Around the world in tandem
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 , after almost six months on the road. The cycling-mad pair passed through 21 counties as they pedaled across five continents in 180 days. They raised money for three charities in transit and you can see their recap in the video below. 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.
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.
Every morning when I walk out of the house, a bike keeps running me over.
It’s a vicious cycle.
Since things turned sour with my wife at the New Year’s party, I’ve taken to riding 50 miles a day to clear my head. I’m now 700 miles from home and feeling much happier.
A tandem rider is stopped by a police car. “What’ve I done, officer?” asks the rider.
“Perhaps you didn’t notice, sir, but your wife fell off your bike half a mile back.”
“Oh, I thought I’d gone deaf!”
December 16th Birthdays
1951 – Debbie Allen, 1937 – Marilyn Horne, 1974 – Kate Moss, 1946 – Laura Schlessinger
1981 – Lin Mavel Miranda, 1986 – Joe Flacco, 1995 – Curran Walters, 1980 – Albert Pujols