Ultra distance athlete, Neil Rhodes, set a World Record for static cycling in aid of BBC Children in Need last week. Rhodes recorded 632,289 meters, or 392.9miles in 24 hours of cycling at a busy ASDA store in Nottingham using the new Wattbike.
The Wattbike has been developed in partnership with British Cycling and enables World Records to be possible for the first time ever due to the precise and identical calibration of every bike.
Rhodes, who celebrated his 51st birthday on Saturday whilst attempting the record, has completed extraordinary challenges such as running an arctic marathon and becoming the first Englishman to run across the Alps and the Rockies back-to-back.
Rhodes, whilst attempting the record!
He said: “I was contacted just a week prior to the event and asked if I would do it. My first reaction was that 7 months notice would be more appropriate, but the lure of another challenge was too strong. I’m always asking myself what is my body capable of and I haven’t fully answered that question yet, so I had to say yes.
“As much as I am fit at present, my fitness is geared towards running not cycling and I knew that the big problem was that my body was not used to the pressure of sitting on a saddle for such a period of time.
“I’m pleased and a little disappointed not to have reached 400miles. The problem with new ultra-distance challenges is the fact that it’s totally new territory and you don’t know how hard to push and how your body may react to constant exercise for such a long period, so it’s only afterwards that you know if you could have done more.”
Rhodes’ record breaking exploits, along with riders on the other ten Wattbikes in ADSA’s busy entrance foyer raised almost £10,000 for Children in Need and ensured that the Nottingham store was the top fundraiser across all ASDA stores nationwide.
Riders from the local Nottingham Clarion club completed a 12 hour relay and Nottingham Rowing Club’s 18 year old Sam Ward pedalled his was to a new 12 hour bench mark.
John Wilson of Wattbike commented: “The event was a huge success and response to the Wattbike was hugely positive. People were queuing up to ride and it looked fantastic in the busy setting of ASDA.”
“It’s exciting that we can start to establish records for static cycling for the first time. It’s a perfect way to do charity fundraising and set some new standards in cycling.”
