[HAMR] Current thoughts on the record attempt?

[Bianchi Boy]

He's ill

Do you have some confirmation of this or is this a diagnosis based on observation? I too think the signs are bad and it looks like Steve have serious fatigue. Just wondering if there is independent verification?

BB 

[TimC]

That latest update on Facebook kind of demonstrates that, like in Miles attempt, someone in Steve's team hasn't really grasped what mileage is required from now on to get the record on the second attempt, and is effectively sentencing Steve to 8 months of futility. Days or weeks of low miles with extended rest periods will push the required average significantly in the wrong direction, so what's the point of this now? Is it for someone in the team's ego? I can't believe this is being driven by Steve, or, if it is, no-one's advising him with his health in mind.

[Wowbagger]

Did you see the quote underneath the FB video?

His initial tests - taken back in October and November - had shown serious organ stress from high levels of muscle breakdown and an overly sugar-based diet, which was hindering his post-ride recovery.

This is someone who needs a long period of rest and recuperation, not being sent out to conquer cycling's Everest. The ride should have stopped when this was first discovered, not carried on for two more months. I'm frankly disgusted that no-one in the team has seen fit to pull the plug on the ride.

[mattc]

... someone on the Timetrialling forum saying that

Well, we should take such theories seriously. Even more so if they are backed up by, say;
- The Daily Mail Motoring section,
- some bloke in the pub,
- my taxi driver, or
- a Youtube comment

Meow!
I fear you may have been scarred by your unhappy outing to the TT forum a couple of years ago but, amongst the usual detritus, in-jokes and tedious point-scoring, there are people on there who have quite a bit to contribute concerning the theory and practice of going as far / fast a possible from a given amount of effort on a bike. Lots of them have been cheering Steve on too.

And good for them!

Of course there are a few knowledgeable posters: very few, and with very niche experience. And not afraid to make ludicrous extrapolations from their knowledge of an hour's ride up-and-down a DC on the latest Cervelo, to how people should ride 200 miles-per-day.
( I swear, most of them are baffled by the sales of Bromptons, when it's crystal clear how much faster a Cervelo is.) 

No offence meant to your good self, or others with a more rounded view of the world of cycling

[HK]

BB - see Wowbagers FB quote.  As someone who's involved in clinical research this raises serious alarm bells.

Rest never has meant carry on riding your bike less. I've been there and done it. You wind up not being able to do anything for months plus risking serious long term damage. It's not worth it.

[jamesld8]

Did you see the quote underneath the FB video?

His initial tests - taken back in October and November - had shown serious organ stress from high levels of muscle breakdown and an overly sugar-based diet, which was hindering his post-ride recovery.

This is someone who needs a long period of rest and recuperation, not being sent out to conquer cycling's Everest. The ride should have stopped when this was first discovered, not carried on for two more months. I'm frankly disgusted that no-one in the team has seen fit to pull the plug on the ride.

+1 ,

with a continuing windy / wet forecast (MetOffice 30 day), with suggestions that Steve will reduce / rest days isn`t this just adding to his overall stress in that average daily mileage required  is getting greater and greater. So why continue for month (s) more when task it seems is getting bigger and bigger due to health issues posted in FB above which have caused him to fall behind his schedule. Pushing on and on will not help Steve recuperate but add more and more pressure on him

[HK]

He's down 593km this week so far.......

[Exit Stage Left]

I've never seem Steve DNF, no matter how far off the leading pace he is. But throttling right back to recover wouldn't be a DNF.

[HK]

ESL - this is nothing to do with DNF - it's to do with remaining alive and well.

And for your information Steve has DNFed as we all have. There is no shame in it.

[Bianchi Boy]

Hi - I have just read the Facebook post from 1 hour ago. No bike ride is worth your long term health and (I am not a medical person) that sounds serious to me. Organ stress and muscle loss. Steve is an icon for Audax and I for one do not want to see him driven into the ground. The kind of issues do not sound like a day off the bike will help - more like a month.

BB

[TimC]

I've never seem Steve DNF, no matter how far off the leading pace he is. But throttling right back to recover wouldn't be a DNF.

Of course he'll DNF. Even if he keeps riding until August, he'll DNF because he won't make the distance. This is not a challenge to see how long he can keep riding (or how ill he can make himself), it's a fixed (well, fixed-ish, depending on what Kurt achieves) distance target - like an overblown 1000km, and completely unlike a 24hr TT. And there's no honour or glory in self-inflicted injury when it's in the futile pursuit of an out-of-reach goal.

[Aunt Maud]

Phew! It's been a tough year, well done Steve.

Happy new year to you all.

[teamcinzano]

Plus, Steve's only what, 41? He's got plenty of time to let his body truly recover and make another go in the years ahead. He's going to set the HAM'R record tomorrow. It'll only stand for 9 days, but still. He did the year. Significant organ stress? Jesus.

[red marley]

I'm sure everyone here wishes the Steve the best, and that there is genuine concern for his welfare. And personally, if he is still aiming to better Tommy's total, I think the task in the next six months is now too great for any current cyclist to achieve. December 31st would be an ideal point to pause and recover.

But there does seem to be some selective interpretation of what is partial information from the FB post. 'Organ stress' does sound alarming, but the post says that he had 'medical tests' just last week which showed improvement. It also suggests that his old high-sugar diet was part of the problem. In that light, the change in diet that so many here have been critical of, was in his best interests healthwise, even if that resulted in a performance hit.

We may be sceptical about GPs' ability to understand endurance athletes, but I'd put more faith in the specialists he has seen than remote diagnosis via internet forum.

[TimC]

I don't doubt that the change of diet was medically advised, and in his long-term interests, but it certainly diminished his ability to rack up the miles for long enough to effectively put the record out of reach. The 31st is the logical time to pack it in, with an incredible distance achieved by any standards and his name right up there with the greats (including Kurt). He now needs a plan for a proper and full recovery, and to get this HAM'R monkey off his back.

[Wowbagger]

All true, jo, but it has taken 2 months for that information to reach the public gaze.

If it wasn't for public consumption when it was first known, why is it now?

Is there anyone in the team, bar Steve, who is in a position to throw in a virtual towel? If not, and it's Steve himself who is insisting on continuing, despite what sound like serious health issues, what does it take for the team to distance themselves from the effort? There has to be a get-out clause in a major project of this sort.

As has been pointed out, with the right kind of recovery and a reappraisal of the approach, if Steve wanted another go after a sufficient period, I doubt that there is anyone on here who supports him now who wouldn't support a future effort.

As ever, wishing Steve the best of luck.

[HK]

Jo,

I've got quiet a serious underlying health condition. It's taken me a very long time to get near to sorting and I've been very unwell. I wouldn't be as well as I am now if I wasn't a clinical researcher.  So don't put faith in consultants, most are excellent but they deal with normal people.

Medics use best and evidence based practice to do their best for their pts. There is precious little research, best practice or evidence based practice on endurance cyclist let alone on specifics that would affect Steve. I know, I've had to dig very deep for the information I've got on my health.

Any sensible person would stop now. It's not worth their long term health to take the risks, particularly as there will be very little evidence to weigh the risks against.

Remember two of his team members take the approach of you don't give up until you can't ride anymore.

[notlobgp14]

Significant Organ Stress.

That should have been the signal to Stop.  If we go back in medical history and look how many conditions were treated, it was rest, good food and fresh air.  How much of that will Steve receive whilst continuing this challenge?

Speaking as one who has suffered Major Truamatic Organ Damage, it takes one heck of a time to recover; if ever, to 100% function.  My digestive system is still complaining over 15 years after spleen and pancreas damage followed by major surgery in 2000.  I would advise anyone showing signs, or having medical confirmation, of organ damage to take remedial steps immediately.  It is now his long term health we are talking about.  Steve's world is cycling, he has many years of good cycling ahead of him if he takes the right action now.

I'd stop at Midnight tomorrow.  He's completed 365 days, as declared at the start, so he's finished what he started.

[hillbilly]

There is an assumption that Steve will give it another run in the future, if he decides to stop before August. 

Maybe those are his plans.  Maybe they aren't.  Maybe this is it for him.

He has taken a year out of his life.  He'll need to take another at least if he decided to start a third attempt.  And if that fails, whither then?

[nextSibling]

I'd put more faith in the specialists he has seen than remote diagnosis via internet forum.

I wouldn't. In my experience, medical professionals who aren't participating or otherwise directly interested in extreme endurance athletics haven't a clue about it. Those that are will tell you how little is understood about this level of performance. Steve is in a niche of a niche of a...

[Wowbagger]

There is an assumption that Steve will give it another run in the future, if he decides to stop before August. 

Maybe those are his plans.  Maybe they aren't.  Maybe this is it for him.

He has taken a year out of his life.  He'll need to take another at least if he decided to start a third attempt.  And if that fails, whither then?

They are for the future, dependent on a full recovery from this effort. There is no such assumption: just an assurance that if, once he's recovered, he still wants another go at this damned-fool venture, then he'll have my support!

[hillbilly]

Whilst the individual support is no doubt helpful, the next attempt may be a different order of magnitude (particularly if he employs an "attending" support crew) and it may be done without the backing of as many commercial sponsors given Steve will have a record of trying and, for want of a better word, failing.  It is also questionable whether the current sponsors will feel they have got a good return on their investment, at least a good enough return to provide similar levels of support in the future.

Lack of commercial backing might be particularly important.  For example, if he can't get the backing of a bike supplier and has to supply them out of his own funds.  In other words, there could be a need for up front capital expenditure, not just operating costs.

I don't imagine this is an easy decision for Steve.  It is full of uncertainty and might end up with him never being able to launch a new attempt.

[Frank9755]

If he sacrifices his health in a lost cause, he definitely won't be able to launch another attempt.

[hillbilly]

Steve will make a sensible decision.  He's hard core but not stupid.

[Justin(e)]

Phew! It's been a tough year, well done Steve.

Happy new year to you all.

Bravo Steve on an incredible year.  Part one of the attempt is about to be successfully completed.  Fourth highest ever mileage.  Awesome.