Land's End to John o'Groat's

I just enjoyed watching this short (12 minute) Damon Peacock film about the 2018 attempt by Michael Broadwith to beat the record for riding the entire length of Great Britain from South to North (Land's End to John o'Groat's). Peacock has done similar short films about PBP, LEL and other events I have actually joined.

Broadwith beat the old record by more than 30 minutes, finishing the 1347.81kms (and 8,756 meters of elevation gain) in 43 hours 25 minutes and 13 seconds.  This included some stretches of heavy, cold English rain, and other stretches of what looks like extremely heavy -- even dangerous -- traffic. Vased on the Strava result that he spent only ONE HOUR in total off of the bicycle during the entire trip. Incredible. He seems to eat/drink lots of cans of cold tomato soup. Hydration, salt, some carbs, and it does not bother his stomach. I think tomato soups and sauces can sometimes be too acidic to recommend ... but cold soup is a very good idea to eat on the bike.

He set the UK 24 hour distance record 505.511 miles (or 816.760 kms) and made the Strava KOM on seven climbs during this effort.

The star of the film may be his wife, who led the support team. One key moment is at around 4:30 into the film -- one can hear a crying 8-month old daughter audible in the van.  At this point, soaking wet, cold, tired, Michael pulls over and asks for 5 minutes off the bike.

His wife's response: "Really? No. Why do you need a five-minute stop?"

He says that his hands are freezing, and she changes his gloves, opens and hands him a can of tomato soup, and quickly sends him on his way ... maybe a 3 minute stop?

Late in the ride he struggles with Shermer's Neck -- that syndrome when the neck muscles sometimes get so tired a rider can no longer hold up his or her head. The team try various solutions, including a neck brace offered by a local hospital en route ... but in the end Broadwith just props his head up with one hand, or rides upright balancing his head on his neck toward at the end of the saga. This is why you don't want to ride for 43 hours straight.


From End to End. from Damon Peacock on Vimeo.

A Road.cc report from last year can be found here.

His Strava recording is here. Note the strava profile bio: "The one with the legendary wife."
(and, in much smaller print below " ... the ever patient daughter and the amazing, amazing support crew.")