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Amanda Coker breaks Kurt Searvogel's Year record - with 40 days to spareAmanda Coker (source Facebook).PNG

Amanda Coker breaks Kurt Searvogel's Year record - with 40 days to spare

24-year-old from Florida got back on the bike in 2015 after two years recovering from brain and spinal injuries
by Simon_MacMichael
Wed, Apr 05, 2017 20:34
37

American ultracyclist Amanda Coker has broken Kurt Seravogel's record of 76,076 miles for the greatest distance ridden on a bike in a year - and she's done it with 40 days to spare.

Since setting out on 5 May last year, the 24-year-old has ground out an incredible 233.74 miles a day on average.

But as the 12 months have gone on, she’s pushed up her daily distance – in the past fortnight, for instance, she’s only dropped below 260 miles on one day, and even then, she clocked up 247.5 miles.

At that rate, she could well add at least another 10,000 miles to the record, which is being done under Ultramarathon Cycling Association rules.

The Florida native returned to cycling in 2015 following a two-year break as she recovered from brain and spinal injuries when she and her father were hit from behind by a driver travelling at 55mph while they were out riding their bikes.

Whatever distance Coker ends up setting by the time her 12 months on the bike ends, one rider already has it in his sights – British cyclist Steve Abraham, who last month set off on his third attempt at the Year record.

And while some may view Coker’s efforts as not being in the spirit of the record – her riding has been confined to laps of Flatwoods Park, Tampa Bay, Abraham disagrees.

Announcing his fresh attempt at the Year record, he wrote: “I don't think she has it as easy as lot of people think. The circuit she rides is known locally as ‘The Windy Woods’, because it isn't that well sheltered from the wind.

“I could easily do a similar amount of climbing to Amanda by staying in the Fens.

“The problem with that is the wind. Any wind over 5mph lowers the speed too much,” he added.

In a post to Facebook congratulating her on the record, Searvogel said that it was joining him at the park as he zeroed in on Tommy Godwin’s 1939 Year record, long considered ‘unbreakable’ that led to her targeting it.

 

Amanda Coker
Kurt Searvogel
year record
Simon MacMichael

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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37 comments

Avatar
willythepimp | 7 years ago
5 likes

An outstanding achievement after what must have been a horrific time for her and her family. But it doesn't seem to be in the same category as just going out and riding your bike. 

Avatar
simondbarnes | 7 years ago
2 likes

What a fantastic effort and still over a month to go!

Avatar
Kadinkski | 7 years ago
7 likes

People are going to be doing this on their turbo trainers next.

 

There is no connection whatsoever to Tommy's original record - they're not breaking it, they're doing something completely different...a long spinning class or something.

Avatar
Welsh boy replied to Kadinkski | 7 years ago
6 likes

Kadinkski wrote:

People are going to be doing this on their turbo trainers next.

 

There is no connection whatsoever to Tommy's original record - they're not breaking it, they're doing something completely different...a long spinning class or something.

 

That is the most stupid post I have seen on here for a long time.  If it was an attempt at humour it wasnt in the least bit funny.

Avatar
SingleSpeed replied to Kadinkski | 7 years ago
2 likes

Kadinkski wrote:

There is no connection whatsoever to Tommy's original record - they're not breaking it, they're doing something completely different...a long spinning class or something.

 

Just some information for you as you are quite clearly a bit ignorant...
Godwin didn't have the 'original' record, it was a french chap.
Godwin didn't start his attempt alone he had a chain gang starting with two other men.
A lot of  Godwins record was done on long stretches of newly constructed flat and empty dual carriageways.

Avatar
Al__S replied to SingleSpeed | 7 years ago
4 likes

SingleSpeed wrote:

Just some information for you as you are quite clearly a bit ignorant...
Godwin didn't have the 'original' record, it was a french chap.
Godwin didn't start his attempt alone he had a chain gang starting with two other men.
A lot of  Godwins record was done on long stretches of newly constructed flat and empty dual carriageways.

I think some people have this idea in their head that Godwin did it all up (not down, never down) some 20% cobbled street on a wet thursday night in Stoke.

 

What he did, obviously, was incredible. What Amanda Coker has done is incredible.

Avatar
SingleSpeed replied to Al__S | 7 years ago
3 likes

Al__S wrote:

I think some people have this idea in their head that Godwin did it all up (not down, never down) some 20% cobbled street on a wet thursday night in Stoke.

 

 

Exactly.

On a butchers bike and all he ate was Jam Sandwiches and cups of tea...When in reality he was  sposnsored riding on state of the art equipment with support.

 

It's simple to sit behind a keyboard and dismiss an increbibly talented woman doing an impossibly hard feat.

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