Cycling UK Forum

1200 miles in 24 hours on an outdoor track. The mind boggles.

Two guys set off on Friday on an unofficial record attempt doing a leisurely 60-70 miles per day. The reason for the attempt being unofficial is that Guiness won't recognise their bikes cause the guys are doing the ride on tall bikes.

The start:


Venturing in Mick F's territory:


My neck of the woods today and I escorted them across Bristol, not helped by ER people on Bristol bridge:



Other than the unofficial record, the guys are also raising money for Changing Lives https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tallbike

Redvee wrote:................ The reason for the attempt being unofficial is that Guiness won't recognise their bikes cause the guys are doing the ride on tall bikes.

I fell foul of that when I tried to register my JOGLE on a Raleigh Chopper. They said it wasn't a record as it was just a bike. The mere fact that I did it on an iconic bike and was probably the first to do it on one, didn't wash with them at all.

Mick F I think you have landed the job of official lejog record keeper!

Shall I send my receipts in!

GBR has become all about selling books to kids rather than actual records and is nothing like the book I remember it to be.

Also on the theme of publications is there a magazine for cycle touring? I noticed a that cyclist have put out a high end magazine for gravel / adventure cyclists but I wonder if there is one for cycle touring?

I presume the CTC had a magazine but that has gone with the times?

Cheers James

Jamesh wrote:GBR has become all about selling books to kids rather than actual records and is nothing like the book I remember it to be.

Agree.

I have a 1956 one given to me by my uncle maybe 1964 or so, and a 1968 one, and they are excellent books. Also had one from the 1970s and although it's basically the same, it's a bit dumbed down. Not got that one any more ....... just checked. It probably went to a charity shop.

Recent ones I've seen are cheap and nasty kids books. Waste of money IMHO and children could do a lot better than those.

Jamesh wrote:Mick F I think you have landed the job of official lejog record keeper!

Shall I send my receipts in!

GBR has become all about selling books to kids rather than actual records and is nothing like the book I remember it to be.

Also on the theme of publications is there a magazine for cycle touring? I noticed a that cyclist have put out a high end magazine for gravel / adventure cyclists but I wonder if there is one for cycle touring?

I presume the CTC had a magazine but that has gone with the times?

Cheers James

The CTC* do indeed still produce a magazine! It is free to members, I suspect it is not widely available in retail outlets. Some of us rather like it [other opinions are available]. It covers a lot of touring, as well as Campaigning stuff, and I'm pretty sure they cover "interesting" rides like this one from time-to-time. If you want to submit an article - or suggest a topic - I'd suggest contacting the editors.

Meanwhile - on records generally - the RRA are probably "THE" body for such things in the UK.
http://www.rra.org.uk/index.html?ifrm_1 ... place.html - for LEJOG etc


*Now Cycling UK of course - see the top of this web page!

I'm not one to be much interested in cyclists who ride LeJog to set a record particularly when they have a following vehicle to keep them protected on the faster routes so that they can actually ride the faster routes and not the meandering way most of us have to engage in. I find I am so much more to be enthusiastic for those who trundle along using their own resources and foraging for supplies and finding rest where ever they can find them - which happily is the great benefit of these threads where those who have gone before offer their advice and and encouragement.

Riding penny farthings however, being so iconic to an earlier age, comes into a different category and for which I can enthuse over the weirdness of it all above merely setting a 'new record'. And I suppose riding a chopper over the route might also fall into that latter category.

Ken.

The Chopper was a surprisingly good ride ................... once I'd fitted decent tyres, adult cranks and SPDs, worked out how to raise the saddle, and fitted decent brakes with decent brake levers .................. not to mention the double chainset and the double sprockets on the SA3sp.

It would be impossible for a fully grown man to ride one for a thousand miles plus without at least raising the saddle and fitting decent brakes.

Herts Audax wrote:1200 miles in 24 hours on an outdoor track. The mind boggles.

Are you sure, that's 50mph average!

Only with a motor and not the human kind.

Mick F wrote:The Chopper was a surprisingly good ride ................... once I'd fitted decent tyres, adult cranks and SPDs, worked out how to raise the saddle, and fitted decent brakes with decent brake levers .................. not to mention the double chainset and the double sprockets on the SA3sp.

Trigger's Broom

Oh yes, I see that.
All I did though, was to make it a reasonable ride and be able to ride it efficiently as well as tow the trailer.

I could have changed the rear wheel and fitted a Rohloff or a 10sp cassette freehub and a triple chainset, and a proper saddle, and dropped handlebars and STIs ............ but I kept it as original as I could.

Before and after.

So, one has to ask, was the purpose of using the chopper one of finances or challenge or eccentricity or all of the above?

He wanted to look cool.

I do wonder how comfortable - or bearable - that saddle would be for 1,000 miles.