Team Wiggle Tandem looks to break distance records

By BikeRadar.com | Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010 9.00am

In a two-year project Eurosport cycling commentator David Harmon and wilderness trail guide Jez Hastings will attempt to use cutting edge cycling technology to take on a series of long distance record attempts under the rules of the Road Records Association.

“We are painfully aware that neither Jez or I could hold a candle physically to some of the great record holders of the past but we feel that using advances in training and equipment we have a realistic chance of success,” commented Harmon when asked about the team’s chances during the official Team Wiggle Tandem launch at London’s Charlotte St Hotel.

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Beginning in late March the pairing will aim at setting a new benchmark of under 17 hours for the ‘Side to Side’ from Pembroke in West Wales to Yarmouth in East Anglia before at-tempts on the 12-hour record and Liverpool to Edinburgh. An even more ambitious 2011 calendar could see Team Wiggle Tandem mount assaults on the End-to-End record and venture abroad to the legendary Paris-Brest-Paris.

“Breaking records is something that needs a well organised structure.” Points out Project Manager Richard Gorman from Project 7 Racing. “I was previously involved with Team CSC and this is a fascinating venture to bring my management skills to.”

Team Wiggle Tandem will ride ‘Rocket 1’ a development tandem built by framebuilder Terry Dolan, and help to develop and test new tandem technology including Rotor Q rings, electronics and Hope disc braking systems for an all carbon framed Rocket 2 for 2011.

Team Wiggle Tandem starts its season in Snowdonia, North Wales for early season training, following that up with a week riding with Team Endura in Southern France before putting the finally touches to their attempt to set a new standard for the Side to Side in late March 2010.

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User Comments

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  • Interestingly, the shifting seems to be controlled by the stoker and the braking by the captain. Also, the stoker has a longer seat tube than the captain. I'd like to know why that is, and I'd also like to see a picture of these guys riding it.

  • team onthefells with his partner sillyrecord is aiming to break the 'my house to the tree near Buckingham Palace' record to be shortly followed by the Scunthorpe to Grimesthorpe 'thorpe record' !!

  • @Chris+W There's some more pics here:

    http://www.teamwiggletandem.com/photo_gallery.html

    and here (scroll down to just after halfway):

    http://www.thewashingmachinepost.net/archive/archivepost328.html

  • From memory (an old mate build tandems) the long stokers top tube is a bit of an optical illusion. They are bulit that way because you don't have much room, the back of the pilots thighs often hit the top of the stokers handlebars. As it is the stoker has a rather "snug" fit to the steersman.

    It's not the first time I've seen a stoker control the gears either (saves weight and stretchy cables). Surprised the bike doesn't have a disk brake on the front though...

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