Tommy Godwin: Το παγκοσμιο ρεκορ ετησιων διανυθεντων χιλιομετρων

Το 1939, καταριφθηκε το παγκοσμιο ρεκορ ετησιων διανυθεντων χιλιομετρων απο τον κυριο Tommy Godwin, εχοντας "γραψει" στο σφραγισμενο κι ελεγχομενο κοντερ του, 120.805 χιλιομετρα.
Απο τοτε, δεν εχει καταρριφθει.
Στη συνεχεια εκανε ακομη ενα παγκοσμιο ρεκορ, διανυοντας 100.000 μιλια, μεσα σε μολις 500 ακριβως ημερες:
"...Today the word ‘challenge’ is one that is bandied about frequently; “Are you ready for the challenge of a lifetime? Do you have what it takes to cycle from London to Paris in just 4 days?”

Although well meaning (and often raising fantastic sums for charity or awareness on an issue), modern cycling ‘challenges’ just don’t cut it when compared with one particular ‘challenge’ laid down over a hundred years ago. This same challenge advertised today might read, "Think yourself a ‘fast-man’? Do you have what it takes to cycle from London to Paris in just 2 days, and then cycle back in 2 days – and then back to Paris 2 days later, and then back…and do please get in touch with us a year later to tell us how you got on."

Επισης, ο κυριος Godwin ηταν vegetarian, και καταφερε το κατορθωμα του, ενω ειχε ξεκινησει ο δευτερος Παγκοσμιος Πολεμος, με ολες τις ελειψεις σε τροφιμα που συνεπαγεται αυτο, αλλα και με τα διαθεσιμα μεσα της εποχης: Μαλλινα χοντρα ρουχα, ανυπαρκτα αδιαβροχα, και -το κυριωτερο- σε δρομους της εποχης...
Μαντεψτε τωρα με τι ποδηλατο και εξοπλισμο εκανε το ρεκορ του:
Ξεκινησε με ενα ατσαλινο "custom built" πλαισιο ‘Ley TG Special’(Reynolds 531), εξοπλισμενο με ενα 4ταχυτο Sturmey, με μπροστα δυναμο κεντρου επισης S.A. Dynohub, και σελλα Brooks.
Μετα απο 27.000 μιλια, και λογω οικονομικων προβληματων της εταιριας που τον σπονσοραριζε (Ley), αλλαξε σπονσορα (Raleigh), και πλεον συνεχισε με ενα ‘Raleigh Record Ace’ μεταφεροντας ολα τα περιφερειακα απο το ενα πλαισιο στο αλλο:
"...Tommy rode two bikes during the course of his record-breaking 1939 ride. The first, a ‘Ley TG Special’ was custom built at the request of Tommy’s employer and sponsor, Mr A. T. Ley. The frame was built with Reynolds 531 tubing and the bike fitted with a Baylis-Wiley bottom bracket, Williams chain wheel and cranks, high pressure 27″ Dunlop tyres, a Brooks saddle, Solite front hub and (initially) a ‘Sturmey-Archer’ 3 speed hub gear.

The bike rode well and had been put together with durability in mind. However, huge mileages and poor road conditions would lead to excessive wear on the bike, and the costs of spare parts and bike maintenance ultimately became too much of a burden for ‘Ley Cycles’ to bear.
Tommy Godwin used a hub dynamo to light his way during the wartime blackouts
Dynamic drive

Tommy often needed to ride in the dark; particularly in the winter months. Ultra-light, ultra-bright modern LED’s were obviously not available. He had to make do with a hub dynamo to light his way through the inky darkness of wartime blackouts.

By May, Tommy had chalked up nearly 27,000 miles on the ‘Ley TG Special’; financial issues aside, reliability had not been a problem. Nevertheless, arrangements had been made for a new sponsor to step in to support Tommy’s record-attempt, and it was the ‘Raleigh Cycle Company’ that were most keen to be involved.

Tommy’s new bike would be a ‘Raleigh Record Ace’. A four-speed medium-ratio ‘Sturmey-Archer’ hub gear, which had been fitted to the ‘Ley TG Special’ in March, was brought over to the new bike for continued use.

Both the ‘Ley TG Special’ and ‘Raleigh Record Ace’ were, at that time, at the cutting edge of cycling technology and amongst the best bikes available to Tommy to undertake his challenge. However, they would both pale in comparison with even an entry level road-bike available to today’s cyclist.

Compared with the best road bikes now available to professional riders, Tommy’s record-breaking steed seems not so much of a different age, but of a different world..."

Enjoy:
http://www.tommygodwin.com/