Around the world in 80 days.......
Discussion
Cyclist Mark Beaumont targets around the world ride in 80 days - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-39479386
What's the thoughts from the experienced endurance guys like Gruffy? 18000 miles in 80 days, 16 hours and 240 miles per day (fully supported)....
What's the thoughts from the experienced endurance guys like Gruffy? 18000 miles in 80 days, 16 hours and 240 miles per day (fully supported)....
I think it's a challenge, no doubt, but perfectly achievable with the right planning and support. Mike Hall's round the world record was 91 days of riding (107 total) and that was completely unsupported. A full support crew and a comfortable place to sleep each night is easily worth the difference, but you still have to get it done and Mike is a tough yardstick to measure yourself against.
Best of luck to him. I'd love to have a go one day.
Best of luck to him. I'd love to have a go one day.
There's always a bigger fish!Day 1 https://www.strava.com/activities/928333008
He's done exactly what he needs to do against his current target (400km a day), but his power is very high for that pace, on what was a relatively still and flat day, with a support vehicle. Suggests he may need to improve his position/aero somehow.
For what it's worth, I think he should be testing at 450+ for this coastal run. During his RTW attempt he'll want to bank some extra distance on the early days on European roads and then still be able to do 400s on the rougher stuff 2 months in.
He's done exactly what he needs to do against his current target (400km a day), but his power is very high for that pace, on what was a relatively still and flat day, with a support vehicle. Suggests he may need to improve his position/aero somehow.
For what it's worth, I think he should be testing at 450+ for this coastal run. During his RTW attempt he'll want to bank some extra distance on the early days on European roads and then still be able to do 400s on the rougher stuff 2 months in.
It is certainly an impressive challenge but I'm not a massive fan of this chap....
He comes across to me as slightly 'me, me, me' and at the end of the day, I can't help feeling that he has found a way to indulge his hobby so that he doesn't have to work!
Sorry if that comes across badly but having watched him on TV several times (admittedly not read his book/s) I don't fundamentally warm to him.
Not sure what he thinks of me either 😏
Ps - would still be very impressive but I predict a spectacular but plucky fail I'm afraid.
He comes across to me as slightly 'me, me, me' and at the end of the day, I can't help feeling that he has found a way to indulge his hobby so that he doesn't have to work!
Sorry if that comes across badly but having watched him on TV several times (admittedly not read his book/s) I don't fundamentally warm to him.
Not sure what he thinks of me either 😏
Ps - would still be very impressive but I predict a spectacular but plucky fail I'm afraid.
See your point I think you have to be a bit narcissistic for projects like this, otherwise it just wouldn't get done
I liked his programmes in the past, he was very down to earth
Lots of people I know have seen him talk live and really enjoyed it and how understated he was
I think if you stuck a camera on me after 200 miles I would "not be myself"
He looks quite gaunt, I understand he has trained harder and is fitter, he looks like me when my body fat gets around or under 10% my face goes very boney so people think I am ill!
I liked his programmes in the past, he was very down to earth
Lots of people I know have seen him talk live and really enjoyed it and how understated he was
I think if you stuck a camera on me after 200 miles I would "not be myself"
He looks quite gaunt, I understand he has trained harder and is fitter, he looks like me when my body fat gets around or under 10% my face goes very boney so people think I am ill!
Slaav said:
I can't help feeling that he has found a way to indulge his hobby so that he doesn't have to work!
And all credit to him for that!!In reality, he will be 'working' fairly hard. He gives talks several times a week and the amount of legwork required to build and maintain a profile shouldn't be underestimated. It's not manual labour but there'll be a substantial amount of time devoted to things behind the scenes, as well as the writing and content production that's a requirement to generate any revenue. It's incredibly hard to earn a living from adventuring. It's really a case of earning just enough to survive, doing the thing you'd spend any money on anyway. I wish I was brave enough to follow suit.
With that being said, I've never seen any of his shows and only managed a handful of chapters from the book of his first lap of the world. The game has moved on a bit since, clearly, but tales of 100 miles a day with an accompanying masseur didn't inspire me enough to carry on with the book. I plan to give another of his more recent books a go though. I also plan to steal a couple of his records at some point
His Day 2 files still show very high power for a mellow pace. It's not the sort of power that I think you can sustain for 80 days of 200 miles. Hopefully he can find the aero/weight/rolling resistance gains that seem to be holding him back. Shallow wheels seem an odd choice when you have a support vehicle.
Seems he came past my place yesterday afternoon some time. I would have liked to have been able to go and give him some encouragement, but I guess it wasn't to be.
It's properly lumpy on the main road past us, which may explain the slightly lower than projected mileage.
WRT the power meter, you'd hope it was calibrated correctly, right?
It's properly lumpy on the main road past us, which may explain the slightly lower than projected mileage.
WRT the power meter, you'd hope it was calibrated correctly, right?
Another day done, average of 14mph with a chunk of climbing.
Gruffy - average power down to 149w today. I've never had a power meter so can't quite relate but do note his average heart rate has been very low throughout, 103 today with peak of 132..... By no means an endurance expert and certainly not on a bike but that would read to me like he's not overly taxed?
Making interesting watching so far anyway....look forward to the main event....
Gruffy - average power down to 149w today. I've never had a power meter so can't quite relate but do note his average heart rate has been very low throughout, 103 today with peak of 132..... By no means an endurance expert and certainly not on a bike but that would read to me like he's not overly taxed?
Making interesting watching so far anyway....look forward to the main event....
chris_c201 said:
Another day done, average of 14mph with a chunk of climbing.
Gruffy - average power down to 149w today. I've never had a power meter so can't quite relate but do note his average heart rate has been very low throughout, 103 today with peak of 132..... By no means an endurance expert and certainly not on a bike but that would read to me like he's not overly taxed?
Making interesting watching so far anyway....look forward to the main event....
I wouldn't be surprised to see that drop to 130W in the next few days. Heart rate is where I'd expect it to be and is very typical for this kind of riding. Mark may have a whopper FTP or can sit at 200W for two weeks, but I think it's unlikely for somebody training for ultra-distance. My comments aren't that he's riding too hard but that the power numbers seem high for the pace. It may be a calibration issue or there may be weight/aero/rolling resistance elements contributing.Gruffy - average power down to 149w today. I've never had a power meter so can't quite relate but do note his average heart rate has been very low throughout, 103 today with peak of 132..... By no means an endurance expert and certainly not on a bike but that would read to me like he's not overly taxed?
Making interesting watching so far anyway....look forward to the main event....
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff