[HAMR] Billie Fleming Tribute Ride

[clarion]

I think this is the right place to mention this, and I was surprised not to find anything earlier.

In 1938, Billie set the women's record for one year.  She died at the age of 100 last year.

To celebrate her achievement, a group of riders are riding all her routes for the year.  No one is doing the whole distance, but it is a glorious celebration of women's cycling.

I'm following them on Facebook, but there is a website, too.

http://www.tributetobillie.co.uk/index.html

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=82233.0

[Cudzoziemiec]

Somewhere on the interwebs there is an interview where she talks about her ride and various things like the time she met Tommy Godwin. What a shame she never met Teeth Grinder. And what a shame, also, there are no women attempting HAM'R, or female version (WHAM'R? Whammer?!)

[Cudzoziemiec]

Although her mileage was significantly less than that of Godwin or what any of the current contenders will clock up, I think she wins the prize for Highest Annual Mileage While Dressed With a Modicum of Style. 

[Ningishzidda]

Her nutrition sponsor was Cadburys.

That might get someone going to attempt the record.

The record still stands probably because all attempts since have been crumbly and flakey.

[Citizenfish]

I interviewed Billie a few weeks before her 100th birthday. She was the most wonderful person, completely and utterly nonplussed about her record and utterly modest. To her the whole year just seemed the obvious thing to do. She kept almost no records of her year so I made her an album of clippings and pictures from my research. Got a lovely phone call from her a few days later then she passed.

She ended her days in a lovely retirement home in Devon, she had  a second floor apartment but insisted on seeing me out even though she needed a z-frame to get  downstairs. Amazing lady, sadly missed and even more sadly almost forgotten.

[velovoice]

It seems now someone has decided to have a go at Billie's record in 2016!
http://www.ayearinthesaddle.com/

(HT to Phil W on the FB audax group page.)

[wajcgac]

Quote from the sponsorship page

http://www.ayearinthesaddle.com/#!sponsorship/crsr

The record guidelines state that I have to do the entire attempt on one bicycle frame unless that frame is damaged beyond repair

Can't be a HAM'r attempt with those guidelines - Guinness World Record attempt may be?

Tommy's can't be beaten on the grounds Guinness won't allow it so can't see them allowing an attempt at the ladies record?

[Gus]

She is also riding nondrafting that means three lengths between her and riders in front.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Half-baked rules.

[JohnR]

I liked Billie's response to gearing in her interview that she only had 3 gears and that 33 was unnecessary.

[Grandad]

Guinness World Record attempt may be?

Bottom line of the Home page seems to confirm this.

[Nuncio]

All the best to Kajsa. I'm not sure what this means though, from the web site:

The women’s record was set before the men’s

[red marley]

I assume that just refers to the fact the current women's WR was set in 1938 while the current men's WR was set a year later in 1939.

[mrcharly-YHT]

It seems now someone has decided to have a go at Billie's record in 2016!
http://www.ayearinthesaddle.com/

(HT to Phil W on the FB audax group page.)

Very odd page really, apart from a bit of touring there is nothing on the website about experience of long-distance riding. She wants someone to give her a suitable bike (or two) but doesn't say what sort of bike she has in mind!

Nothing there that makes me think she'd be a serious contender.

[Nuncio]

I assume that just refers to the fact the current women's WR was set in 1938 while the current men's WR was set a year later in 1939.

Of course.  I was missing the implied 'current's.

But Billie did 29,603.7 miles and there's some text that scrolls in at the bottom of that website which states:

The distance I need to clock up (according to Guinness World Records) to beat the current record is 31,069 miles, or 50,000 kms. That's 85 miles, or 137 kms per day.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Perhaps that refers to her planned schedule?

What I find odd is that Guinness are prepared to verify this, given their refusal to look at the men's.

[The French Tandem]

Billie's ride attracted a huge amount of interest and press attention. After 365 days she had ridden her bike 29,603.4 miles....

Apart from one puncture, the bike suffered no mechanical problems.

Only one puncture in nearly 30000 miles? That's truly incredible!

[hellymedic]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-34638370

[Byronius Maximus]

Quote from the sponsorship page

http://www.ayearinthesaddle.com/#!sponsorship/crsr

My word, that is like looking at a website from the 1990's! Awful presentation, doesn't make me want to read it.

Still, all the best to her on her effort!