Can anyone list the exact requirements for Guinness certification? There seems to be lots of conjecture re: what they require. What were the rules on Janet Davison?
I'm not aware of the current conditions required by Guinness being published by them anywhere. But here are a couple of excerpts from
Janet Davison's blog in July last year:
In some ways it isn’t so surprising that Guinness who administer the world records take this seriously. After all, the whole world record concept would lose credibility if it was possible to cheat. The main evidence I have to provide is a file containing my route downloaded from my Garmin (cycling GPS) and converted into a standard file format. This is absolutely essential, so to ensure I can comply with this I take with me a second Garmin and have access to a third at home if one of the two Garmins fail. This proves where the GPS has been, but this could be me being driven round in a car! To be certain I am cycling I provide video and photographic evidence of me with my bike from various points on the route such as town signs. I also have to keep an old fashioned paper log in which people I meet on the way sign to confirm they have seen me cycling. This is why you will see from previous blogs I am referencing various bike shops and other businesses I have visited. I video all of these encounters, to provide confirmatory evidence. I have also got kind neighbours who are videoing/photographing me setting off and returning every day.
I have to compile my own log of where I have been and who I have met so that if questioned I can personally substantiate where I have been and who I have met on every day. This needs to be absolutely consistent with all my other records.
It all takes me about an hour every night to compile the daily evidence and load it onto Dropbox, then do another backup. This allows my two independent scrutineers to check the evidence. At the end of the ride they will need to confirm the authenticity of my record claim. Everything then gets submitted to Guinness who will conduct their own review of the evidence for the record, checking that I have complied with the rules (more on that in a later blog) and the evidence backs up the record claim. This review is likely to take a few months, and no doubt they will contact some of the people who have signed my logbook.
Whilst compiling the evidence is a chore, especially when I would prefer to be cycling or sleeping, I am pleased this is taken seriously. I must admit to a little paranoia about failing to collect sufficient evidence or forgetting to switch on my Garmin when I set off. I think the greatest risk of me having an accident at the moment is when I'm videoing myself whilst I'm cycling.
Apart from the need to collect evidence to authenticate my record that I described in a previous blog, there are a few rules that Guinness require me to comply with. Some are obvious others less so.
I am not allowed to slipstream or get any other physical aid from anyone else. This is pretty obvious when you think about it. I could simply have a team of ‘lead cyclists’ and sit on their back wheel all day. Slipstreaming requires about 20% less effort than being the lead cyclist. It is the reason breakaways in bike races such as the Tour succeed so rarely. So when I am riding with my super domestique he is hardly putting in any effort and I am doing all the work.
I have to start and finish the event at the same height. In other words I can’t go to the top of a mountain every morning and coast down for 20km or so, and repeat this numerous times in the day and every day. For me this really means I have to start and end the ride at home to avoid getting caught out with an overall net downhill ride.
I have to use the same bike throughout the attempt. I can only change bikes if I provide photographic and video evidence that the bike is not rideable. I can replace components on the bike at any stage, so this really means using the same frame. I must admit I am not too sure of the reason for this, but who am I to argue?
I have to get the written authority from Guinness in advance if I intend to get sponsorship or provide advertising for any other alcoholic brand. Obvious really!
These seem consistent with what Kajsa has to do to comply with Guinness and the assumptions made here on their requirements. Note also the requirement to start each segment at the same elevation as the end of the previous day, not necessarily the same location, so that does at least allow some hops between (some) countries.
It seems clear that Bruce currently falls foul of at least a couple of the requirements:
Not drafting
Written authority in advance in order to use sponsors
And possibly others in relation to extra documentation of his daily progress.
If he thinks its a faff to pay the $30 UMCA entry fee or use a Spot, he's going to have fun with the Guinness requirements.
