Around Australia record attempt

[blizzard]

Big days in the saddle, EF must have an non-Aussie writing the blogs because day 2 he set off from Tweet Heads and they keep abbreviating Queensland to QSL.

[elantra]

Big days in the saddle, EF must have an non-Aussie writing the blogs because day 2 he set off from Tweet Heads and they keep abbreviating Queensland to QSL.

Yeah I noticed that Tweed Heads had become Tweet Heads

But at least that’s better than what some of the locals refer to it as - “Weed Heads”

As I write this he is on the outskirts of Townsville- and about to make the big turn inland after the last 4 days spent hugging the East Coast.

[stevenaaus]

Big days in the saddle, EF must have an non-Aussie writing the blogs because day 2 he set off from Tweet Heads and they keep abbreviating Queensland to QSL.

Might explain why they originally planned backways Mt Lindsey hway.. Just down the road from me, but I missed out.

[ldrcycles]

Absolutely astonishing pace so far, he went through so quickly I had to abandon my plan of catching him on the Sunshine Coast. He did stop long enough in Rockhampton to see Glen Chadwick (former pro and multiple RRAA record holder), and at Koumala south of Mackay to meet Dave Arnold (former team relay Around Australia record holder and more than anyone else, the person responsible for the formal rules for The Lap).

Great luck with the weather so far, he's going to have a tailwind right through to Tennant Creek, then crosswind up to Darwin. Mind you the headwind in the first two days didn't seem to slow him down at all

[MichaelB]

2213km so far and averaging almost 500km/day

[warthog1]

2213km so far and averaging almost 500km/day

Makes it very clear that is what we are, recreational cyclists

[g-boaf]

It helps to be young and injury free.

[ldrcycles]

Day 6 got him from Gumlu (between Bowen and Townsville) to Prairie (east of Hughenden), just another 487km day

He's past 2,500km already, at this stage it looks like Cloncurry tonight, Ranken in the NT Wednesday, Banka Banka Thursday, Mataranka Friday, and into Darwin Saturday. He'll have cross to tailwinds for all of that, and depending on the movement of a High in the bight the favourable winds could hold right through to Fitzroy Crossing.

[jasonc]

I reckon he's aiming for Mt Isa tonight

[find_bruce]

I reckon he's aiming for Mt Isa tonight

Already 407 km for the day & another 140 or so to Mt Isa, jeepers that would be a big day.

[Edit] yep stopped at Cloncurry, another 448km ticked off. Wonder where he's going to stop tomorrow - into some pretty isolated territory. Did Gerry Ryan kick the tin for the Jayco RV pictured on the website?

[MichaelB]

Crikey, he's past Mt Isa and then another 550km to get near anything on the map (Tennant Creek).

Quite & peaceful ride apart from the road trains and the dust ....

[jasonc]

Crikey, he's past Mt Isa and then another 550km to get near anything on the map (Tennant Creek).

Quite & peaceful ride apart from the road trains and the dust ....

He didn't stop at the bakery in Isa

[MichaelB]

Crikey, he's past Mt Isa and then another 550km to get near anything on the map (Tennant Creek).

Quite & peaceful ride apart from the road trains and the dust ....

He didn't stop at the bakery in Isa

Probably still closed when he went through !!

[jasonc]

Crikey, he's past Mt Isa and then another 550km to get near anything on the map (Tennant Creek).

Quite & peaceful ride apart from the road trains and the dust ....

He didn't stop at the bakery in Isa

Probably still closed when he went through !!

It opens at 6:30 (I checked)

[MichaelB]

.
It opens at 6:30 (I checked)

[warthog1]

His ability to fuel is very impressive. Must be chowing down heaps and sending glycogen to the muscles very effectively!

[find_bruce]

Wisely decided to stop early at Camooweal just short of the NT border - only 311 km, but puts him in a good spot to hit the next roadhouse 446km away at Warumungu. Stopped at around 2pm so no doubt time to get some good sleep

His ability to fuel is very impressive. Must be chowing down heaps and sending glycogen to the muscles very effectively!

Darn tootin warty, thats one of the aspects I don't understand how he's able to ride these distances day after day

[warthog1]

Yes very impressive. Backing it up day after day!

[nezumi]

Big days in the saddle, EF must have an non-Aussie writing the blogs because day 2 he set off from Tweet Heads and they keep abbreviating Queensland to QSL.

It looks like they heard you - it's been fixed now! (I spotted the same and enjoyed a wry chuckle)

[jasonc]

He started at 11:40pm last night. Obviously planning on either a big day or to miss the heat of the day

[find_bruce]

He started at 11:40pm last night. Obviously planning on either a big day or to miss the heat of the day

Seems like the first - he's already turned onto the Sturt Highway & still going, 512km down. Surely he can't be intending to get to Pamayu as that would be a 580 km day

[Edit] That is nuts - he actually rode all the way to Pamayu - 583km in 16 hours. If he stays fit & out of trouble he's going to smash the record

[MichaelB]

Is the 'FKT' marker the tracking for where the current record holder was at ?

[jasonc]

Is the 'FKT' marker the tracking for where the current record holder was at ?

yes

FKT = Fastest Known Time

[Mr Purple]

He started at 11:40pm last night. Obviously planning on either a big day or to miss the heat of the day

Seems like the first - he's already turned onto the Sturt Highway & still going, 512km down. Surely he can't be intending to get to Pamayu as that would be a 580 km day

[Edit] That is nuts - he actually rode all the way to Pamayu - 583km in 16 hours. If he stays fit & out of trouble he's going to smash the record

Apparently he's on track to beat the record by about a week.

I've driven many of these roads. I swear he's riding them faster than I drove them!

[MichaelB]

Is the 'FKT' marker the tracking for where the current record holder was at ?

yes

FKT = Fastest Known Time

Cheers