205 miles in a day (Tommy Godwin Challenge) - the Progress thread

[ianrauk]

From Jo from the other place.. The OYTT Website HERE

Day 359 / 140: Christmas day. Kurt leaves Flatwood for a 'recovery day' riding NW for a series of repeats totalling just over one Godwin. He is currently around 1070 miles above the Godwin line. Steve rides back from the Norfolk Broads to MK, suffering a major tyre cut on the way and a forced stop while he waits for repairs. He makes up some of the distance by doing some evening repeats and circuits of the MK Bowl, all in for 182 miles and within a day of taking Ossie Nicholson's 1937 record.

 

[Aperitif]

Article about Steve Abraham, today in The Guardian.

Photo: John Robertson for The Guardian

 

[ianrauk]

From Jo from the other place.. The OYTT Website HERE

Day 360 / 141: Yet another day of Flatwood loops for Kurt. He decides to call it a day after 214 miles when rain stops play. On recent progress, he should be exceed Tommy's record by around 1200 miles by the end of his 365 days. Steve rides 185 miles to Great Yarmouth and in doing so passes Ossie Nicholson's 1937 record of 62,657 miles.

 

[ianrauk]

From Jo from the other place.. The OYTT Website HERE

Day 361 / 142: Alicia's birthday. To celebrate Kurt rides more laps of Flatwood adding another 210 miles to his total. Steve returns from Great Yarmouth in somewhat better weather for 176 miles.

 

[ianrauk]

From Jo from the other place.. The OYTT Website HERE

Day 362 / 143: Kurt counts down on his virtual RAAM by riding another 219 miles around Flatwood Park in the company of various supporters and other riders. Fatigue gets the better of Steve who limits himself to a short trip to the MK Bowl for 25 miles. He is now 2075 miles below the Godwin line, requiring 215 mpd for the next 6 months to equal Tommy's record and over 220 mpd to beat Kurt's likely total.

 

[Dogtrousers]

From Facebook

Steve Abraham
3 hrs ·


This video shows the conditions Steve's facing this week! Not fun! But we also have another health update, which is somewhat more positive.

The good news is that the medical tests we did last week show significant improvements in all Steve's health parameters.

His initial tests - taken back in October and November - had shown serious organ stress from high levels of muscle breakdown and an overly sugar-based diet, which was hindering his post-ride recovery.

To cement this health progress the doctor has told Steve to take a number of forced-rest days, to fully get back to strength for the longer term (hence his full day-off on Monday and his lower miles for the rest of this week).

Steve will begin to build up his daily mileage again - gradually - from this weekend (in order to avoid reversing any health gains from the rest days).

We'll keep you posted as he progresses.
​

Followed by a video of trees blowing in the wind.

 

[Pale Rider]

From Facebook

​

Followed by a video of trees blowing in the wind.

Could have been followed by a video of Steve peeing in the wind, which I think is what he's now doing in terms of the record attempt.

 

[ianrauk]

Could have been followed by a video of Steve peeing in the wind, which I think is what he's now doing in terms of the record attempt.

Have to agree.
This attempt is all but over.

 

[rowdin]

Wasn't Tommy at one point two thousand miles behind his own average pace ?

 

[T4tomo]

yep 4000+actually from graph above, he made it up in the long days of the summer months being paced by chain gangs of willing helpers I think.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Could have been followed by a video of Steve peeing in the wind, which I think is what he's now doing in terms of the record attempt.

Not looking good is it? Speaking purely as a layman, ignorant of mega distance cycling.

 

[Pale Rider]

Not looking good is it? Speaking purely as a layman, ignorant of mega distance cycling.

No it isn't looking good, although as @T4tomo and @rowdin point out, Tommy also fell way below what turned out to be his year daily average.

Against that is Tommy was moving into the better weather at the same number of days in, and had not already done 60K+ miles.

Steve has never shown the ability to put in the consistent 220+ mile days which will be needed to drag him up to and above the Godwin average.

Steve's team has hardly played a blinder.

In the last couple of weeks, vehicle transfers have suddenly been deemed to be a good idea.

If that's the case, why were transfers not considered from day one?

The diet change fiasco would be bordering on laughable, were it not having a serious impact on a person's health.

I hope Steve draws a line under the current attempts at close of play today, then takes as much time as he needs to get well and reassess the viability of a new attempt.

 

[ianrauk]

From Jo from the other place.. The OYTT Website HERE

Day 363 / 144: 212 miles of Flatwood laps for Kurt has he continues to tick off the virtual RAAM checkpoints. Steve has a late start and rides to 141 miles to Basingstoke via the Cotswolds yet again battling winter headwinds.

 

[ianrauk]

From Jo from the other place.. The OYTT Website HERE

Day 364 / 145: Kurt puts another 216 miles in the bag via Flatwood Park and his virtual RAAM. He and Alicia agree to stick to Flatwood until the record is broken. Steve makes the return from Basingstoke with some wet weather but the benefit of some tailwind. He passes MK ending his 176 miles in King's Lynn.

 

[velovoice]

Just a reminder... there is also a discussion thread HERE.
Shall we see about getting some of these, ahem, what I call "armchair critics" posts moved over there?