Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => Racing => Topic started by: Karla on 02 January, 2013, 12:24:57 am

Title: Another round the world record
Post by: Karla on 02 January, 2013, 12:24:57 am
Thomas Grosserichter (http://www.cyclingtheworld.de/) rolled up to the Brandenburger Tor on December 31st, having completed his solo bicycle circumnagigation in 105 days, 1 hour and 44 minutes.  This is under the new Guinness rules, where total elapsed time is what counts (a bit like audax!) and under which, Mike Hall's ride took 108 days. 

In contrast to Mike Hall, Thomas had a support crew, who stayed with him for the whole trip as far as I can tell.  I'm sure we'll hear more when it gets onto an english language news site.
Title: Re: Another round the world record
Post by: helen_miles on 02 January, 2013, 10:41:28 am
This is under the new Guinness rules, where total elapsed time is what counts
I don't understand that, how did the old system work?
Title: Re: Another round the world record
Post by: Karla on 02 January, 2013, 10:49:59 am
Transfer time didn't count, only time spent riding your bike.  They changed it just after Mike Hall had set his record, which was originally going to be just under 92 days, but then they added on the extra 16 days he spent between continents - so he rode under one set of rules, then had his record awarded under a different set.  ISTR he was a bit narked off about it - he'll probably be even more narked now!
Title: Re: Another round the world record
Post by: helen_miles on 02 January, 2013, 10:55:21 am
Oh I see. That seems to make sense but now the record time depends to an extent on how fast an aeroplane you can afford to travel in between continents? I suppose a few hours either side isn't really that big a deal.

Look like a heck of an achievement though.

[How odd, my spellchecker won't accept aeroplane, wants to replace it with 'planner'.]
Title: Re: Another round the world record
Post by: clarion on 02 January, 2013, 10:55:44 am
There should be different records for supported and unsupported, surely?
Title: Re: Another round the world record
Post by: helen_miles on 02 January, 2013, 10:57:58 am
There should be different records for supported and unsupported, surely?
I would imagine that those two terms would be so difficult to define as to make differentiation almost impossible.

I mean in particular 'unsupported' since who can travel round the world without any assistance at all?
Title: Re: Another round the world record
Post by: clarion on 02 January, 2013, 10:59:35 am
Guinness make it their business to make difficult definitions.
Title: Re: Another round the world record
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 02 January, 2013, 11:02:24 am
Guinness are a make it their business who make money out of changing to make difficult definitions.

FTFY

I hadn't heard about this. I would be more than a bit narked if I were Mike.

There is also a world of difference between supported and unsupported.
Title: Re: Another round the world record
Post by: helen_miles on 02 January, 2013, 11:05:05 am
And thinking about it making the definitions isn't that hard I suppose. They just decide on something and since they make the rules the decision can be fairly arbitrary.
Title: Re: Another round the world record
Post by: Karla on 03 January, 2013, 09:31:37 pm
Oh I see. That seems to make sense but now the record time depends to an extent on how fast an aeroplane you can afford to travel in between continents? I suppose a few hours either side isn't really that big a deal.

It also depends on whether you purposely take a leeeetle bit longer to do your transfers, in order to give yourself a break between legs.  I believe Mike did some of this, as this wouldn't affect  his time under the old rules.  Thomas, of course, knew about the new rules and therefore knew he had to minimise his transfer time.