AC's new distance PR on day 332, 446km @ 34km/h..!
That's truly astonishing when you realize that back in 2015, the required daily mileage to beat the record was "only" 205 miles/ 330 km. Amanda will not just beat the record, she will push it into an area that was unthinkable just 2 years ago!
I'm not sure it was unthinkable.
For me it seemed entirely plausible that a younger rider, with genuine professional ambitions or experience, supported on a closed circuit could absolutely destroy any previous attempt.
Personally I think 300 miles a day might be beaten at some point - the equipment and environment now exists to make this possible. What we don't yet know is if anyone has the mentality to do it? Amanda Cokers physical achievement is great - but her mental accomplishment is for me the biggest thing. I don't think there have been many people who are mentally capable of these sort of distances in a year. Many of those who have been capable have held the record or are having a go at it as we speak.
I also think the record is unlikely to be taken on by too many people with racing pedigree unless it starts to reward them with either publicity or income. Amanda Coker is probably in a unique situation due to her unfortunate injuries to be racing fit and racing age but not actually in a race team.
When you consider that in 1936 - Walter Greaves managed 45k miles it doesn't seem such a big jump to todays record ...... especially when you also consider that Walter was a social outcast (and a communist) with very little support around him.... and that he was a vegetarian in a time where there wasn't much veggie food available on the go....... oh, and he also only had one arm and piloted a very heavy, unmodified 3 gear bike and did much of his riding around the Pennines in pretty poor weather!
