An English cyclist who achieved the fastest around-the-world bike tour this past summer is organizing a new event — the Global Bicycle Race.
Vin Cox finished his solo 18,227-mile bike tour in 163 days back in August 2010. He says a race that seeks to break his Guinness World Record would create an atmosphere that draws a lot of press attention and gives cyclists a chance to feed their craving for adventure.
Cox submitted an application for recognition of the bike race to the Guinness World Records this week.
He's suggesting that the race start at Greenwich Park in London on February 18, 2012. That means the next record-setting cyclist would return to the finish just as the 2012 Summer Olympics in London is getting underway.
'Steady growth'
At his website, Cox explains:
“The whole endurance sport scene has been steadily growing and becoming more extreme. Events which 10 years ago were pure minority madness are quite main-stream now thanks to boundaries being pushed. The ultimate distance for any endurance race has to be around the world.”
Let me be the first to say that I don't consider a bicycle race as the best way to see the world. When I rode cross-country in 68 days, I considered that to be too fast. I wished I could have made more stops and explored more side roads, especially as it neared the end.
But I'll admit that I'm already intrigued by the idea of following the bicycling competitors by GPS and reading about their experiences along the route. This might just blow the Race Across America out of the water as the world's toughest bicycle race.
Criteria
Cox, 34, says the bicycle racers will have to meet the criteria spelled out by the Guinness World Record organization. He lays out some of the details at his Global Bicycle Race website:
— Cyclists will complete a provable, minimum 18,000-mile course in the same direction;
— Use a GPS linked to a website and report mileage and status updates at least once a week, as well as take video, photos and witness statements along the way;
— Visit anti-podal points (opposite sides of the globe, such as Spain and New Zealand);
— Use the same bicycle the entire tour, although parts can be replaced.
No established route
The bicyclists can ride either supported or un-supported; Cox says he'll work with Guinness to recognize achievements in both categories.
Cyclists also are free to choose their own routes. They also can have sponsors and can use their bicycle ride as a fund-raising opportunity for a favorite charity.
Cox says the entry fee will be low, but bicyclists will be asked to post a bond that would be returned upon their finish. He reasons that this would keep more cyclists in the race.
Avoidable delays
Also at his website, Cox reviews his ride and emphasizes ways that he could have shaved more days off his record. He says he could have saved another 20 days with avoidable time losses.
He notes, for instance, that Guinness doesn't count “transfer days” for boat or airplane crossings. He could have subtracted time by going directly to the ferry dock, for instance, instead of taking lodging several miles away.
You can read more about this record-breaking bicycle tour at the Great Bike Ride.
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