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news
Amanda Coker (source Facebook).PNGAmanda Coker ends epic year of riding with more than 86,000 miles – and is now aiming for 100,000
Amanda Coker has set a new record for the greatest distance ever ridden in a year by any cyclist, male or female, after riding 86,573.2 miles in 12 months – and now has her eyes on eclipsing Tommy Godwin’s record of riding 100,000 miles in the shortest time.
The 24-year-old’s 12 months of riding, which finished on Sunday, saw her smash the Guinness World Record under Ultra Marathon Cycling Association Rules of 76,076 miles previously held by Kurt Searvogel by more than 10,000 miles.
> Amanda Coker breaks Kurt Searvogel's Year record - with 40 days to spare
It was riding with Searvogel at Flatwoods Park close to her home in Tampa Bay, Florida that inspired Coker to undertake her own attempt at the record.
Since setting off on 15 May 2016, Coker rode an average of 237.19 miles a day, steadily increasing her daily mileage throughout the year.
On Friday, with two more days of the year to go, she rode 302 miles, breaking her previous daily record of 277 miles.
But to borrow an analogy from cricket, her final day’s ride was very much one of batting for the average as she put in 237.5 miles.
Besides beating Searvogel’s record, set in 2015, she also knocked Billie Fleming’s record for the greatest distance ridden by a woman in a year out of sight with months to spare.
Perhaps the most remarkable part of Coker’s story is the fact that she only returned to cycling in 2015 after sustaining a brain injury when she was hit by a driver while out cycling with her father in 2011.
Her riding was confined to laps of a circuit at Flatwoods Park, leading some to argue that her record cannot be compared with the 75,065 miles ridden by Tommy Godwin in 1939.
But it’s an astonishing achievement, and British rider Steve Abraham, who earlier this year set out on his third attempt at the Year record, has given Coker his full backing.
In February, 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.
> Steve Abraham’s latest attempt on Year record begins
“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.”
Ian Dille from Bicycling.com joined Coker for a day’s riding last week as she came to the end of her 12 months of riding, and had no doubt that she is “for real” as he wrote about her endeavour.
And now, she wants to carry on riding to hit 100,000 miles. The record is currently held by Godwin, who had set off on his Year attempt on 1 January 1939 and eventually finished his ride after hitting six figures in May 1940.
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.
Latest Comments
- mark1a 2 hours 29 min ago
I understand what you're saying, but I think when you get north of £10k, for the average amateur road.cc reader who maybe in the market for a so...
- brooksby 5 hours 37 min ago
They haven't been seen for ages- did they get banned?
- eburtthebike 5 hours 43 min ago
They prefer their alternative facts to real ones. They believe something, therefore it must be true.
- Spangly Shiny 6 hours 55 min ago
Sorry, no idea what you are on about.
- ktache 6 hours 58 min ago
For double that you can' get a Pedro's vise whip Ii. Or half, the reportedly excellent decathlon thingy. And Sigma has the Silca for only £150.
- KDee 7 hours 4 min ago
I'm no detective, but the "NOAHFAST" decal vertically stickered on the headtube is a little bit of a clue.
- Spangly Shiny 7 hours 24 min ago
I remember my driving test examiner, straight after congratulating me for having passed the test said, "Don't be a twat and have that as your best...
- Bigfoz 9 hours 32 min ago
Did they think it was a drive thru?
- Rendel Harris 9 hours 42 min ago
As a teacher's husband, I'm allowed to watch up to 50km out (unless it's a big mountain stage when I can only watch up to the start of the first HC...
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38 comments
She would've needed a few different drugs to get through this, the saddle sores must've been fun, even pros suffer from sores and have to take stuff, in just the right quantities of course.
Two
Hundred
And
Thirty
Seven
Miles
Every
Day
For
A
Year
After
Horrific
Injury
Awesome.
Yeah but, no but, sepia pictures, jumpers for goal posts, steel is real.
Get over yourselves, she was outdoors and on a bike. Job done.
I'm thrilled my daughter can have her as a role model.
Hey - I'm all for using the latest tech, but riding a recumbent shifts those jumpers/goalposts too far...
In saying that I'll be sharing this for inspiration with someone I know who is recovering from a brain injury.
She rides a recumbent for part of the day. All "comparisons" end there...
Let's be honest, it's impossible to compare, so why bother. It's a pointless record. We can all celebrate it's a great achievement, but that's it really.
I agree we can't compare Goodwin and Coker as riders, too many difference. Could Coker stand the cold? could Goodwin stand the heat? etc etc. We do know that the objective was the maximum number of miles, and that's been raised. My guess is any future challenge with a hope of success will have to be at lowish latitude and using a mix of bikes; Kurt S set the pattern.
Well done to Amanda BUT can't be compared with Tommy Godwin's world year record was achieved in a Calendar year and not on a modern bike ( carbon,aluminium or titanim) with 20 plus gears. Nevererless an amazing feat of both strong mental and physical achievement to ride that distance. We should not try to compare records or achievements from decades ago. Was Messi better than George Best? Best palyed on muddy pitches against some hard players and survived. Messi never plays on a pitch that isn't perfectly manicured. no comparison.
BUT well done again to Amanda.
You're a moron, of course his bike was modern, it was the most advanced bike money could buy and he had constant technical support from his sponsors, not to mention he also started the ride in a team of three, drafting the others.
Since Homo Sapiens (in body at least) hasn't evolved with any degree over the last few thousand years the comparison is utterly valid.
I don't see anybody getting upset, you big silly.
Dude just set up the Commonwealth Ultra Marathon Cycling Association Rules and be done with it. It's not worth getting this upset over.
Sorry but this 'record' is not even remotely comparable to Goodwin's achievements ... irrespective of the gender of the rider.
What comes next? Someone (of either gender) riding training rollers in an air-conditioned room for a year?
Let Amanda get out on the actual road, in real British weather conditions, over a full season in *all* weathers, with whatever support she can beg/borrow/steal on a tiny budget ... and then let's see how she gets on.
Godwin has loads of sponsors, nice smooth new roads and guys to draft behind. His was a good effort but he's been beaten, and beaten by 16 thousand kilometres.
...and minus thousands of metres.
Anyone who rides a bike or even watches the TdF knows it isn't just about the horizontal distance; leaving the vertical out of comparisons is silly. Them's the rules, but the rules is an ass.
Any future attempts on the record should be made in the rugged mountains of England's south-eastern alpine region.
How very droll.
You have two friends. Matey A goes for a long ride through the Cheshire plains one weekend, plots a course to avoid hills as he's no climber, does around 110 miles with 1,500 feet of climbing. Flatter than a witch's proverbial.
Matey B, same weekend, does the Fred Whitton. 110 miles and 11,000 feet.
Same thing, to you: yes?
133225 miles needed next time for the perfect Eddington number.
If there is anyone out there interested in this topic who isn't aware of 'The Year' can I recommend the book? It's currently in hardback for a tenner or a quid for the Kindle version.
Dave Barter tweeted today that he won't be publishing an update to his book. All of these recent attempts and records set are astonishing achievements, but those who started all this before the Second World War are worth finding more about, I reckon.
Great job Amanda! What a great story and what a great ride! That mark will be tough to beat.
Not having a go but simply based on his current averages on Strava Steve Abraham hasn't got a s***show of beating this. This is an absolutely immense ride. The commenters saying if only they didn't have a job they'd be out there having a crack at this aren't fooling anyone.
Has she ridden the same course, day in, day out to acheive this record?
If so then she should also be applauded for her mental strength alongside the distance! I don't think that I could stomach the same route all day every day.
The quality of Goodwin's record was proven by the time it stood.
The 'awesomeness' of Amanda's record is that it's so far it's got to discourage all comers. Fair enough to mention gender, it a notable facet of the record, even if not a major one. I think a good PR could get her plenty sponsors for the 100k on the back of that alone, but that doesn't seem to be her motivation, which only increases respect.
It's a great achievement to do that much riding - well done Amanda!
The article is worth reading but badly linked above: http://www.bicycling.com/rides/records/is-amanda-coker-for-real
I think the article gives some good context for the record
I am happy this is done in an anything goes style of UMCA but a more convential approach record such as used by Tommy Goodwin should be equally valid
Wish I could ride all day but sadly I have a thing called a job and another thing called a family, both together take up most of my day.
As a said life of Riley. I bet we all wish we could do what we pleased, it's not hating, more jealousy. This said, I don't think my arse would like me if I did that sort of mileage.
4 haters above.
FANTASTIC stuff girl. More power to ya
Behave.
Aiming for a particular record is an exercise in comparison between the efforts involved in itself; that Joe Public compares them is inevitable. I've seen a bit of 'hating' the game (rules/recognition), not the player.
Still an awesome effort.
just lol. learn to read and understand basic comprehension!
I don't honestly believe Tommy achieved that mileage. Call me cynical but the evidence just isn't sufficient to get on one's high horse about whether Kurt or Amanda's achievments are within "the spirit" of the year records. That said, it was all we had and it was the record.
As far as I am concerned, Steve is a hero for inspiring these attempts, Kurt for breaking the record, Kajsa for breaking the women's record her generally awesomeness, and Amanda is clearly superhuman.
If I had even a tenth of their audacity and commitment I'd be happy.
If you want to diminish Amanda's achievement, go and ride a three speed SA equipped bike for a year or GET IN THE SEA.
Fook me. Where to begin with this one.
You exhibit maximum cynicism towards Goodwin's record but won't have any expressed towards Coker.
Also, you're only qualified to have an opinion about stuff you've done: really? Those expressing a view about the Prime Minister. You'd better be Theresa May or GET IN THE SEA.
Amazing amount of effort and well done to her but can we please stop comparing her efforts with Godwin's, they are two vastly differing attempts/records, please can we seperate the two.
In fact KS didn't break Godwins most miles in 365 days record like he thinks he did.
You are absolutely correct, Amanda didn't have a two riders leading out for her for at least the first half of her attempt nor did she spend the most part of her ride riding up and down empty flat A-Roads.
Oh yes, and attitudes have thankfully evolved since the time of Godwin.
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