the globe exactly opposing one another.”

Other requirements include riding a minimum of 24,900 miles, starting and finishing from the same location, and riding across the equator at least once, ensuring the motorcyclist rides in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

McCutchen will ride her newly purchased 2020 Kawasaki Versys-X 300 and will be outfitted in protective motorcycle gear from Aerostich, a motorcycle clothing factory in Duluth. She will wear a tracking device.

“My dad said, ‘I’m not letting her leave the country without one,’” McCutchen said with a grin.

Inspiring others

McCutchen hopes her journey inspires others.

“I also want to encourage other people to ride motorcycles. I think it’s a really good thing.”

Her advice to other women who might want to take up riding: “Don’t be intimidated by the first 20 minutes of your riding. That’s the scariest part. It’s like driving a car for the first time; it’s scary, but you just have to get over that.”

You can follow her journey on Instagram @bike.will.travel and, come August, track her whereabouts at http://www.twowheels-round.com/. D