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Sean Conway breaks Europe cycle record sean_conway_europe_record_credit_skyrise_productions.png

Sean Conway breaks Europe cycle record

Riding from Cabo da Roca in Portugal to Ufa in Russia, Conway took nine hours off the previous mark to finish in under 25 days despite facing strong headwinds in the final week
by Jack Sexty
Fri, May 11, 2018 15:13
11

Bearded extreme adventurer Sean Conway has broken the record for the fastest crossing of Europe by bike unsupported, riding from the westernmost point of Portugal to Ufa in Russia in 24 days, 18 hours and 39 minutes. 

Why your next bike should be a touring bike

Using a signature steel performance tourer by Stanforth Bikes dubbed the Stanforth Conway (read all about it here) Conway began in Cabo da Roca on the 16th April, arriving in Ufa at 15:39 local time on Friday 11th May. The previous record to beat of 25 days, 3 hours and 38 minutes was set in July last year by Jonas Deichmann of Germany, with Conway's time beating that mark with a shade under 9 hours to spare. 

sean_conway_credit_skyrise_productions.jpeg

Riding unsupported, Conway was forced to bed down for the night under a bivvy with a sleeping bag to save weight on his bike; and sleeping on roadsides and even in an under-road drain on one occasion, he claims to have averaged around four hours shut-eye a night. Conway also faced very strong headwinds in the last thousand miles, and credited taking an alternative route in the final week as he crossed Russia for helping to claw back some of the lost time. 

Conway spoke of his relief at finally landing the record on his Twitter page earlier, after his first attempt at it last August ended at the 800 mile mark due to an injury: "It’s taken me 6 years, 60,000 miles and 3 failed attempts at a cycling world record but today it finally happened. 3980 miles across Europe world record in 24 days. 18 hours. 39 minutes. I think I may lie down now", wrote Conway.
 

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Jack Sexty

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

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11 comments

Avatar
KnightBiker | 5 years ago
2 likes

@alotric, that was the comparison I was trying to make:

The milage itself  wasn’t that spectacular (but still very very respectable), the way it’s done is what makes it a spectacular achievement. Physically, I think I know plenty people who could do this, good riders with an endless endurancy near racing speed. Mentallly I probably know none.

Avatar
KnightBiker | 5 years ago
2 likes

@behindthebikesheD

i know it sounded a bit arrogant, not intended that way.. FYI I road around Australia unsupported when I was 30 before it was hot do so, not at that milage, amongst other things. so I Know what i’m talking about. So please keep your curse words to yourself or find me a sponsor, that enables me to to take up the adventure.

Avatar
KnightBiker | 5 years ago
0 likes

Kuddo’s, he a likeable chap. But, the record doesnt look that sharp:

it’s around 260 km a day and if you can avoid major height differces it should be doable, even with ‘normal 8 hours a day sleep. It’s probably the usuported, sleeping in a bivy bag part that will break you up in the long run. Beaumont averaged much higher milage when supported by a campervan on his around the world attempt.

Avatar
dreamy replied to KnightBiker | 5 years ago
4 likes
KnightBiker wrote:

Kuddo’s, he a likeable chap. But, the record doesnt look that sharp:

it’s around 260 km a day and if you can avoid major height differces it should be doable, even with ‘normal 8 hours a day sleep. It’s probably the usuported, sleeping in a bivy bag part that will break you up in the long run. Beaumont averaged much higher milage when supported by a campervan on his around the world attempt.

You talk the talk

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds replied to KnightBiker | 5 years ago
1 like
KnightBiker wrote:

Kuddo’s, he a likeable chap. But, the record doesnt look that sharp:

it’s around 260 km a day and if you can avoid major height differces it should be doable, even with ‘normal 8 hours a day sleep. It’s probably the usuported, sleeping in a bivy bag part that will break you up in the long run. Beaumont averaged much higher milage when supported by a campervan on his around the world attempt.

Crack on then fellah if you think it's so easy, look forward to seeing your name up after smashing this less than sharp effort, sorry but you're a gobshite.

Avatar
alotronic replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
1 like
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
KnightBiker wrote:

Kuddo’s, he a likeable chap. But, the record doesnt look that sharp:

it’s around 260 km a day and if you can avoid major height differces it should be doable, even with ‘normal 8 hours a day sleep. It’s probably the usuported, sleeping in a bivy bag part that will break you up in the long run. Beaumont averaged much higher milage when supported by a campervan on his around the world attempt.

Crack on then fellah if you think it's so easy, look forward to seeing your name up after smashing this less than sharp effort, sorry but you're a gobshite.

 

Well on the face of it 260 per day doesn't look amazing next to the Beaumonts of the world. I have managed near enough to 300km a day for 5 days (LEL) but that is relatively very easy indeed with drafting and food provided and company of other people - and I was utterly wrecked at the end of it. So 25 days at 260 per day unsupported is actually very good; he wasn't doing traffic-free laps in Florida, he was doing 'the full mike' so hats off to him. In reality he was probably doing 100km every 5 to 6 hours with stops; three of those blocks a day and you've got 6 hours off the bike, about 4 of which would be sleep. Seems like he was totally on the money. Solo distance like that is  not a case of taking your Sunday club run speed and multiplying it; there is no way someone who can do 10 days at 400km (TCR top riders) could continue that for another 6. In reality people pace to the distance (RAAM, TCR etc) or get the distance they can sustain a pace for (Year record). And anyone who gets off their zwift and gets out into the real world and has a crack at something big for them - well they have my vote, no matter what their age, ambition or perceived 'status' as riders.

Avatar
dreamy | 5 years ago
1 like

Tenacious.

Kudos

Avatar
HLaB | 5 years ago
1 like

"to finish in under 25 hours"

Lol I did find that typo funny 4

Avatar
Jack Sexty replied to HLaB | 5 years ago
1 like

HLaB wrote:

"to finish in under 25 hours"

Lol I did find that typo funny 4

That was a subtle challenge for a future attempt!  

Avatar
burtthebike | 5 years ago
4 likes

He's changed a bit since he was James Bond in Dr No.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to burtthebike | 5 years ago
4 likes
burtthebike wrote:

He's changed a bit since he was James Bond in Dr No.

*slow claps*

 

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