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Bruce Berkeley abandons Year record attempt

London-based Kiwi cites "personal and physical issues"...

London-based bicycle mechanic Bruce Berkeley has abandoned his attempt to set a Guinness World Record due to “personal and physical issues.”

The New Zealander, who began his attempt on the record in South Australia at the start of January, broke the news on Strava last Tuesday with the following message:

Bruce Berkeley Strava message.png

In January, according to Strava, he rode 6,514 miles. But after he stopped logging rides there in early February, some of his 1,460 friends on Facebook began to express concerns.

One, Christophe Demoulin, wrote: “Hey Brucey, what's happening with your record? You ok? No activity in Strava or posts on FB ... you've certainly got me worried ...”

The record is currently held by the American Kurt Searvogel, who last month finished his year-long ride in which he racked up a total of 76,076 miles, beating the previous record, long thought unbreakable, of 75,075 miles by British rider Tommy Godwin, set in 1939.

Searvogel’s successful attempt was carried out under the auspices of the Ultramarathon Cycling Association (UMCA) and has since been recognised by Guinness World Records.

> Searvogel awarded Guinness World Record for distance cycled in a year

The UMCA introduced its Highest Annual Mileage Record (HAM’R) category as Searvogel and Briton Steve Abraham both sought to beat Godwin’s distance.

While Berkeley’s attempt was being carried out under Guinness World Record rules, the UMCA last month disqualified his attempt for non-compliance with its own rules, which require riders to have live tracking.

Abraham’s efforts to set a new record received a blow last March after he was injured when a moped rider crashed into him.

He launched a fresh attempt in August last year but abandoned it in January, admitting “it isn’t working.”

> Video: Steve Abraham abandons Year attempt

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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8 comments

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Mike T. | 8 years ago
1 like

All these attempts, Kurts record included, put Tommy Godwin's record into vivid perspective.  If anyone needs a good read, get the book on Godwin's ride - Unsurpassed by Godfrey Barlow.

Avatar
fenix | 8 years ago
2 likes

It's a mad record - hats off to people attempting it - but it's a year of your life.

I was surprised when he wouldnt use the GPS tracker as required for the record - seems a bit like spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar. 

Avatar
brackley88 replied to fenix | 8 years ago
0 likes

fenix wrote:

It's a mad record - hats off to people attempting it - but it's a year of your life.

I was surprised when he wouldnt use the GPS tracker as required for the record - seems a bit like spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar. 

 

fenix - he did have a gps decice. Garmin. Anyone could follow him on strava. What he did not agree to buy and carry was a minute by minute one that enabled anyone to see where he was at any moment. And he was not happy to pay the registration the self appointed judges were demanding. So he had to settle for the Guinness book of records. Who were more than happy with his approach. And are somewhat more established in record tracking. 

Avatar
nowasps replied to fenix | 8 years ago
0 likes

fenix wrote:

 it's a year of your life.

 

Be a sight more than a year off mine, I can tell you.

Avatar
Judge dreadful | 8 years ago
1 like

It's a hell of an undertaking. If I do 205 miles in a day, I generally feel like death the following day. To average that distance ( and some ) every day, for a year, on what anyone would reasonably call a bike ( non recumbent , 2 wheels, chain driven, no power assistance) is pretty much unthinkable, to anyone, but the very toughest, fittest, craziest riders.

Avatar
themartincox | 8 years ago
1 like

no dog int he fight, but alarm bells were rattling loud when i heard about him attempting the record - after his knee struggled on a recent lejogle attempt it was always going to be dicey.

 

without a proper support network aorund him, which i dont think he had, it was going to be a logistical nightmare to ride 200 miles daily and take care of the rest of life behind the scenes

 

hope he gets well and has a great summer of riding!

 

 

Avatar
1961BikiE | 8 years ago
0 likes

Can't say I'm surprised, as I've posted before the whole thing seemed very... er...... not well planned......"dodgy".

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brackley88 replied to 1961BikiE | 8 years ago
0 likes

1961BikiE wrote:

Can't say I'm surprised, as I've posted before the whole thing seemed very... er...... not well planned......"dodgy".

 

I know Bruce.  And he is well known and liked by many in the West London cycling world.  It is not at all dodgy. He is the least dodgy person you could meet. He had the ability to do this, and definitely the ability to focus. Your ill informed comments are dodgy. 

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