Career
At the time of her death in 2014 she continued to receive letters from people saying how much she inspired them to cycle. Her record still stood as of November 2015. She had taken up cycling around the age of 18 and, following the ideas of the Women's League of Health and Beauty, she rode across the United Kingdom on a mission to promote the health benefits of cycling.
She gained sponsorship from Rudge-Whitworth to provide a bicycle and financial support so that she could ride every day of the year in a wide variety of weather conditions.
She was also sponsored by Cadbury chocolate. She was self-reliant on her journeys, cycling alone and calling in at cafes to eat.
She did not carry any water. The distances were authenticated through a cyclometer on the bicycle and cycling check cards signed by witnesses that she submitted to the Cycling Magazine (now Cycling Weekly) offices.
Her cycling record bid started 1 January 1938 from Mill Hill in London.
The summer weather was good, but December 1938 was snowy. The distance she travelled each day averaged 81 miles (130 km), but was up to 196 miles (315 km) in summer. Her mammoth tour included many evening engagements requiring her to give a talk at the end of a long day"s pedalling.
Fleming"s ride attracted a huge amount of interest and press attention as the year progressed.
Her record attempt finished with a reception at the Agricultural/Horticultural Hall in London that included cycling journalists and Mr England. Her mileage set a women"s record and attracted international attention.
Her subsequent plan to cycle across the United States of America had to be called off because of the Second World War. In 1940 she broke three records riding a tricycle — the 25-, 50-, and 100-mile distances.
In 1942 Pat Hawkins set out to take the record from Fleming but her total mileage of 54,402.8 miles was disallowed after a review of her log books by the Australian cycling authorities.
Kajsa Tylen was inspired by Fleming, and planned to start an attempt to cycle 36,000 miles (58,000 km) in 2016, 100 miles (160 km) per day, starting on New Year"s Day. She said that she wanted to motivate people to exercise rather than raise money for charity.