Mick F wrote: ↑14 Mar 2022, 10:26am
I suppose it depends on what "unsupported" means.
I, for instance, stayed at B+Bs and at the home of relatives. I wasn't "self-sufficient" but fed and watered along the way.
Unsupported means that the only "support" you are allowed is that which is open to all. So for example you could stay at a hotel (as anyone can book a night there) but you can't stay at a friend's house since that support is only open to you.
Same with food or mechanical support. If you go to a bike shop or supermarket en-route, that's fine since anyone can access it but if you have a friend drive out to pick you up or bring you food / tools, that's not allowed since the support is unique to you.
The pure E2E speed records (as per CM's record) are obviously done fully supported with an independent observer (to ensure no drafting, fair play and so on). Other than that you could probably conjure up any record you wanted. Fastest using [insert type of bike], fastest while carrying a kitchen sink or playing the bagpipes, longest continuous route, fastest while visiting every cathedral in England - make your own up!
The problem with unofficial records or contrived ones is that you don't really have to shout about it - it'd be perfectly possible for someone to ride it on a Chopper in 7 days just for fun but not really say anything about it. Equally, it'd be possible for someone to ride it on a road bike in 7 days, post a pic of them on a Chopper at various points (Chopper transported by obliging support driver and set up for photo ops) and claim it was all done like that. There's no proof either way.