Round the world in 80 days by bike - Mark Beaumont
Discussion
Incredible feat byt this man. On day 4, started in Paris, crossed into Poland this am, averaging about 400km per day.
Live tracker on his website here:
http://www.artemisworldcycle.com/
Hope he makes it!!
Live tracker on his website here:
http://www.artemisworldcycle.com/
Hope he makes it!!
How is this not getting more comments?
He has now covered approx. 6000km in 16 days! Mark is a machine especially given the crash which almost knocked out one of his teeth.
I have watched the planning of this monumental challenge unfold as the company I work next door to, called Leadership Challenge have constructed the whole event on behalf of Mark.
Follow him on FB
https://www.facebook.com/MarkBeaumontAdventures
He has now covered approx. 6000km in 16 days! Mark is a machine especially given the crash which almost knocked out one of his teeth.
I have watched the planning of this monumental challenge unfold as the company I work next door to, called Leadership Challenge have constructed the whole event on behalf of Mark.
Follow him on FB
https://www.facebook.com/MarkBeaumontAdventures
JontyR said:
How is this not getting more comments?
He has now covered approx. 6000km in 16 days! Mark is a machine especially given the crash which almost knocked out one of his teeth.
I have watched the planning of this monumental challenge unfold as the company I work next door to, called Leadership Challenge have constructed the whole event on behalf of Mark.
Follow him on FB
https://www.facebook.com/MarkBeaumontAdventures
Please don't think for one moment I'm unimpressed with his Herculean efforts, but one reason it's not getting more 'love' generally might be the "constructed the whole event on behalf of" element.He has now covered approx. 6000km in 16 days! Mark is a machine especially given the crash which almost knocked out one of his teeth.
I have watched the planning of this monumental challenge unfold as the company I work next door to, called Leadership Challenge have constructed the whole event on behalf of Mark.
Follow him on FB
https://www.facebook.com/MarkBeaumontAdventures
One of our own (PHer neilski... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=11... ) did a round the world trip, raising money for UNICEF on the way. But he was one man, often camping wild, having trouble with visas etc, and not on a timetable with a support car and bookings in hotels at night. I'm not saying it's right, but I do feel like the "romance" of such an undertaking has been kicked into touch, and it feels a little 'clinical' in the end.
I'm following him on Strava during this challenge. I'm in awe of the physical effort, and the mental challenge of what he's doing. I really am. I did 103 miles yesterday with 6,500 feet of climbing, but at a rather pedestrian 13 mph average. I've done a couple of 250-mile weeks in the last month or so too. So I have something to go off when trying to get my head around what he's set out to do. I certainly couldn't entertain the idea of this particular challenge.
It's lacking "romance" in a similar in a way to the woman in the USA who was out to smash the all time 1 year mileage record. She just rode laps and laps and laps of a local low traffic, low elevation circuit. Great for her challenge, but she's trying to snatch the record from someone who was cycling around the UK in all weathers. Yes, it conforms to the "rules" of the challenge, but to my mind it just doesn't fire my imagination in the same way as a chap on his own, with a tent and a credit card, riding the North Coast 500 in the pissing rain. When I ride a century I depend on what I can carry and what I can buy for fuel and fluids. It would not be the same for me if I could just stick out an arm and be served up a sandwich and a bottle of coke, or pull over into a layby alongside the team car for a quick leg massage.
Sorry, but there it is - my opinion. It's no more 'right' than the next person's opinion, but I'm sticking with it.
yellowjack said:
Please don't think for one moment I'm unimpressed with his Herculean efforts, but one reason it's not getting more 'love' generally might be the "constructed the whole event on behalf of" element.
One of our own (PHer neilski... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=11... ) did a round the world trip, raising money for UNICEF on the way. But he was one man, often camping wild, having trouble with visas etc, and not on a timetable with a support car and bookings in hotels at night. I'm not saying it's right, but I do feel like the "romance" of such an undertaking has been kicked into touch, and it feels a little 'clinical' in the end.
I'm following him on Strava during this challenge. I'm in awe of the physical effort, and the mental challenge of what he's doing. I really am. I did 103 miles yesterday with 6,500 feet of climbing, but at a rather pedestrian 13 mph average. I've done a couple of 250-mile weeks in the last month or so too. So I have something to go off when trying to get my head around what he's set out to do. I certainly couldn't entertain the idea of this particular challenge.
It's lacking "romance" in a similar in a way to the woman in the USA who was out to smash the all time 1 year mileage record. She just rode laps and laps and laps of a local low traffic, low elevation circuit. Great for her challenge, but she's trying to snatch the record from someone who was cycling around the UK in all weathers. Yes, it conforms to the "rules" of the challenge, but to my mind it just doesn't fire my imagination in the same way as a chap on his own, with a tent and a credit card, riding the North Coast 500 in the pissing rain. When I ride a century I depend on what I can carry and what I can buy for fuel and fluids. It would not be the same for me if I could just stick out an arm and be served up a sandwich and a bottle of coke, or pull over into a layby alongside the team car for a quick leg massage.
Sorry, but there it is - my opinion. It's no more 'right' than the next person's opinion, but I'm sticking with it.
He did an unsupported round the world 10 years ago - he can do it, he's chosen to take a different path this time. One of our own (PHer neilski... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=11... ) did a round the world trip, raising money for UNICEF on the way. But he was one man, often camping wild, having trouble with visas etc, and not on a timetable with a support car and bookings in hotels at night. I'm not saying it's right, but I do feel like the "romance" of such an undertaking has been kicked into touch, and it feels a little 'clinical' in the end.
I'm following him on Strava during this challenge. I'm in awe of the physical effort, and the mental challenge of what he's doing. I really am. I did 103 miles yesterday with 6,500 feet of climbing, but at a rather pedestrian 13 mph average. I've done a couple of 250-mile weeks in the last month or so too. So I have something to go off when trying to get my head around what he's set out to do. I certainly couldn't entertain the idea of this particular challenge.
It's lacking "romance" in a similar in a way to the woman in the USA who was out to smash the all time 1 year mileage record. She just rode laps and laps and laps of a local low traffic, low elevation circuit. Great for her challenge, but she's trying to snatch the record from someone who was cycling around the UK in all weathers. Yes, it conforms to the "rules" of the challenge, but to my mind it just doesn't fire my imagination in the same way as a chap on his own, with a tent and a credit card, riding the North Coast 500 in the pissing rain. When I ride a century I depend on what I can carry and what I can buy for fuel and fluids. It would not be the same for me if I could just stick out an arm and be served up a sandwich and a bottle of coke, or pull over into a layby alongside the team car for a quick leg massage.
Sorry, but there it is - my opinion. It's no more 'right' than the next person's opinion, but I'm sticking with it.
It's one thing riding 100 miles, i've done it multiple times, but doing 240 miles day in day out - that's some steely grit and determination to get up and onto the bike each morning.
I'm incredibly impressed by his efforts, and have a lot of respect for the man, incidentally he is also raising money for charity - hoping to raise £180000 which some could say is a reasonably significant contirbution ( http://www.artemisworldcycle.com/charity/ )
I'm watching daily - and I say good luck to the man, you have my respect!! I couldn't do it, and don't believe many could!
scotlandtim? I'm with you. Really I am. Like I said, I did a couple of 250 mile WEEKS last month and it pretty much wiped me out to the point where I took a week off the bike.
The effort it takes is not in question. I just see it as lacking a bit of "one man versus the world" romance is all.
The effort it takes is not in question. I just see it as lacking a bit of "one man versus the world" romance is all.
yellowjack said:
scotlandtim? I'm with you. Really I am. Like I said, I did a couple of 250 mile WEEKS last month and it pretty much wiped me out to the point where I took a week off the bike.
The effort it takes is not in question. I just see it as lacking a bit of "one man versus the world" romance is all.
You're spot on there dude - it's not one man against the world this time round! I think we're singing from the same hymnsheet - just wanted to clarify a couple of your points!The effort it takes is not in question. I just see it as lacking a bit of "one man versus the world" romance is all.
For those interested the BBC doc of his round the world is on You Tube - worth watching if you've got an hour or two to spare!
Good Luck Mark - Chapeau!
Take as long as you like on a "personal journey", he is going for a world record. I expect the cycling is a known known to him, the things that will eat into the record or how impressive the final time is will be all the faffing around and / or any unplanned events.
I am sure the body gets conditioned to this level of attrition but I couldn't possibly imagine it. Seriously hard core.
I am sure the body gets conditioned to this level of attrition but I couldn't possibly imagine it. Seriously hard core.
I agree there is a support crew with him, but hotels and the likes...no. Most days he is cycling for around 18-20 hours so he is getting a small amount of sleep in the back of the attending campervan...having first had some physiotherapy.
As for non inspiring, I guess my description didn't help the cause and went to show the level of detail that went into the planning, but even this level of planning didn't help with the start as some of the roads were shut and so the beginning was definitely hampered.
But even so, the Tour De France is a gruelling event and that has back up cars with spare bikes and teams of physios on hand and each year we are impressed with the winner (apart from Lance Armstrong) So how is this any different? I understand that he could have gone down two routes: the first 1 man and his bike cycling around the world and living off his wits each and every day. Or the second option is to get round the world in less time than Mr Fogg, and for that he required a bit of support.
As for non inspiring, I guess my description didn't help the cause and went to show the level of detail that went into the planning, but even this level of planning didn't help with the start as some of the roads were shut and so the beginning was definitely hampered.
But even so, the Tour De France is a gruelling event and that has back up cars with spare bikes and teams of physios on hand and each year we are impressed with the winner (apart from Lance Armstrong) So how is this any different? I understand that he could have gone down two routes: the first 1 man and his bike cycling around the world and living off his wits each and every day. Or the second option is to get round the world in less time than Mr Fogg, and for that he required a bit of support.
JontyR said:
...but even so, the Tour De France is a gruelling event and that has back up cars with spare bikes and teams of physios on hand and each year we are impressed with the winner (apart from Lance Armstrong) So how is this any different?...
It's not different. For which reason I'm not a great fan of the TdF either.I've studied a bit of the history of Le Tour and it was certainly different in the early days. Absolutely NO help was permitted. There are tales of riders breaking their forks and having to walk to a local forge. But once there, they couldn't simply engage the blacksmith to effect a repair - they had to do the work themselves to avoid disqualification.
Again, and it goes back to my opinion on Mr Beaumont's challenge, the TdF IS grueling. It IS a magnificent feat of endurance, physically and mentally. It's also a triumph of order over apparent chaos for the back up teams as well as the riders. But it doesn't really spark my imagination, and I find I prefer riding my own bike with my well-stuffed saddle-bag, and my lights and lock, with my pockets stuffed with cash, cereal bars, and an extra water-bottle, to sitting on a sofa watching the professional peloton doing battle over mountain passes.
And as I said before, it's just my opinion. It's not right, nor is it wrong. It's just mine...
Not got to the level of watching the live tracker yet but regular checks on twitter during the day and Strava around tea-time to see how his day has went....
I'm also just under 1/2 way through the book from his first time doing it properly unsupported... totally get why the support makes it slightly less challenging but when he was doing it camping etc he was targeting 100m per day, he's now targeting 240m per day, even with someone providing your food, somewhere to sleep (assume mostly campervan) and physio that is a monumental effort.... 15 hours plus on the bike per day with c5 hours sleep per night.... crazy.....
I'm also just under 1/2 way through the book from his first time doing it properly unsupported... totally get why the support makes it slightly less challenging but when he was doing it camping etc he was targeting 100m per day, he's now targeting 240m per day, even with someone providing your food, somewhere to sleep (assume mostly campervan) and physio that is a monumental effort.... 15 hours plus on the bike per day with c5 hours sleep per night.... crazy.....
JontyR said:
I agree there is a support crew with him, but hotels and the likes...no. Most days he is cycling for around 18-20 hours so he is getting a small amount of sleep in the back of the attending campervan...having first had some physiotherapy.
I would think one of the biggest stresses of a round the world is probably personal safety, along with not getting the bike nicked, so the support crew makes it a lot less stressful.hyphen said:
I would think one of the biggest stresses of a round the world is probably personal safety, along with not getting the bike nicked, so the support crew makes it a lot less stressful.
I heard an interview with one bloke who'd done it who said that once you realise that you're in the middle of nowhere and no one has seen you duck off the road to find somewhere to kip you'll more than likely be OK. You obviously need to avoid anywhere war-torn or anywhere else you'd normally avoid. As for the bike it always seems to be when they get it back here with 20 odd thousand miles on them that they get nicked from outside a shop or something.
hyphen said:
JontyR said:
I agree there is a support crew with him, but hotels and the likes...no. Most days he is cycling for around 18-20 hours so he is getting a small amount of sleep in the back of the attending campervan...having first had some physiotherapy.
I would think one of the biggest stresses of a round the world is probably personal safety, along with not getting the bike nicked, so the support crew makes it a lot less stressful.Can you imagine hitting the same pothole and being on your own? Yes someone will realise something is wrong after 12 hours of not updating your twitter feed etc, but anything could have happened in that time.
Generally speaking I've found the world to be much safer than we're led to believe. Especially for a cycling hobo.
He's riding approximately 16 hours per day, which despite sounding crazy to the layman is, I think, sustainable with a support crew taking care of all other needs. It's still pushing the envelope and I'll be keen to follow how he's doing as the days tick over. I don't want to undermine the effort but if he can avoid any major incidents and illnesses then I think he'll comfortably manage it. If I could muster similar support (an incredible accomplishment itself) and secure a long enough pass (an even harder task) then I'd love to have a crack at the record.
He's riding approximately 16 hours per day, which despite sounding crazy to the layman is, I think, sustainable with a support crew taking care of all other needs. It's still pushing the envelope and I'll be keen to follow how he's doing as the days tick over. I don't want to undermine the effort but if he can avoid any major incidents and illnesses then I think he'll comfortably manage it. If I could muster similar support (an incredible accomplishment itself) and secure a long enough pass (an even harder task) then I'd love to have a crack at the record.
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