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news
Guy Martin in the Taklamakan Desert (Channel 4).jpgChannel 4 programme documents Guy Martin’s latest cycling record attempt – crossing a desert in China
The third and final part of Our Guy in China sees Guy Martin attempting to set the fastest time for a crossing of the Taklamakan Desert on a bicycle. To achieve his arm, Martin needed to ride the 341 mile highway through what is known as the desert of death in under 47 hours.
Summer temperatures average 40C in the Taklamakan and sandstorm winds can reach 150mph. Local legend has it that once you enter the desert you never come out. Considering there’s a road right the way through it, that seems inaccurate –but even so, it’s quite an undertaking.
The record was set in 2015 by British cyclists Laurence Gribble and Nick Codrington, who stopped to sleep for just four hours midway through. They described the experience as the worst two days of their lives.
Night-time temperatures dropped to -30C, “which felt pretty nippy,” and the pair also describe giant rolling sand dunes on a road featuring far more climbing than you’d think for a desert.
It would be wrong to say the record was hotly-contested though. In Gribble and Codrington’s own words: “To the best of our knowledge this sets a new world record, as we don’t reckon anyone has been stupid enough to attempt the crossing before.”
Martin apparently faces an additional challenge however, in that the metal in his bones from various motorcycling injuries apparently aches in the cold morning air of the desert.
At one point fatigue causes him to start nodding off while riding and he swerves off the edge of the road. He stops in a layby for much needed food and rest, but can't sleep because of his overactive mind and so decides to just push on through the night.
The episode was on Channel 4 last night, but can be found online and via catch-up services.
This is far from being the first cycling-related record attempted by Martin. Previous programmes have seen him try to pedal an airship across the Channel, tackle the 24-hour tandem record and attempt the motor-paced British speed record.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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15 comments
Seems like a record ripe for the taking, average speed of only 7 mph. I rode across Zimbabwe on sealed and gravel roads in 45deg + for 220 miles on a mountain bike in 14 hours. There wasn't apocalyptic head winds though....
Not sure about this Dooley chap but Mr Martin's slowed-down Charlie's Cat dialect is torture to my ears.
What does "To achieve his arm..." mean - what has anything got to do with arms?
The narration by Shaun Dooley in every Guy Martin programme renders them personally unwatchable
could be worse, it could be Stacey Dooley!!!
On point but it wasn't necessarily a criticism of him per se, Yorkshire everyman aside, more the over-dramatic false jeopardy emphasizing repetitious production emblematic of the whole show when there is something interesting at heart. But then again some people call me grumpy.
Just about every show on tv come to that.
They think we're all idiots.
They may have a point.
Remember Time Team? "We've only got three days to explore the entire archaeological history of this plot of land!" Why only three days? No reason. The site isn't going to be nuked in three days or something, but it creates a sense of drama through a self-inflicted deadline.
But not one worth bothering to answer.
I'm guessing you two aren't sports coaches! lol
but why though?
Why bother doing anything?
it's a good question
Romanticism. It's why nearly everyone can swim these days. It is why people climb mountains and explore. The expression of the self and the awe of nature. Unfortunately Byron swimming the Hellespont leads to people falling off balonies taking selfies.
apparently, people doing parachute jumps to raise money for the NHS actually cost the NHS a lot more than they ever manage to raise.