Author Topic: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end  (Read 10446 times)

her_welshness

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    • Lewisham Cyclists
Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #50 on: 04 August, 2009, 09:26:38 am »
They are just north of Lockerbie  :)

Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #51 on: 04 August, 2009, 09:32:24 am »
I must take issue with the earlier comment that Cracknell is a better bike handler than Romero. I was the start timekeeper and observer in the first following vehicle till Preston.Romero started on the front and they changed tandems about every 3 hours.It was very apparent that she was a very good bike handler taking a better line through corners,a straighter line generally and a better choice of gear.As the ride progressed Cracknell seemed to improve in his ability to ride in a straight line.

David Martin

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Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #52 on: 04 August, 2009, 09:43:26 am »
I noticed they were alternating turns on the front. Are they using two tandems?
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clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #53 on: 04 August, 2009, 09:46:00 am »
Talking to one of the RRA observers this evening. It seems they have two tandems set up so they can swap front to back. They swapped at Bodmin, and again just north of Exeter. ...

Seems so.
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Snakehips

  • Twixt London and leafy Surrey
Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #54 on: 04 August, 2009, 09:57:13 am »
I noticed they were alternating turns on the front. Are they using two tandems?

'The pair will be using two custom built Dolan tandems for the attempt – one for Romero to stoke (pedal at the back) and one on which Cracknell can take care of stoking duties.' ..... according to a piece on Bikeradar

Snake

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Manotea

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Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #55 on: 04 August, 2009, 09:58:17 am »
65.25 hours, including getting seriously lost on the final run-in.

He was stopping decent intervals at controls too.  Was he supported ? Not sure.

He wandered into Gamblingay on his own and stayed 15~20 minutes. Didn't seem to be in a hurry...

Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #56 on: 04 August, 2009, 10:38:38 am »
I must take issue with the earlier comment that Cracknell is a better bike handler than Romero. I was the start timekeeper and observer in the first following vehicle till Preston.Romero started on the front and they changed tandems about every 3 hours.It was very apparent that she was a very good bike handler taking a better line through corners,a straighter line generally and a better choice of gear.As the ride progressed Cracknell seemed to improve in his ability to ride in a straight line.

Dunno whether that was me or my informant misremembering.

Fidgetbuzz

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Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #57 on: 04 August, 2009, 11:22:28 am »
Reports around that they have abandoned for medical reasons


Albert_Herring #cracknell #romero have abandoned the attempt for medical reasons at Johnsonbridge nr Moffatt 0955, says ttforum #lejog
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clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #58 on: 04 August, 2009, 11:29:13 am »
It's all over twitter, but is it verified?

Blackburnrod, you're probably our most reliable source for this sort of information - any news?
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her_welshness

  • Slut of a librarian
    • Lewisham Cyclists
Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #59 on: 04 August, 2009, 12:13:50 pm »
Cycling Plus have verified that its all over - Rebecca has a bad knee.  :'(

Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #60 on: 04 August, 2009, 12:14:05 pm »
It's all over twitter, but is it verified?

Blackburnrod, you're probably our most reliable source for this sort of information - any news?

It's confirmed on the Telegraph (sponsors) site that they've abandoned - James Cracknell begins Land's End to John O' Groats cycling challenge - Telegraph
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clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #61 on: 04 August, 2009, 12:25:56 pm »
Is this a symptom of their poor preparation?

Telegraph report on end to attempt

Sounds like they're prepared to have another crack at it.  I hope they do.  They reached Johnstonebridge before having to abandon because of Rebecca's knee. :(
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andygates

  • Peroxide Viking
Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #62 on: 04 August, 2009, 01:36:38 pm »
Oh, rotten luck.
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rdaviesb

Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #63 on: 04 August, 2009, 01:45:05 pm »
That's a shame. Just shows how tough a record this will be to break, but well done to both for getting that far.

Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #64 on: 04 August, 2009, 01:57:40 pm »
Is this a symptom of their poor preparation?
You might say they should have done some tests at similar distances and found this out already. I don't know if other records attempters do though. Maybe they were using too big a gear for too long, maybe she just has a dodgy knee which isn't up to this about of exercise with no break. Shes an Olympian but still human.  Hard to say if it could have been prevented.

Charlotte

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Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #65 on: 04 August, 2009, 02:29:00 pm »
Oh poo.  I honestly thought that Crackers and Romero were going to pull it off.
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clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Romero/Cracknell tandem RRA end to end
« Reply #66 on: 04 August, 2009, 02:30:30 pm »
They were definitely on for it earlier.  I'd been sceptical, but was getting to believe...
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