[HAMR] Tarzan (Kurt Searvogel)

[paul851]

Interesting that earlier in the year Kurt only had Alicia for support and Steve had the massed ranks of AUK egging him on , now it looks as if Steve will finish his first attempt tonight rather quietly whilst Kurt has more and more riders eager to help him finish.


Paul

[mattc]

Paul,
There are dozens of support messages posted for Steve this week here and on FB. Quick example (from an AUK trophy winner):

... Well done Steve you are such an inspiration and I genuinely can't believe how you have continued to ride massive distances daily with everything that has happened on the illness, injury and weather fronts. You will be talked about for years and decades to come and you have reawakened the interest in the HAMR.  It's been amazing to watch from the sidelines.

Meanwhile there is now at least as much cash coming in (via SOs) as on Jan 1st.

I'll let you analyse how much Kurt's support has increased, and why that might be ... 

[wajcgac]

I would imagine that they are good cyclists from the UMCA or other top local cyclists.

I think you might be underselling some of them

If you Google John and Jacquie Schlitter (renowned recumbent riders) you'll not find many people with better credentials for helping Kurt.

https://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raam/raam2.php?N_webcat_id=51

John appears in various RAAM records

http://vitebikes.com/jacquie-schlitters-impressive-accomplishments-ultra-racing/

When they ride with him you can expect high mileage and high speed

https://www.strava.com/activities/455812530

Fortunately for anyone hoping to beat Kurt I think they've only ridden a handful of times around Flatwoods with him.

[Exit Stage Left]

Which threads on YACF have had more views than this one, will it top 200,000?

[paul851]

Paul,
There are dozens of support messages posted for Steve this week here and on FB. Quick example (from an AUK trophy winner):

... Well done Steve you are such an inspiration and I genuinely can't believe how you have continued to ride massive distances daily with everything that has happened on the illness, injury and weather fronts. You will be talked about for years and decades to come and you have reawakened the interest in the HAMR.  It's been amazing to watch from the sidelines.

Meanwhile there is now at least as much cash coming in (via SOs) as on Jan 1st.

I'll let you analyse how much Kurt's support has increased, and why that might be ... 

Very true Matt , probably just me feeling melancholy at the year's end and wishing Steve could have had the finish we where all hoping for I think .



Paul

[Jacamo]

I would imagine that they are good cyclists from the UMCA or other top local cyclists.

Just took a look at the UMCA website. Couldn't find Ms Coker there, but Randel and Miller are members. Randel has some 200+ mile 12 hr races and Miller has some 400+ mile 24 hr races and one 400 mile race well under 24hrs.

[TimC]

At the beginning of the year Kurt was little-known over here, and I got the impression that quite a few people were reluctant to believe that he could seriously compete with Steve in the endurance cycling business. Over the course of the year he's obviously proved himself an incredible rider, and his and Alicia's story, told largely on Facebook, has generated much interest and warmth towards them both, and widespread admiration for their approach and their success. The closer the successful end of the year comes, the more the story gets out and the more interest is generated, and it's thoroughly deserved.

[woollypigs]

Alicia and the little known team Tarzan has done wonders and amazing thing this last year, bloody awzome

[Wowbagger]

Another 226 yesterday. About 800 to do.

[Justin(e)]

... told largely on Facebook, has generated much interest and warmth towards them both, and widespread admiration ...

They genuinely come across as likable people.

Wishing them success in their marriage.

[Arry-R]

Is he nearly there yet?

 

[Lars]

... told largely on Facebook, has generated much interest and warmth towards them both, and widespread admiration ...

They genuinely come across as likable people.

Wishing them success in their marriage.

+1

It's been good fun following their adventure and watching the Facebook feeds over the year!
Will miss following Kurt's daily progress!

[Wowbagger]

Does he plan a ride up to the White House on 9th Jan, to meet Mr. President?

Or, as a resident of Arkansas, would it be more likely that he will enjoy his cigar with ex-president Clinton?

[hillbilly]

Does he plan a ride up to the White House on 9th Jan, to meet Mr. President?

Or, as a resident of Arkansas, would it be more likely that he will enjoy his cigar with ex-president Clinton?

Good god, yACF has changed. Cigar. Clinton. And nobody alluded to *that* incident.

[SoreTween]

It's been good fun following their adventure and watching the Facebook feeds over the year!
Will miss following Kurt's daily progress!

So will I. Given Alicia's recent demonstration of form how about returning the favor in 2017 eh Kurt?

[TimC]

It's been good fun following their adventure and watching the Facebook feeds over the year!
Will miss following Kurt's daily progress!

So will I. Given Alicia's recent demonstration of form how about returning the favor in 2017 eh Kurt?

Perhaps Steve can borrow both of them; Kurt to pace him and Alicia to provide RV-based support?!

[Karla]

from Facebook

Started out with 50 miles solo before meeting up with Amanda Coker and Chris Miller before lunch. Alicia Searvogel, Phil, Kim Rowe, Rubin Randel where working it for afternoon. Amanda PR 145 miles and Alicia had a pr of 21mph average for 50 miles.

Does anyone know who these people are? With the speeds/distances they're riding, I have a hard time believing they're just random riders that Kurt is latching onto.

While good, it's worth pointing out that a 21 mph 50 isn't exceptional pro-level performance either, more the sort of thing you'd expect to find in the racing section of any decent club. 

FYI, the British 50 mile TT records are 31.7 and 28.1 mph for men and women respectively, both set by amateur riders. 

[Wowbagger]

Does he plan a ride up to the White House on 9th Jan, to meet Mr. President?

Or, as a resident of Arkansas, would it be more likely that he will enjoy his cigar with ex-president Clinton?

Good god, yACF has changed. Cigar. Clinton. And nobody alluded to *that* incident.

You don't think that it was a coincidence that I used both those c-words in the same sentence, do you? 

[mrcharly-YHT]

from Facebook

Started out with 50 miles solo before meeting up with Amanda Coker and Chris Miller before lunch. Alicia Searvogel, Phil, Kim Rowe, Rubin Randel where working it for afternoon. Amanda PR 145 miles and Alicia had a pr of 21mph average for 50 miles.

Does anyone know who these people are? With the speeds/distances they're riding, I have a hard time believing they're just random riders that Kurt is latching onto.

While good, it's worth pointing out that a 21 mph 50 isn't exceptional pro-level performance either, more the sort of thing you'd expect to find in the racing section of any decent club. 

FYI, the British 50 mile TT records are 31.7 and 28.1 mph for men and women respectively, both set by amateur riders.

I bet those aren't set by a 53-year-old.

[Mr Larrington]

Tsk, mrcharly, one should never ask, or reveal, the Age of a Lady.

But I bet the BRITISH TT record holder wasn't living on the road for a year before setting it either.

[mattc]

from Facebook

Started out with 50 miles solo before meeting up with Amanda Coker and Chris Miller before lunch. Alicia Searvogel, Phil, Kim Rowe, Rubin Randel where working it for afternoon. Amanda PR 145 miles and Alicia had a pr of 21mph average for 50 miles.

Does anyone know who these people are? With the speeds/distances they're riding, I have a hard time believing they're just random riders that Kurt is latching onto.

While good, it's worth pointing out that a 21 mph 50 isn't exceptional pro-level performance either, more the sort of thing you'd expect to find in the racing section of any decent club. 

FYI, the British 50 mile TT records are 31.7 and 28.1 mph for men and women respectively, both set by amateur riders.

I bet those aren't set by a 53-year-old.

I bet a UK 53yo has ridden closer to 31mph than to 21.

[LMT]

from Facebook

Started out with 50 miles solo before meeting up with Amanda Coker and Chris Miller before lunch. Alicia Searvogel, Phil, Kim Rowe, Rubin Randel where working it for afternoon. Amanda PR 145 miles and Alicia had a pr of 21mph average for 50 miles.

Does anyone know who these people are? With the speeds/distances they're riding, I have a hard time believing they're just random riders that Kurt is latching onto.

While good, it's worth pointing out that a 21 mph 50 isn't exceptional pro-level performance either, more the sort of thing you'd expect to find in the racing section of any decent club. 

FYI, the British 50 mile TT records are 31.7 and 28.1 mph for men and women respectively, both set by amateur riders.

I bet those aren't set by a 53-year-old.

I bet a UK 53yo has ridden closer to 31mph than to 21.

Who cares.

Go tarzan.

[mattc]

<LMT posts something>

Who cares?

Go Kurt/Steve!

[TimC]

from Facebook

Started out with 50 miles solo before meeting up with Amanda Coker and Chris Miller before lunch. Alicia Searvogel, Phil, Kim Rowe, Rubin Randel where working it for afternoon. Amanda PR 145 miles and Alicia had a pr of 21mph average for 50 miles.

Does anyone know who these people are? With the speeds/distances they're riding, I have a hard time believing they're just random riders that Kurt is latching onto.

While good, it's worth pointing out that a 21 mph 50 isn't exceptional pro-level performance either, more the sort of thing you'd expect to find in the racing section of any decent club. 

FYI, the British 50 mile TT records are 31.7 and 28.1 mph for men and women respectively, both set by amateur riders. 

I would have thought that any fit, reasonably talented and experienced rider could expect to maintain evens in a group of similar riders on a flat course in decent weather. I'm not decrying Alicia's achievement - I've never had the opportunity to record something similar, but I have ridden in groups at higher speeds than that well into my 50s, so I don't find it at all surprising that she can do it too! My ex-wife, also an amateur who's never raced at all (but is a lot faster than me), can maintain a similar average over 100km in a group with her male clubmates over typically lumpy Suffolk B and C roads. She's 50.

[Polar Bear]

<LMT posts something>

Who cares?

Go Kurt/Steve!

Don't forget Dr. Berkeley.   Are there any other riders currently in a challenge?  I have to admit that I've not been paying proper attention.