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Third time lucky? Steve Abraham to make another attempt on Year recordSteve Abraham riding

Third time lucky? Steve Abraham to make another attempt on Year record

British ultracyclist says his likely target will be the 82,000 miles that US rider Amanda Coker is on course to set
by Simon_MacMichael
Thu, Dec 29, 2016 12:19
12

Steve Abraham has said that he will make a third attempt on the Guinness World Record for the greatest distance cycled in a year – with his target likely to be the 82,000 miles or more that American rider Amanda Coker is on course to achieve during her current attempt.

Abraham’s first attempt at the record was effectively ended in April last year when he sustained a broken ankle after a moped rider crashed into the back of him in Somerset.

He set out on a fresh attempt four months later but abandoned in January this year, saying “It isn’t working.”

> "It isn't working" - Steve Abraham abandons Year record attempt

In the meantime, the American Kurt Searvogel broke Tommy Godwin’s record of 75,065 miles, set in 1939 and long considered unbreakable. Guinness World Records has recognised his distance of 76,076 miles as the longest distance ridden under Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (UMCA) rules.

Writing on his Strava page, Milton Keynes-based Abraham said: “I've started setting up for another go at the year in 2017.

Still quite a lot to do before I can start but this time I'll start fit instead of having not ridden a bike for 2 months before I set off because of getting everything ready.

“Amanda is doing brilliant and it will most likely be her record of over 82,000 miles I'll be after.”

Coker, aged 24, is also riding under UMCA rules, which are less stringent than those stipulated by Guinness World Records, which forbid drafting and require riders to set off in the morning from the point they stopped the night before.

Starting her attempt in May, she surpassed Billie Fleming’s 1938 record of 29,603.7 miles in just four months and with an average distance of well over 200 miles a day is on course to smash Searvogel’s record with time to spare.

> Billie Fleming's Year record smashed - in just four months!

Nottingham-based Swedish national Kajsa Tylen has also surpassed Fleming’s distance this year, and earlier this month reached her goal of 50,000 kilometres for the year. Her ride will finish at 0815 on New Year’s Eve.

Coker is riding laps of a park near Tampa in Florida, which has led some to question whether her attempt is in the ‘spirit’ of the record, but Abraham is quick to defend her.

He wrote: “I don't think she has it as easy as lot of people think. The circuit she rides is known locally as ‘The Windy Woods’, because it isn't that well sheltered from the wind.

“I could easily do a similar amount of climbing to Amanda by staying in the Fens.

“The problem with that is the wind. Any wind over 5mph lowers the speed too much.

He added: “My month record was all about seeing if I thought I could have a go at the year again and from what I did, I think I can. So I’m going for it.”

> Steve Abraham breaks one-month distance record

We’ve asked Abraham for more details about his new attempt at the record.

Steve Abraham
year record
UMCA
Guinness World Records
Kurt Searvogel
Amanda Coker
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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12 comments

Avatar
Valryfiets | 8 years ago
0 likes

Err, he is wearing a non vented Giro AERO road helmet and a skinsuit!

Avatar
FatBoyW | 8 years ago
1 like

I cannot imagine having the drive t do it - outstanding and amazing to me, so best of luck I think it is incredible to attempt and will be one of the most amazing achievements.

the sheer physical endurance required and mental strength to keep going seem off the scale. If I can get there I will be on on of the group rides - good luck!

Avatar
Leviathan | 8 years ago
2 likes

Don't do it Steve. Others are making a joke of this record. I hear there is a desert in China that can be ridden across in 24 hours to set a World Record. There is also a world record for riding down our street in 54 seconds, you could spend the rest of the year with your feet up.

Avatar
Valryfiets | 8 years ago
0 likes

"Same drugs as well?"

Hehe, good point! Of course, only fair to level the playing field!

Avatar
mike the bike | 8 years ago
3 likes

 

Well, it's common knowledge that Obree would mainline marmalade sandwiches.

Avatar
Valryfiets | 8 years ago
0 likes

"I still think of it as Godwin's record"

I agree, until somebody betters it on a similar heavy steel bike with just 4 gears I really do see this as a parallel separate modern record. (And with the added benefit of modern performance clothing and energy food too).

Look at the hour record, it took a disc wheel and skin suit for Moser to break Eddy Merckx's record after 12 years. I often wonder how Boardman, Obree etc would've fared using identical kit and bike to that which Eddy used.

Apologies, I digress. Best of luck with beating whatever the modern record stands at Steve!

Avatar
Yorkshire wallet replied to Valryfiets | 8 years ago
1 like
Valryfiets wrote:

I often wonder how Boardman, Obree etc would've fared using identical kit and bike to that which Eddy used.

Same drugs as well? 3

Avatar
djpalmer32 | 8 years ago
1 like

Good luck Steve.

Avatar
Steve Abraham | 8 years ago
2 likes

A quick correction about the differences in rules between the UMCA and Kajsa Tylen's Guinnes WR attempt. Kajsa does not have to start the next days ride from the exact spot she finishes the previous day. But, she can only use one bike for the whole year and is not allowed to draft, unlike the UMCA. She also has to collect witness  signatures from  witnesses, preferably people who have ridden with her.

Having ridden with Kajsa for a few miles this year, I know that she has followed the rules.

She will have her finishing 11 mile ride in Nottingham on 31st January, starting at 7am, ending at Leisure Lakes for a "do" starting at 8:15am.  More details on her Facebook page here

https://www.facebook.com/events/662733770566405/

I hope to be there too.

I also hope to see some of you in Trek Milton Keynes on New Years day for a chat and cuppa, or you can always join in the fun setting off at midnight. 

I'll have a few more invitation training rides coming up in the future, but at more civilised hours. 

More info and the chance to ask questions on my Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/stevenabraham2015/

Avatar
bobbinogs | 8 years ago
5 likes

I initially felt quite enthusiastic about the resurgence of interest in Godwin's record...and then realised that it could be broken by riding a recumbent endlessly round a flat velo track in a nice constant 20 degs C...or by any number of other ways to 'soften' the task, merely reducing it to a simple statistic of "miles ridden" (albeit that, to his credit, Steve does seem to want to stick to the old school way of achieving this where possible).

 

I appreciate that all the record attempts are still incredible hard work (he says with a huge degree of understatement) and take a level of commitment that rules out 99.9999% of us...but, geesh, I am getting increasingly disengaged about the whole thing.   I still think of it as Godwin's record...but hope that Steve does well and finally achieves his.

Avatar
Steve Abraham replied to bobbinogs | 8 years ago
1 like

Bobbinogs wrote:

I initially felt quite enthusiastic about the resurgence of interest in Godwin's record...and then realised that it could be broken by riding a recumbent endlessly round a flat velo track in a nice constant 20 degs C...or by any number of other ways to 'soften' the task, merely reducing it to a simple statistic of "miles ridden" (albeit that, to his credit, Steve does seem to want to stick to the old school way of achieving this where possible).

 

I appreciate that all the record attempts are still incredible hard work (he says with a huge degree of understatement) and take a level of commitment that rules out 99.9999% of us...but, geesh, I am getting increasingly disengaged about the whole thing.   I still think of it as Godwin's record...but hope that Steve does well and finally achieves his.

 

That's the way it's always been. Back in Godwin's day, it was a battle between the UK and Australia. Now it's between the UK and the USA as well as some attempts in Australia.

 

Avatar
Simontuck | 8 years ago
0 likes

If you go on his facebook page you can find out how to ride with him. As he's allowed to draft, I'm sure he's quite happy for people to ride with him in front of him. He said that last time lots said they would ride with him but he still ended up alone quite a lot, so he's trying to drum up a bit more support by arranging group rides. He's looking for riders to start at MK McDonalds at 2315 on New Years Eve for either 100 or 230 mile training ride. He'll then be at MK Trek who are servicing his bike this year between 1400-1700. Check his Facebook page. Steve Abraham!!

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