Cracknell and 'Sport Relief'

NervexProf · February 2008

This sounds like some big challenge to me:

http://tinyurl.com/2o8wfm

Daily planned average mileage on the bike implies he is seriously fit!

Richrd2205 · February 2008

280 miles a day!?! That's serious audax stuff & 14-15.5mph isn't slow when riding alone for 18-20hrs per day.He's trying to go nearly twice as PBP in only one day more. Just checked PBP results for 2003 & only 34 of the 2000 odd seriously hardcore audaxes finished it fast enough to satisfy this timetable & that's only half the distance.

David Walliams was a swimmer anyway & did something that's at the top end of the amateur range for his sport. Cracknell isn't a cyclist (to the limit of my knowledge) & is trying something far beyond the amateur (or professional for that matter) range of the sport.

As you say, seriously fit, or utterly unrealistic. I favour the latter: I can't see him doing it. Unless he has a motor fitted or drafts a bus the whole way...

Ed Moses · February 2008

A couple of Olympic rowing Golds and rowing the Atlantic should give him some good base endurance and the ability to suffer. I would also have thought that he would have talked to some serious coaches before putting himself up for this - still hell of a challenge though!

Ed Moses · February 2008

A couple of Olympic rowing Golds and rowing the Atlantic should give him some good base endurance and the ability to suffer. I would also have thought that he would have talked to some serious coaches before putting himself up for this - still hell of a challenge though!

ddraver · February 2008

me thinks he's tryiong to replicate the old TdF guys (old old TdF guys!)

kettrinboy · February 2008

i think the biggest problem for him will be a very sore censored I remember when he rowed the atlantic he did it starkers cos of all the chafing from the seat ,dont think thats an option on this ride , I dont think many pro tour riders would fancy this challenge but good on him for giving it a go

cycologist · February 2008

Gadzooks !

ddraver · February 2008

apparently he is trying to show just how 'close' Africa is to us and thus how we cannot forget about it

according to David Walliams on R 2 this afternoon

cougie · February 2008

I think he will probably do it. He did sub 3 at the London Marathon with very little training - he'd not been back long from rowing the atlantic. He's one seriously fit guy and very determined.

Dont envy him with his swim though.

Robspedding · February 2008

Crackers, as I like to call him, is quite a determined fella. i interviewed him a couple of times in my previous life when he was training for the Flora London Marathon. (He actually ran 3:00.10 Cougie and was absolutely gutted!) Anyway, I was chatting to one of his sponsors just last week and he has apparantly got some cycling form - I was told his bagged a number of Tour climbs already. That said, he's still a big bloke - I heard said sponsor ordering him some more XL gear!

oldwelshman · February 2008

Richrd2205 wrote:

280 miles a day!?! That's serious audax stuff & 14-15.5mph isn't slow when riding alone for 18-20hrs per day.He's trying to go nearly twice as PBP in only one day more. Just checked PBP results for 2003 & only 34 of the 2000 odd seriously hardcore audaxes finished it fast enough to satisfy this timetable & that's only half the distance.

David Walliams was a swimmer anyway & did something that's at the top end of the amateur range for his sport. Cracknell isn't a cyclist (to the limit of my knowledge) & is trying something far beyond the amateur (or professional for that matter) range of the sport.

As you say, seriously fit, or utterly unrealistic. I favour the latter: I can't see him doing it. Unless he has a motor fitted or drafts a bus the whole way...

Think you over estimate the task and under estimate the athlete

He is a supreme athlete and could propbably do many sports to a top level, including cycling.
I am sure he will succeed, he has the physical ability and also the mental ability.

nasahapley · February 2008

I reckon he'll do it too. In fact if I were to pick anyone to do it outside the pro peleton an olympic rower would probably be my choice! Their fitness (whichever way you want to measure it) is way above that of a typical cyclist, and Mr Cracknell is one of the fittest of an already very select bunch. The British squad do a fair bit of cycling on training camps too, including lots of hills, so he'll know what he's doing. No doubt he'll have a great support crew, so I think the only thing that'll stop him doing it in the time he's aiming for is bad weather.

I still think he's barmy though!

mrushton · February 2008

He did this last year and if he struggled with this then he may still have problems. granted it's a tough route he did, but the Sportive riders manage it

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.j ... our125.xml

nasahapley · February 2008

mrushton wrote:

He did this last year and if he struggled with this then he may still have problems. granted it's a tough route he did, but the Sportive riders manage it

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.j ... our125.xml

Good find mrushton!

I'm not surprised he struggled on that; 16.5 stone and alpine climbs don't make a happy marriage! If he's planning on doing 280 miles a day I guess he'll be avoiding hills like the plague as far as possible. Also, it sound like he did that ride for a laugh as much as anything - getting knocked out in a boxing match four days before is hardly the best prep

cougie · February 2008

Oh was he 10 secs out ? I thought I was in with a chance of beating him and as I turned onto the Mall to finish - the big screen showed him getting interviewed already.
I was gutted !

Still, I beat Floella pretty convincingly... ;-)

mrushton · February 2008

nasahapley wrote:

mrushton wrote:

He did this last year and if he struggled with this then he may still have problems. granted it's a tough route he did, but the Sportive riders manage it

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.j ... our125.xml

Good find mrushton!

I'm not surprised he struggled on that; 16.5 stone and alpine climbs don't make a happy marriage! If he's planning on doing 280 miles a day I guess he'll be avoiding hills like the plague as far as possible. Also, it sound like he did that ride for a laugh as much as anything - getting knocked out in a boxing match four days before is hardly the best prep

that wasn't a big route he did either in terms of length but granted the climbs were big. I've never had a problem on the Galibier, sure it's long but gradient wise it's good (for me) but then I'm 4 stone lighter but NOT an Olympic athlete. he'd be better doing a couple of 400km audaxes to get his preparation right (and poss. a Brooks saddle!)

NervexProf · February 2008

Keep up to date with James Cracknell's progress here:

http://www.challengecracknell.com/wheres_james.html

Bronzie · February 2008

NervexProf wrote:

Keep up to date with James Cracknell's progress here:

http://www.challengecracknell.com/wheres_james.html

Well he made it across the channel already and is on route in northern France - bon courage Monsieur Cracknell!!

Cps · February 2008

I been watching the feed of the journey so far, and the stats look strange to me.

Anyone else following this ?

pdstsp · February 2008

Read his stuff in today's telegraph - capsized just after setting off - nine foot swell - all the support crew and journos chucking up on the support boat, couldn't eat or drink because he couln't let go of the oars for fear of another capsize (in the Channle in February for gods sake!!) and he still managed to jump on the bike at the other side for a couple of hours - Jesus he must be crazy.

His aim is to show that Africa (and its problems) isn't that far away - if he makes it he will be one seriously heroic figure to me.

Bronzie · March 2008

Sweet Mary and the baby Jesus :shock: ................he's down by Bordeaux now. According to his stats, his max speed was 73mph..............either he had the Mother and Father of all tail winds, or he was riding in the car at the time!

Average speed 19.5mph............presume this includes the canoe crossing and stops?? In which case, this guy is MOVING!!

HarryB · March 2008

Have no doubt that it will have to be something unforseen to stop Crackers completing this. If anyone is in any doubt how hardcore this guy is just get hold of the Gold Fever TV series DVD. Rowers are tough cookies anyway but Crackers has a mental toughness that beggars belief. During 5k and 2k ergo tests he would row himself unconscious (literally) his lips would turn blue and his face would contort before he eventually passed out. This will be a piece of piss to him.

NervexProf · March 2008

Full update and video here: http://tinyurl.com/2l93me

heavymental · March 2008

Get in Crackers. This boys hardcore eh. Max speed 73mph?! Wow....if its right.

Bronzie · March 2008

Now nearing Madrid - still 19.5mph average and max now 60mph - 3 miles short of the 1000 mile mark in only 3.1/2 days - simply awesome.............or maybe even oarsome!

heavymental · March 2008

hurhur....rowmarkable.

Harry B · March 2008

average speed 19 mph, maximum 60 mph :shock: He's flying along. Much respect to him and I hope the weather is on his side

NervexProf · March 2008

Day 4 Video here: http://tinyurl.com/3y3ohn

Crackers has a wonderful sense of humour; despite a sore bum !

Bronzie · March 2008

Looks like he's got about 200 miles to go to the swim. Just amazing stamina he must have.

PS No wonder he's got a sore backside - all those miles in the rain with no mudguards

popette · March 2008

When I first heard about this challenge, I just couldn't believe that he would do it. Amazing to have cycled 300 miles in one day. Average speed 19.5 mph! Simply staggering.
I may even be moved to donate!

mo\'c · March 2008

probably drafting the support vehicle a bit but does not negate the enormity of the task at all.....amazing man....good publicity for cycling too....

Cracknell and 'Sport Relief'

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