Around the world on a tandem bike
Laura Massey-Pugh and Stevie Massey had a dream. They wanted to be the fastest duo pedaling around the world. Of course thinking it is easy, doing it are little more involved. The couple, who took a ride on a tandem bike on their first date, said they were inspired to attempt the record for fastest circumnavigation by tandem bicycle after reading about fellow Britons Cat Dixon and Raz Marsden, who set the female team version of the record in 263 days. the male team record was 281 days. Guinness World Records lists a category for the mixed version of the record, but there was no current record-holder. Laura said she was certain that she and her husband could best both of the single-gender records, so they researched the record-keeping organization’s rules, which included traveling for a minimum of 18,000 miles in a single direction, passing through two antipodal points and finishing their trek at the same place it started.
Laura and Steven, set a new world record when they crossed the finish line in Berlin on Thursday, after almost six months on the road. The cycling-mad pair passed through 21 counties as they pedaled across five continents in 180 days. The couple set off on their grueling journey from their home in Derby, England back in June with the plan of being back home for Christmas. They had to overcome multiple challenges along the way – including a stomach bug in India, Visa issues in Azerbaijan and were even knocked off their bike in Malaysia. Laura and Steve also endured ever-changing weather conditions – including -10°C temperatures – and steep climbs through the Rocky Mountains. Even after losing time, the pair limited themselves to just one break a day as they became determined to beat the previous record of 263 days. And they were left delighted when they passed the finish line at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate in front of friends and family who gathered to cheer them on. In a freezing cold blizzard, the pair cycled through the arches of the historic gates at 6:25pm after pedaling more than 100 miles a day. In total, the couple completed their world tour in 180 days, 12 hours and 25 minutes – setting a new Guinness World Record. Laura Massey-Pugh said, “It was just a massive sense of relief, to finally be able to stop riding, have a shower, clean clothes and to see friends, family and loved ones that we’ve not seen for six months was absolutely immense.”
Pedaling humor
I took my bicycle to the liquor store the other day..
I got a bottle of vodka and put it in the bike’s basket. As I was about to leave, I thought to myself that if I fell the bottle would break. So I drank all the vodka and then headed home. It turned out to be a really good decision because I fell eleven times on my way home.
A little boy out riding his bicycle knocked down an old lady. She was a bit shaken, but got up, dusted herself off, then turned to the little boy and said, “Don’t you know how to ride a bike?” “Yes,” he answered, “but I don’t know how to stop the bike yet.”
I called the bicycle factory and asked to speak to whoever was in charge of wheels. The person who answered said he wasn’t there, so I asked, “Okay, who are you?” She responded…
“I’m his spokes person.”
Every morning when I walk out of the house, a bike keeps running me over.
It’s a vicious cycle.
December 20th Birthdays
1992 – Isabel Durant, 1992 – Jillian Rose Reed, 1982 – Melanie Scrofano, 1991 – India Reynolds
1984 – Bob Morely, 1946 – Dick Wolf, 1983 – Jonah Hill, 1982 – David Wright