Riding a bicycle around a velodrome nonstop for 24 hours sounds like a form of penance, but for 48-year-old James MacDonald, it is just another extreme two-wheeled challenge that needs to be crossed off his list.
Systems engineer MacDonald yesterday was to roll off the start line at Newport’s Geraint Thomas National Velodrome in Wales around midday and plans to cover more than 941.873km by the time he comes to a standstill at the same time today.
Why? To break the velodrome 24-hour distance record set by Austrian ultra-cyclist Christoph Strasser in 2017 — a 3,767-lap grind after which he vowed never to ride on a track again.
“It’s about trying to see what your limits are,” said MacDonald, who already holds the world record for the fastest return cycle ride between Land’s End and John O Groats.
“I thought I would try something a bit harder and see if it’s possible. It’s about understanding your capabilities. I’m rubbish at ball sports and can’t run, but I can ride a bike,” he said. “The 24-hour record is the ultimate thing to achieve.”
MacDonald’s record attempt might only be successful if he can limit toilet stops to the absolute minimum — preferably none at all as he will need to keep his average speed at about 40kph.
“Stopping is the worst thing you can do for your average speed; stopping is just terrible,” he said. “We will try to make sure there are no stops. It’s a balance between hydration and having to go to the toilet. If we manage it correctly I shouldn’t have to stop, but we might not get it perfect.”
MacDonald is to consume about 10,000 calories and 15 liters of fluid during his attempt — but the dry air of the velodrome means digesting anything other than liquid will be impossible.
His diet will be energy gels, baby food and Greek yogurt.
As well as the obvious physical hardship, the monotony of lap after lap on the wooden boards is the other challenge that he will have to overcome.
“The first part in terms of comfort is just something you have to live with,” MacDonald said. “I’ve ridden 24 hours nonstop before, but when you’re on the road you have little breaks when you’re rolling downhill, you can sit up, but on the track there is very little variety.”
“That’s when the crew will be so vital. Not only will they be able to tell me what’s happening to my body, how fast I’m going, etc, they’ll keep me entertained,” he added. “We’ll be playing music and talking, and that’s really important, being in contact with the crew.”
MacDonald, who once rode across the width of the US nonstop in 11 days, is to ride a similar bike to the one used by Australian Rohan Denis for the hour-record attempt in 2015 and be backed up by a team of analysts led by Tim Wade, senior director of architecture at Dimension Data.
“I’ve known James for five years and we’ve collaborated on a few attempts,” Wade said. “He’s mad.”
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