As part of the Wattbike-initiative the University of Nottingham NUWS Squad put a “crack(ed) team” together on Red Nose Day to race a 12-hour challenge against the other universities who are part of the “Everyday Cycling” national programme led by British Cycling, helping to promote recreational cycling at Universities across the UK.
Establishing an early lead in the 12-hour Watt-Race the NU-Bike squad and “friends” kept their wheel spinning hard averaging over 40kms an hour, “reaching Plymouth University” which was the initial goal (a distance of 407.9kms) after 9hrs, 54 minutes and 52 seconds before keeping the Wattbike spinning on to the revised target of the magical Half-Million Metres, reached after 12hrs, 5 minutes and 42 seconds.
Alongside the Record Challenge several Wattbikes were positioned at the three Uni-Sports Centres to encourage people to “do something stupid for Red-Nose Day” and have a go themselves at a 750 metre challenge or simply guess at how far the NUWS Nu-Bike squad could travel in the twelve hours. With over 120 “new” folk getting involved with the Little Red Watt Ride and Everyday Cycling, Comic Relief will also benefit by over £200. Top participating Red Nose AU Club were Womens Football “seating” 23 participants, followed by Mens Basketball and the Swim Team.
750M RED NOSE CHALLENGE SITE WINNERS
SB
Nicole Chase
54.23s
Matt Chesworth
(Rugby)
47.35s
UP
Sarah Williams
(Football)
58.99s
Adam Robinson
(Cycling)
47.59s
JC
Rebekah Whiting
58.99s
Martin Hudall
(Basketball)
47.99s
Best Guess
Aneel Kilo
495 km
Actual Distance
495.586Km
Many thanks to the Nottingham University Bike squads who rallied to the Challenge, to the Nottm University Sports staff at each Centre who helped with Little Red Riding and especially to Rich Denham from NU-Bike for recruiting his “volunteers”, to Steve Farey from Jubilee for being daft enough to ride himself and to Steve from Wattbike for helping out with some of the logistics…. next year…. A Million Metres????
OVERALL WATT RED NOSE CYCLE CHALLENGE RESULTS
Time
Plymouth
Bristol
Nottingham
12:00
68,000
68,620
81,115
14:00
142,000
136,769
162,293
16:00
217,807
208,684
247,462
18:00
286,452
279,803
329,185
20:00
367,500
-
410,939
21:00
391,500
379,438
453,028
22:00
423,702
452,367
495,586
Position
3rd
2nd
1st
WATTBIKE KEY-RECORD MARKERS
(As set 13/03/09 by Nottingham University, all markers set by amateur riders)
The Classic
9hr 54m 52s
Nott'm Uni to Plymouth Uni: 407.9Km
Fastest Hour
43.815Km
Five Man Team
Fastest 100Km
2hr 27m 1s
Five Man Team
Fastest 500Km
12hrs 5m 42s
Ten Man Team
