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British ultracyclist Jasmijn Muller beats Zwift distance record of more than 1,000 miles - in a little over two days

Turbo trainer effort in virtual world aimed to help her prepare mentally and physically for record attempts on the road later this year

London ultra cyclist Jasmijn Muller on Monday set a new distance record on Zwift, the computer software that allows cyclists to ride in a virtual world – and all without leaving her south west London home. What's more, she's pedallimg on into Tuesday to push the record on, her aim being to ride for 72 hours.

The former British national 12-hour time trial champion even held a Facebook Live session at 3 o’clock on Monday afternoon, which marked exactly two days since she began her ride on Saturday.

The distance she beat was 1,626 kilometres (1,010 miles), set in December by Chris ‘Hoppo’ Hopkinson, the first Briton ever to complete the Race Across America as a solo rider.

> Zwift distance record broken by Chris ‘Hoppo’ Hopkinson

The Zwift software enables cyclists to join others on virtual rides, and Hopkinson was among those to ride with Muller yesterday on the Watopia Flat Volcano Course.

Muller is aiming to later this year to break the record for the quickest time cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats as well as for cycling 1,000 miles.

The ride was  aimed to give her insight into how she will cope with the demands, as well as raising money to help fund that attempt, and for the charity Cancer Research.

Outlining on her website the reasons for the Zwift ride, she said it was “To test how my body and mind respond beyond 24 hours to things like sleep deprivation, nutrition, etc. all within a safe indoor environment before my LEJOG and 1000 mile record attempt on the road in September 2017,” and “To see how close women can come to men in ultra endurance challenges.”

Muller originally planned to attempt the Zwift record at last week’s London Bike Show at Excel, but said on her website that “whilst the organisers welcomed the initiative, the additional cost for overnight security were rather high!”

She broke Hopkinson’s record a little after 10.30pm on Monday evening according to Twitter - and after a 90-minute sleep was back in the saddle.  Her epic - if static - ride should finish at 3pm today.

 

 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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13 comments

Avatar
mike the bike | 7 years ago
2 likes

 

I salute her fitness and her discipline but, as she finished in the same room where she started, I completely fail to see how she set any sort of distance record.  

Avatar
tritecommentbot replied to mike the bike | 7 years ago
1 like
mike the bike wrote:

 

I salute her fitness and her discipline but, as she finished in the same room where she started, I completely fail to see how she set any sort of distance record.  

 

Something to do with physics.

Avatar
Al__S | 7 years ago
0 likes

Outstanding effort. Ultra cyclists like her are in a different league altogether.

Tech question: why the inside out shorts at times? (She was apparently changing kit on a regular basis to deal with the sweat issue)

Avatar
themartincox replied to Al__S | 7 years ago
0 likes

Al__S wrote:

Outstanding effort. Ultra cyclists like her are in a different league altogether. Tech question: why the inside out shorts at times? (She was apparently changing kit on a regular basis to deal with the sweat issue)

 

double chammy, cant remember the specific reason, but its a second pair worn inside out  - popular at RAAM and with, i think  predominantly, female ultra-distance racers for extra comfort

Avatar
Al__S replied to themartincox | 7 years ago
0 likes
themartincox wrote:
Al__S wrote:

Outstanding effort. Ultra cyclists like her are in a different league altogether. Tech question: why the inside out shorts at times? (She was apparently changing kit on a regular basis to deal with the sweat issue)

 

double chammy, cant remember the specific reason, but its a second pair worn inside out  - popular at RAAM and with, i think  predominantly, female ultra-distance racers for extra comfort

 

Ah OK- looks rather odd, but I'm sure she's knows what she's doing far, far better than I do!

Avatar
DrJDog replied to themartincox | 7 years ago
1 like
themartincox wrote:
Al__S wrote:

Outstanding effort. Ultra cyclists like her are in a different league altogether. Tech question: why the inside out shorts at times? (She was apparently changing kit on a regular basis to deal with the sweat issue)

 

double chammy, cant remember the specific reason, but its a second pair worn inside out  - popular at RAAM and with, i think  predominantly, female ultra-distance racers for extra comfort

 

You'd think a second pad sewn to the outside would be better. I get hot wearing just one pair of shorts on a turbo

Avatar
Russell Orgazoid | 7 years ago
1 like

I can't bear 30 mins on a turbo. I don't get why anyone would do this.

Well done anyway.

Avatar
ajd | 7 years ago
3 likes

You truly are a Duracell bunny - well done Jas!

From the Kingston Wheelers

Avatar
Leviathan | 7 years ago
0 likes

How does Zwift calculate for resistance? I don't see any back wheel rubbing on anything like rollers.  1000m spin class?!

Avatar
longassballs replied to Leviathan | 7 years ago
1 like
Leviathan wrote:

How does Zwift calculate for resistance? I don't see any back wheel rubbing on anything like rollers.  1000m spin class?!

It's a Wahoo Kickr

Avatar
tomascjenkins replied to Leviathan | 7 years ago
0 likes
Leviathan wrote:

How does Zwift calculate for resistance? I don't see any back wheel rubbing on anything like rollers.  1000m spin class?!

Its a direct drive trainer with a flywheel, like a spin bikes, except waaaay more hi tech, it provides increases or decreases in resistance automatically - for example if the Zwift course started to go uphill, or at the touch of a button on your laptop you can increase or decrease resistance

Avatar
Al__S replied to Leviathan | 7 years ago
0 likes
Leviathan wrote:

How does Zwift calculate for resistance? I don't see any back wheel rubbing on anything like rollers.  1000m spin class?!

Direct drive turbo (Wahoo Kickr in this case). More expensive, but technically much better (as you eliminate that tyre to roller interface)

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
0 likes

Ah that's what all the messages were about last night. Saw her name come up in public chat a fair bit yesterday evening but wasn't aware. Will send a Ride On tonight . Good Job! laugh

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