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NervexProf
Joined: 30 Sep 2005
Posts: 2602
Location: United Kingdom
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 Posted Sun Feb 24, 2008 12:23 pm |
This sounds like some big challenge to me:
http://tinyurl.com/2o8wfm
Daily planned average mileage on the bike implies he is seriously fit!
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Richrd2205
Joined: 28 Jul 2005
Posts: 724
Location: Glasgow
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Posted Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:25 pm |
280 miles a day!?! That's serious audax stuff & 14-15.5mph isn't slow when riding alone for 18-20hrs per day.He's trying to go nearly twice as PBP in only one day more. Just checked PBP results for 2003 & only 34 of the 2000 odd seriously hardcore audaxes finished it fast enough to satisfy this timetable & that's only half the distance.
David Walliams was a swimmer anyway & did something that's at the top end of the amateur range for his sport. Cracknell isn't a cyclist (to the limit of my knowledge) & is trying something far beyond the amateur (or professional for that matter) range of the sport.
As you say, seriously fit, or utterly unrealistic. I favour the latter: I can't see him doing it. Unless he has a motor fitted or drafts a bus the whole way...
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Ed Moses
Joined: 17 Jun 2007
Posts: 72
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:54 pm |
A couple of Olympic rowing Golds and rowing the Atlantic should give him some good base endurance and the ability to suffer. I would also have thought that he would have talked to some serious coaches before putting himself up for this - still hell of a challenge though!
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Ed Moses
Joined: 17 Jun 2007
Posts: 72
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:54 pm |
A couple of Olympic rowing Golds and rowing the Atlantic should give him some good base endurance and the ability to suffer. I would also have thought that he would have talked to some serious coaches before putting himself up for this - still hell of a challenge though!
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ddraver
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Llandudno via Cornwall
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Posted Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:17 pm |
me thinks he's tryiong to replicate the old TdF guys (old old TdF guys!)
Insert random comment here.....
-Cotic Soda-
-Ribble Winter/Audax-
-cindercone, 02, "apollo TdF, 3000" (frames only)- |
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kettrinboy
Joined: 21 Oct 2007
Posts: 65
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Posted Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:53 pm |
i think the biggest problem for him will be a very sore ars* I remember when he rowed the atlantic he did it starkers cos of all the chafing from the seat ,dont think thats an option on this ride , I dont think many pro tour riders would fancy this challenge but good on him for giving it a go
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cycologist
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 602
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:25 pm |
Gadzooks !
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ddraver
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Llandudno via Cornwall
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Posted Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:42 pm |
apparently he is trying to show just how 'close' Africa is to us and thus how we cannot forget about it
according to David Walliams on R 2 this afternoon
Insert random comment here.....
-Cotic Soda-
-Ribble Winter/Audax-
-cindercone, 02, "apollo TdF, 3000" (frames only)- |
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cougie
Joined: 21 Apr 2004
Posts: 11538
Location:
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Posted Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:56 am |
I think he will probably do it. He did sub 3 at the London Marathon with very little training - he'd not been back long from rowing the atlantic. He's one seriously fit guy and very determined.
Dont envy him with his swim though.
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Robspedding
Joined: 20 Sep 2007
Posts: 129
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Posted Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:28 am |
Crackers, as I like to call him, is quite a determined fella. i interviewed him a couple of times in my previous life when he was training for the Flora London Marathon. (He actually ran 3:00.10 Cougie and was absolutely gutted!) Anyway, I was chatting to one of his sponsors just last week and he has apparantly got some cycling form - I was told his bagged a number of Tour climbs already. That said, he's still a big bloke - I heard said sponsor ordering him some more XL gear!
Editor, Cycling Plus.
Stop me and buy one at www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk |
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oldwelshman
Joined: 16 Oct 2006
Posts: 2416
Location: United Kingdom
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nasahapley
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 606
Location: Wharfedale
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Posted Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:27 am |
I reckon he'll do it too. In fact if I were to pick anyone to do it outside the pro peloton an olympic rower would probably be my choice! Their fitness (whichever way you want to measure it) is way above that of a typical cyclist, and Mr Cracknell is one of the fittest of an already very select bunch. The British squad do a fair bit of cycling on training camps too, including lots of hills, so he'll know what he's doing. No doubt he'll have a great support crew, so I think the only thing that'll stop him doing it in the time he's aiming for is bad weather.
I still think he's barmy though!
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mrushton
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 3083
Location: United Kingdom
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nasahapley
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 606
Location: Wharfedale
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Posted Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:25 pm |
Good find mrushton!
I'm not surprised he struggled on that; 16.5 stone and alpine climbs don't make a happy marriage! If he's planning on doing 280 miles a day I guess he'll be avoiding hills like the plague as far as possible. Also, it sound like he did that ride for a laugh as much as anything - getting knocked out in a boxing match four days before is hardly the best prep 
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cougie
Joined: 21 Apr 2004
Posts: 11538
Location:
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Posted Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:28 pm |
Oh was he 10 secs out ? I thought I was in with a chance of beating him and as I turned onto the Mall to finish - the big screen showed him getting interviewed already.
I was gutted !
Still, I beat Floella pretty convincingly... 
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mrushton
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 3083
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:30 pm |
| nasahapley wrote: |
Good find mrushton!
I'm not surprised he struggled on that; 16.5 stone and alpine climbs don't make a happy marriage! If he's planning on doing 280 miles a day I guess he'll be avoiding hills like the plague as far as possible. Also, it sound like he did that ride for a laugh as much as anything - getting knocked out in a boxing match four days before is hardly the best prep |
that wasn't a big route he did either in terms of length but granted the climbs were big. I've never had a problem on the Galibier, sure it's long but gradient wise it's good (for me) but then I'm 4 stone lighter but NOT an Olympic athlete. he'd be better doing a couple of 400km audaxes to get his preparation right (and poss. a Brooks saddle!)
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NervexProf
Joined: 30 Sep 2005
Posts: 2602
Location: United Kingdom
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Bronzie
Joined: 15 Jan 2007
Posts: 3263
Location: Ampthill, Beds.
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Posted Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:49 am |
Well he made it across the channel already and is on route in northern France - bon courage Monsieur Cracknell!!
It's a Lifestyle! |
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Cps
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 289
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Posted Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:55 pm |
I been watching the feed of the journey so far, and the stats look strange to me.
Anyone else following this ?
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pdstsp
Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 587
Location: Liverpool
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Posted Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:47 pm |
Read his stuff in today's telegraph - capsized just after setting off - nine foot swell - all the support crew and journos chucking up on the support boat, couldn't eat or drink because he couln't let go of the oars for fear of another capsize (in the Channle in February for gods sake!!) and he still managed to jump on the bike at the other side for a couple of hours - Jesus he must be crazy.
His aim is to show that Africa (and its problems) isn't that far away - if he makes it he will be one seriously heroic figure to me.
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