There is another thread. A record too dangerous to break, or something.
I've built a proto type bike and tested it over the last Christmas by trying to ride 220 miles a day over several days. I never quite managed it. A lot of strong wind and heavy rain, so it definitely was a good test for the bike. The bike held up well, but I'd use disc brakes instead of the V brakes I used. The pads only lasted a few days and by my reckoning I'd need new rims every 6-8 weeks.
Still not too sure about tyres either. Marathon Plusses were noticeably slow but with Vredsteins I was getting a puncture every 100 miles, though the extra speed they gave me more than compensated for time spent mending punctures compared to M+s. I might try some Panaracers or something next winter.
I'm also looking into what wheels to use. Narrowed it down to either Hope with carbon rims, Hope with Mavic Open Pro rims or build my own wheels with Hope hubs and carbon clinchers custom drilled in China.
I hope to have two bikes set up by the end of the year, my proto type but with disc brakes and a titanium bike with disc brakes but my money seems to vanish very quickly!
Guinness pretty much refuse to reckognise any attempt at the record. The only way they would validate it would be if someone did it on a velodrome while being watched by someone in person.
I'm really not counting on sponsorship and like the idea of going alone financially, but hopefully get people to help with practical stuff if I can. If I fund it myself I won't have to stop because of sponsors pulling out on me.
Once I have the bikes set up and a stockpile of spares to last the year, I reckon I'll need £12,000 for a go (so cheaper than a punt at RAAM). Half of that to pay my bills for the year because I'd have to be unemployed. That would leave just over £100 a week to feed myself and keep my bikes on the road. Hopefully I'll get it right when I build up a stock of chains, innertubes and so on and not need to spend money on anything for my bike.
I'm concentrating on the Mersey 24 this year and trying to get myself faster, which will help. Then I'll have some fun and might do another test week in August. After that I'll think about getting an evening job and maybe weekend work too in the Autumn and start saving up some money.
The aim at the moment is to be ready for 2015. 2014 would be good but I'd need sponsorship for that and I'm not exactly looking for it.
Then if that all goes to plan, or near enough to plan, it'll be a matter of whether I can manage it or not. I'll treat it as a self funded year off work. I might give up in a week or I might get on and get close or maybe even beat the record. I'll never know unless I try.