[HAMR] Tarzan (Kurt Searvogel)

[clarion]

If it's within the UMCA rules, it goes.

End of.

[LMT]

I thought recumbents were not 'normal' bikes and that they don't climb hills well?

Surely riding them you would not be at an advantage?!

[Mr Larrington]

If they're going to send James Taylor over, I think we should be sending some of our football lads over with a lot of beer to camp outside Tarzans hotel every night, sing songs to thus induce a hefty dose of sleep deprivation.

Or maybe not.

IIRC certain beastly FOREIGNS tried this outside the England team's hotel during the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

That worked

[citoyen]

unnecessarily puerile and partisan, which is exactly what I haven't seen here, with plenty of support for Kurt

Really? I think some of the comments here (mainly the ones suggesting Tarzan's tactics are unsporting) have bordered on the jingoistic.

Which I don't have a problem with, by the way - we need to turn this into cycling's equivalent of the Ryder Cup.

I need to lighten up.

Have a nice cup of tea, love, and it will all seem better.

[KieronY]

If my version of the Trackleader's page for Kurt is correct, it seems as though he's is having a lie-in today. Nearly 9am in Florida and still no movement on his tracker.

He did have mechanical issues again yesterday - hit a kerb and destroyed a tyre which meant a trip to the bike shop at the end of the day, so perhaps waiting for opening time.

Preparation on the tech' side seems to be a weak point for Kurt.

[mcshroom]

I wouldn't have thought that one bike being out of action would have stopped him riding. He has three on the camper (2 TT bikes and 1 'bent). Kurt did suggest he would have a few 100 mile days for recovery. Perhaps he's thinking of doing one of those. Or perhaps the weather's due to be better later

[KieronY]

It all depends where the camper with the bikes is... it may not be following him all day long.

Look at his Strava upload for yesterday... there is a clear 1 hour break at256km/160miles which corresponds to what is written on his FB page about losing an hour due to hitting "construction curb".

[IanDG]

And Fridays are the scheduled rest days

[IanDG]

Tracker now on.

[Climberruss]

He's moving...he's done his first mile!

[Hummers]

OTOH - Steve could just as easily be playing games as giving away tactics here

That's what we are all doing. We hate Steve really. All this stuff on here is to lull Tarzan into a false sense of security.

 

H

[Ningishzidda]

It all depends where the camper with the bikes is... it may not be following him all day long.

Look at his Strava upload for yesterday... there is a clear 1 hour break at256km/160miles which corresponds to what is written on his FB page about losing an hour due to hitting "construction curb".

Its 75 ft in front of him on the other end of a length of bungy cord.

[Ningishzidda]

The only this with an amount of certainty that can be said about this 'race' is,,,

"Steve is in the left hand lane, and Kurt is in the right hand lane."

[Von Broad]

Kurt is in the right hand lane.

As of Friday afternoon, sometime around 10.30am, this specific right hand lane, just here - on another road to infinity.
What struck me about this shot was the presence of clouds though. This is May 2012.
Wouldn't want to be cycling in those kind of conditions 

[Pancho]

Two thoughts:

1. The intercontinentalism of the "competition" means that spectators get almost 24hr coverage for 365 days (God willing). Knocks even a five day Test Match into a cocked hat in the VFM stakes.

2. How will the riders avoid going insane? On the rare occasions when I've had to spend long periods in the saddle alone, my brain goes into some weird loops and breakaways. They'd be carting me off in a straight jacket by day 5 (although, unlike these riders, the men in white coats wouldn't have to travel far to get me).

[Von Broad]

2. How will the riders avoid going insane?

Never mind them, what about us? 

[LittleWheelsandBig]

It is too late for them. The riders are demonstrably insane, just for wanting to tackle this record.

[Ningishzidda]

2. How will the riders avoid going insane?

Steve can compose his acceptance speech for when he receives his knighthood.

[Jacques]

Latest news ... I see on the Tracker he just turned left.

[zigzag]

2. How will the riders avoid going insane? On the rare occasions when I've had to spend long periods in the saddle alone, my brain goes into some weird loops and breakaways.

i'd be listening to audio books, you could almost have a "brain transplant" in that time if you wished so.

[Datameister]

2. How will the riders avoid going insane?

Steve can compose his acceptance speech for when he receives his knighthood.

Or BBC Sports Personality of the Year

[red marley]

Some people cope with being alone better than others. Some actually prefer to be alone. I guess you don't become a long distance rider like these guys unless that is part of your personality.

There's a lovely quote from Billie Flemming, the women's distance record holder when interviewed on her 100th birthday last year:

Q. How would you describe Tommy Godwin?

BF: Well, someone who liked 
riding his bike! He was a 
no-nonsense, hardened rider. 
Not a chatty man.

[Karla]

It is too late for them. The riders are demonstrably insane, just for wanting to tackle this record.

Is there some cycling version of Catch 22 hiding in there?

[aidan.f]

BF: Well, someone who liked 
riding his bike! He was a 
no-nonsense, hardened rider. 
Not a chatty man.

Steve to a T.

[mattc]

When did it become a ‘Race’?

Maybe 'race' isn't quite the mot juste but it's most definitely a contest. And all the more exciting for it.

Of course it's a race. First defn from google is
" a contest of speed"
...  which it most certainly is.

The only debatable aspect is the offset start times,  but that is splitting hairs. It's still about who averages the highest speed over 365 days.