240 miles in 9 hours.

bahzob

Seccond that emotion... god's speed and good luck..

vorsprung

So, was the attempt this weekend? Anyone know how he did?

amaferanga

Have a look at the notices of attempt here

9h 36m 53s so about 33 minutes off the record.

Good effort though.

TommyEss

Wow - that's very close - they said there was a strong westerly and bottlenecks either side of Marlborough against him.

Big effort! Well done.

Pross

Excellent attempt, it was always going to be difficult and these records are going to get harder to beat as traffic levels increase. Well done on the effort, hopefully this will earn the respect it deserves from those who have constantly sought to knock the attempt and who suggested he was wasting everyone's time but most importantly I hope it has earned a lot of money for charity. Anyone know how it ranks on the all time list?

AidanR

It doesn't seem like the record was ever in much danger, but huge respect for getting that close. And, in fact, just for trying.

redddraggon

If you don't try you can't succeed. It's a damn good attempt really.

Stuntman

I stumbled upon this post and have spent the last half hour or so reading the story. Immensely addictive.

Excellent attempt and so close yet so far in the end. What was the overall mileage?

Congratulations at the attempt, what was the bike setup and fueling etc??

tjhooker

I was just outside of Bath and saw him going in and then back out again 15 minutes later. It seems that he was on schedule for the first few hours, then lost about 30 minutes into the headwind somewhere between Reading and Bath. He did very well to keep going, and not lose any more time on the return to Reading, I think.

robrauy

Enormous respect for the attempt. I found reading the blog in the depth of winter was great inspiration to keep up the turbo sessions.

It sounds like your training and hard work got you much closer than some on here thought. Just wonder how much closer you would have been to the record if the conditions had been more favourable..

Inspirational stuff!

PeteinSQ

I hope all those people saying that he was going to take 15 hours etc apologise on here. He came with 33 minutes of the record which given the vagaries of traffic and weather is pretty bloody impressive.

The Prodigy

Just wanted to add another well done, inspirational effort.

Pross

PeteinSQ wrote:

I hope all those people saying that he was going to take 15 hours etc apologise on here. He came with 33 minutes of the record which given the vagaries of traffic and weather is pretty bloody impressive.

Of course they won't they'll just point to the fact that he "failed" and that 33 minutes is actually 6% slower than the record

BeaconRuth

Well done Alex, a brave effort. I'm sure John Woodburn will be glad his record is in tact but also very pleased that someone has had a go at it, to highlight just what a good ride he did all those years ago.

So who is going to give it a go next? There's at least one person on this forum who has shown he can ride for 12 hours at over 23mph, which is what it would take, and he's even based in Bath so it would suit him perfectly................. how about it, Jeff?! A brief 9 hours at steady 23s would be right up your street, surely?!

Ruth

chrisw12

That's a great shout, go on Jeff! Even better perhaps why don't the two of you (Ruth and Jeff) have a go at the tandem record (if there is one).


Well done Shavedlegs that was an excellent effort,

ut_och_cykla

Yes well done - for daring, for trying and for getting sooo close. Might feel like failure now but in a few days time, (let alone a few years) it will become one of your best /worst moments ... incredible good try .. well done!

BeaconRuth

chrisw12 wrote:

That's a great shout, go on Jeff! Even better perhaps why don't the two of you (Ruth and Jeff) have a go at the tandem record (if there is one).

Jeff wouldn't want me on the back of a tandem in my current condition (erm, that makes it sound like I'm pregnant! :oops: :shock: I'm not, I mean I'm not race-fit at present!!!). And besides, I've never raced further than 100 miles so I'm very much a long-distance minnow.

Ruth

TommyEss

Poppycock - we all know the stokers job is to sit there and soft-pedal reading a book against the back of the stoker...!

Jeff Jones

1) Well done Alex/Shavedlegs, not only for having a decent crack at the record but also for raising over £2000 for McMillan Cancer Support. You hit one important target and got close to the other one. Very impressive average over that distance and those roads - you've got to do a 12hr now :-)

2) It's a formidable record but tbh it doesn't tempt me. Yes I've averaged that sort of speed for longer but that's on a flat course without any traffic hold ups. They would drive me absolutely nuts. Alex, any idea of what your moving average speed was?

Also the fact that it's going to take many months before I fancy another race >100 miles!

It'd be fun on a tandem ;-) Not that I've ever ridden one...

SBezza

Superb effort Alex, very close in today's traffic laden roads.

Percy Vera

Well done Alex!!

Aggieboy

Great story and a brilliant, if not perfect, result. Rereading some of the posts I think at least some humble pie eating is due. Chapeau.

doyler78

Congrats on a great effort and I'm glad that you hadn't given into the negativity that has at times inhabited this thread. I'm sure you are glad to have it over you now

Bronzie

Well done Alex, fantastic attempt..............time I put my hand in pocket and cough up some sponsorship!

bahzob

Congratulations on the dedication and perseverance that resulted in a very creditable performance.

gabriel959

I bet a tennr you would have bettered it if you had done it in the same conditions as he did. Great effort!!!

satan80

massive respect for that effort. Enjoyed reading your blog, you are a tough dude

steve_pushbiker

Just to echo what has been written here. Shaved, I really enjoyed reading about this and think that you've achieved something great here - plenty to be proud of! Well done, mate!

mrc1

Superb effort and congratulations for getting so close. Interesting to note that your most vocal critics haven't reposted. Just goes to show that the arm chair experts shouldnt always be listened to.

Im hoping there is a full write up on the blog (or that one will be along shortly) as it would make for very interesting reading.

I wonder what you would have done given the same conditions as the original record.....

Aggieboy

Aggieboy wrote:

Great story and a brilliant, if not perfect, result. Rereading some of the posts I think at least some humble pie eating is due. Chapeau.

PS. I think your b&w photo is 8)