Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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26 comments
Having driven along the beach at Pendine at about 50mph, I can confirm that this is nothing like being on tarmac from a stability point of view. You can feel irregular soft spots in the sand and this must add significantly to the danger/difficulty factor. I personally wouldn't want to drive any vehicle along there at anything approaching that speed ! Massive respect !!
The aerodynamic design should have included a bleed to blow down and aside for sand thrown up by wheels and air pressure being forced under the truck.
Side & top spoilers might also have been able to create a 'virtual' extension of the still air box, as if it was a real enclosed body.
For those who prefer to watch the old fashioned way :
Tonight - Freeview channel 47, 4seven, at 7pm
I was surprised with the aggressive steering angle the bike had. If it were "chopped out" it would be more stable at speed. Look at drag-racing motorbikes for example...
Chris Hoy the obvious candidate
His keirin skills would no doubt be useful, and his outright speed undeniable, but I wonder if he'd have the staying power.
Brilliant bit of telly, well done.
but a question was raised after watching it, should it be allowed as the screen used on the back of the truck was actually creating a vortex and pulling him along rather than giving him a piece of "dead" air in which to cycle.
Proper bloke TV. I look forward to the rest of the series.
The only way you'll get "dead air" is to put the cyclist under a giant inverted golfish bowl and drag it along the ground. Now there's a thought...
Couldn't get passed all the adverts.
You can stick your carbon fibre up your ar5e - steel from Birmingham will always deliver the goods.
Especially if it has Rourke written on it.
I loved it. Thought Guy was a real star, and the people he got to help him - despite their well justified doubts - were brilliant. It was a true team effort, led by a real, unassuming but genuine and proper bloke. Magic!
Laura Trott was cool
It was good, but also raised interesting debate with a few mates.
What about if someone with a more than 'average' fitness (Thats what the sports lab said), and a high lactate threshold like Tony Martin say, had a go?
We had the same discussion, reckoning that that Guy's 'high-speed experience' and above average (motor and push) bike handling skills must count for more than might be initially thought. This got us wondering if any British pro riders might have it in them, and which would be most suited. Surely one of the track come road riders?
Ian Stannard perhaps? And Dani King for the women's record?
Surely we can make this happen with an ePetition or using Kickstarter these days.
I recon plenty of pros could do it, BUT if it goes wrong you could find yourself out of work pretty quick. Think about Cav being banned from the track.
Fair point. Revised plan then, we need recently retired pros without perhaps understandably over-protective teams and sponsors.
How about Charly Wegelius and Nicole Cooke?
One for the 'Strava Boys?'
+1 from me and kudos to Guy Martin for having a crack and getting the program made. I did like the fact that his kitchen not only had a pushbike in it but also a motorbike or two - it made my man cave look positively look under equipped !
Best TV over the Christmas break. Think Fred Dibnah meets Eval Knieval meets Wacky Racers! Felt venue change to Pendine added a lot to difficulty factor. Top effort.
awesome television programme from a great character
if any of you have not seen it yet, I'd highly recommend watching the film
"Closer to the Edge" about the Isle of Man TT
completely bonkers motorbike action, especially Guy Martin's fireball 'get off' and Conor Cummins' "how did he survive?" crash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y07yt87lhEA
Classic 'bloke' TV. Made Top Gear seem boring.
4oD can't help if you don't live in Britain. It's not on YouTube yet, either. Pisser.
the olympic track cyclist who helped him was a star too. Interesting insight into what serious training means.
And I always thought Cav was the fastest man on two wheels especially from the Isle of Man
cracking viewing. Guy's got a fred dibnah/Evil Kenivel thing going on...nice to see them making the frame and using Hope equipment. And he didn't like the turbo set laura set him!
Superb tele. Full of no-nonsense types basically going "you're mad. How can I help?"