Ian Hibell

Who was Ian Hibell?

Ian Hibell was a cyclist who spent the better part of 40 years of his life bicycling in various parts of the world, accomplishing many firsts in cycling.

Hibell, who was born in the Epsom district in Surrey, lived in Brixham, Devon, England and attended Torquay Boys' Grammar School. From 1971 through 1973 he became the first to cycle from Cape Horn to Alaska. Hibell co-authored a book entitled Into the Remote Places documenting his travels. He lectured on his travels in Great Britain and the United States, including Yale University. He also designed some of his own gear, including front and rear luggage racks.

Ian Hibell began cycle-touring when not all his family could afford to travel to a seaside holiday by train. He and his father cycled there, sleeping on park benches and anywhere else they could find. He worked at Standard Telephones and Cables and took leave to go cycling, eventually riding more than he was working. He went on to ride the equivalent of ten times round the equator, covering 6,000 miles a year. He is recognised as first to cycle the Darién Gap in Panama and from south to north of the Americas. He also rode from Norway to the Cape of Good Hope and from Bangkok to Vladivostok.