This lovely wooden jigsaw puzzle map depicts the true story of the incredible ride around the world of Thomas Stevens, the first person to ride around the world on a bicycle.

He rode a large-wheeled Penny Farthing bicycle (also called an Ordinary), and it took him from April 1884 to December 1886. More than two and a half years. For no apparent reason, except he wanted to see if he could.

On April 22, 1884, he packed the bag on his handlebars with socks, a spare shirt, a raincoat that doubled as tent and bedroll, and a pocket revolver, and left San Francisco to begin the journey.

After 3700 miles he reached Boston using wagon trails, railways, canal towpaths, and public roads, thus completing the first transcontinental bicycle ride. That took him 4 months and one-third of the route had to be walked. Along the way, he paid for his keep by speaking to local cycling clubs and telling his story and the story of his bicycle in exchange for food and drink. 

He passed the winter in New York and then headed over to Liverpool to begin the European and Asian legs of his journey. He rode through England, passing Berkhamsted where he was born, and took the ferry to Dieppe in France. Then he continued through Germany, Austria, and Hungary and over to Turkey where he refitted the bike with parts and continued on to wait out the winter in Iran as a guest of the Shah, as seen on this wooden jigsaw puzzle.

He was refused permission to travel through Siberia so he set off again through Afghanistan although its borders were closed to foreigners and its guards had a fierce reputation. As soon as he entered the country he was arrested but as he continued to entertain the guards with stories of his travels they eventually let him go and he took a ship back to Turkey and then headed to India. Then over to China and Japan, where he finally reached the ship that brought him back to San Francisco. He estimated that he had actually ridden, in total, 13,500 miles.

After several other world adventures (including a search in the Congo for Stanley), he finally settled back in the UK, got married, and ended up managing a theatre, which totally supported his love of storytelling.

His bicycle was preserved by the Pope Company until World War II when it was donated to a scrap drive to support the war effort.

The perfect gift for wooden jigsaw puzzlers, cycling fans, and History buffs, this traditional adult wooden jigsaw puzzle can be done time and again. Our wooden jigsaw puzzle artists have included many shaped whimsy wooden jigsaw puzzle pieces that match the corresponding areas in the map, and we have integrated them in ways that will delight and surprise you as you put the wooden jigsaw puzzle together. This wooden jigsaw puzzle is perfect for friends and family. Wooden jigsaw puzzle comes with poster for assembly.