Until 1894 there were no female sport stars, no product endorsement deals, and no young mothers with the chutzpah to circle the globe on a bicycle. Annie Londonderry changed all of that.

When Annie left Boston in June of that year, she was a brash young lady with a 42-pound bicycle, a revolver, a change of underwear, and a dream of freedom. She was also a feisty mother of three who had become the center of what one newspaper called "one of the most novel wagers ever made": a high-stakes bet between two wealthy merchants that a woman could not ride around the world on a bicycle. The epic journey that followed took the connection between athletics and commercialism to dizzying new heights, and turned Annie Londonderry into a symbol of women's equality.

A vastly entertaining blend of social history, high adventure, and maverick marketing, Around the World on Two Wheels is an unforgettable portrait of courage, imagination, and tenacity.

"Annie was a remarkable woman and well worth getting to know."-Booklist

"A wonderful telling of one of the most intriguing, offbeat, and until now, lost chapters in the history of cycling."-David Herlihy, author of Bicycle: The History

""A pleasant, affectionate portrait of a free spirit who pedaled her way out of Victorian constraints."" --Kirkus Reviews

"[A] charming and informative book." --Cape Cod Times

""[An] incredible story...[a] fascinating book."" --NextReads

""[A] stirring tale...not only a must read, but a must have."" --Western Writers of America Roundup Magazine

"[A] remarkable saga." --The Winston-Salem (NC) Journal

""[R]ead[s]...like a novel."" --The Columbia (SC) State

""[M]eticulously researched...illuminat[es...