Articles Discovery on the cycling road Mr Old Man KATIE BARDSLEY BECOMES FIRST VIETNAMESE WOMAN TO CYCLE 549 KM IN 24 HOURS By Mr Old Man Posted on March 13, 2023 6 min read 0 0 1,782 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Linkedin Share on Tumblr Katie completed 24 hour cycling challenge Katie Bardsley (Vietnamese name: Bùi Thị Phúc, 32 years old) has just made history by becoming the first female cyclist in Vietnam to ride 549 km in 24 hours — a remarkable endurance feat never before achieved by a woman in the country. Representative of Da Nang Cycling Association congratulates and awards a medal to Katie The 24-hour cycling challenge, organized by the Da Nang Cycling Association, aimed to raise funds for local charities. Katie was the central figure of the event, supported along the way by numerous amateur cyclists who rode segments with her throughout the journey. A large number of cyclists accompanied Katie Starting at 5:30 PM on March 11 at East Sea Park, Da Nang, and finishing at exactly 5:30 PM the following day at the same location, Katie — a mother of two — pushed herself through 24 hours of continuous riding, covering an incredible 549 km. Katie and her husband before G-hour Checking everything before starting to ride Katie only began cycling in May 2021, initially to lose weight after giving birth. Now living and working in Hoi An, she has quickly risen to prominence as one of Vietnam’s most promising female cyclists, with a string of impressive race results: May 2022: Second place (relay team) at IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam, Da Nang. August 2022: Top 5 finish at Da Nang Gran Fondo. August 2022: Champion at the NTT-SKY Open Cycling Race. January 2023: Winner of the Ngu Hanh Son Open Cycling Race. Second place (relay team) Ironman 70.3 Katie is also known for her climbing strength. She clocked just 29 minutes and 50 seconds climbing South Hải Vân Pass — ranking third behind pro cyclist Em J Fox (Spaero Elite Team, Indonesia – 27:16) and Kiều Trinh (Đà Nẵng – 29:06). After gaining over 30 kg during her second pregnancy, Katie took up cycling as a way to regain her health. With support and coaching from her husband Richie Bardsley — also a cycling enthusiast — the two often train and ride together. Katie and her fanily Despite cycling for 24 hours straight, Katie showed no signs of fatigue at the finish line. When asked what kept her going, she said: “I’m a big fan of Amanda Coker, the American cyclist who was the first woman to ride over 500 miles in 24 hours. I wanted to challenge myself and do something extraordinary like her — and today, I did.” Katie Bardsley While Katie’s distance doesn’t yet match Amanda Coker’s world record, she is now officially the first female amateur cyclist in Vietnam to complete a 24-hour non-stop ride covering 549 km — a milestone achievement that impressed every cyclist who accompanied her. Friends accompanied Katie overnight. Crossing Thuan Phuoc Bridge Happy moments of rest Jack Anh, a member of the Executive Committee of the Da Nang Cycling Association and one of the event’s organizers, was visibly moved by Katie’s determination: “She is truly extraordinary! This 24-hour charity ride wasn’t just about fundraising — it inspired the entire cycling community in Da Nang and beyond.” Thanks to Katie and the Da Nang Cycling Association, the event raised significant funds for Đà Nẵng Cancer Hospital and Newborns Vietnam, a non-profit working to reduce infant mortality. Katie’s excellent workout ——- Mr. Old Man, 12 March, 2023 Mr. Old Man is delighted to have contributed to Katie’s record by coming up with the idea for the challenge and, together with the Da Nang Cycling Association, organizing support to help Katie successfully conquer it.