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Crash puts Steve Abraham's Year record attempt in jeopardy

Rider faces surgery after breaking two bones in ankle when hit by moped in Somerset this morning

Steve Abraham's attempt to beat Tommy Godwin's record for riding the longest distance in a year could be over after he broke two bones in an ankle following a collision with a moped today near Wellington, Somerset.

The news was anounced in a series of tweets from Abraham's official Twitter account the first of which, posted at lunchtime today, read:

 

 

Shortly after 7pm this evening, three more tweets were posted confirming the extent of his injuries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abraham, who is based in Milton Keynes, is attempting to break Tommy Godwin's record of 75,065 miles, set in 1939.

As of Friday, he was more than 2,600 miles ahead of Godwin's pace.

More to follow.

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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37 comments

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ianrobo | 9 years ago
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yeah but others will have injuries surely ?

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ianrobo | 9 years ago
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Great to Steve back and did 88K today, that must have been painful

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Leviathan replied to ianrobo | 9 years ago
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ianrobo wrote:

Great to Steve back and did 88K today, that must have been painful

Great news, but Tommy overtook him the other day and is now 700miles ahead. Some long days ahead.

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Tin Pony | 9 years ago
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Awful news when any cyclists has an incident like this.nparticulatly sorry for him as I'm sure all the training and sacrifice have been tough.
At least we can all have a laugh at that Cher Video to cheer ourselves up.

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twinklydave | 9 years ago
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Gutted for him.

I really hope this isn't the end of his attempt - he'd built up a decent (10 day-ish?) buffer on Tommy's record, so seriously hope he can get back on it soon  1

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Kadinkski | 9 years ago
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Errrr....calm down everyone, its not the end of the world. Its just a setback, we've all had them, he's probably even planned for it. He'll be back at it in no time.

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ianrobo | 9 years ago
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I am gutted for Steve, he was doing so much and did not realise he had a back up team of 50. I guess the lucky thing is that it was his ankle and with some patching up bet he is on the road within days.

I am currently in Florida so I think it is fair to say that Kurt has had better conditions !

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Airzound | 9 years ago
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Was the scooter rider injured? How about the pizzas?

GWS.

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chillinchinchilla | 9 years ago
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Such a shame. Hoping for a speedy recovery. I wonder if the gusty conditions caused the moped to veer. You could see it happening to bikes and motorbikes in Gent - Wevelgem today.

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Josh Cwpr | 9 years ago
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That's such a shame, was really enjoying his story.

I'm hoping he won't be out for long but I suffered the same kind of injury back at the start of November, breaking my ankle and fibula, which required plates and screws to put me back together. I've only just been able to start riding again now.

Fingers crossed for a swift return!

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Gkam84 | 9 years ago
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That is ONE reason Guinness won't verify these new records.

Another reason, that came from Guinness, via a man that should know what he's talking about, Guinness many years ago, made a promise that this record would stand the test of time to the family of Godwin and that is why they will not take on new attempts at it.

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fenix | 9 years ago
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Guinness book of records is crap now. Really dumbed down.
I bet the McWhirters would have had this in.

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Alan Tullett | 9 years ago
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Tommy broke his collarbone and was riding the next day I believe. I expect Steve'll get back somehow. Long way to go yet for anyone.

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Alan Tullett | 9 years ago
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Tommy broke his collarbone and was riding the next day I believe. I expect Steve'll get back somehow. Long way to go yet for anyone.

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The Rake | 9 years ago
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Heartbroken for him. I had a Strava email update and it said he had ridden 42km; I naturally assumed he was having a rest/gone to a mate's wedding or something.

I hope he heals fast.

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Skynet | 9 years ago
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Sad news. Didn't realise the old record was from so long ago, very impressive.

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Gkam84 | 9 years ago
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As people have said, wouldn't put it past Steve to carry on putting some miles in, even with broken bones.

No-one is going to break Tommy's record, because it is done by Guinness and these new records are going to be UMCA records, not Guinness, so It doesn't matter what they ride under UMCA rules

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Shamblesuk replied to Gkam84 | 9 years ago
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Gkam84 wrote:

As people have said, wouldn't put it past Steve to carry on putting some miles in, even with broken bones.

No-one is going to break Tommy's record, because it is done by Guinness and these new records are going to be UMCA records, not Guinness, so It doesn't matter what they ride under UMCA rules

Guinness do not recognise the attempt as they believe it's too dangerous. Oh the irony.

I am also personally crushed that Steve has got injured and I'm sure the moped rider will be equally mortified knowing what the accident means for Steve.

Best of luck for a speedy recovery.

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ch replied to Shamblesuk | 9 years ago
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"I am also personally crushed that Steve has got injured and I'm sure the moped rider will be equally mortified knowing what the accident means for Steve."

Then I'm sure the moped driver wouldn't mind if he lost his license and had to bicycle for a few years.

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lewiskinch replied to ch | 9 years ago
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ch wrote:

Then I'm sure the moped driver wouldn't mind if he lost his license and had to bicycle for a few years.

On what evidence are you deducting it was the moped drivers fault?

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Pete Spork replied to lewiskinch | 9 years ago
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lewiskinch wrote:

On what evidence are you deducting it was the moped drivers fault?

It's not in the tweets, but the information posted on Steve's Facebook page also says that "Steve was ridden into by a moped not paying attention to what they were doing".

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Godfrey Barlow replied to Gkam84 | 9 years ago
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Guinness had nothing to do with Tommy's record ride in 1939. It was "controlled" by 'Cycling' magazine in line with a very strict method of recording the mileage. Because of this Guinness recognized the record several years later to publish in their book.
Steve must be going through hell at the moment, I wish him well and a speedy recovery. He knows Tommy had many set-backs and this will hopefully drive him on.

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DaveE128 | 9 years ago
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So, so gutted for him.  2

It's irrelevant whether Kurt does more miles anyway - Steve could still hold the record for 10 days, as Kurt started 10 days later, and that's quite an achievement!

Depending on how long it takes to heal, I think it is still possible.

Wouldn't bet against him fitting a cleat to the plaster cast!  3

Am thankful at least that it's not something even more serious.

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Martin Thomas | 9 years ago
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Poor Steve, that's dreadful news (and this really isn't the time for more of the ridiculous Steve v Kurt nonsense, Jamminatrix).

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badback | 9 years ago
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That's really bad news.

I hope he makes a speedy recovery and is back on the road ASAP.

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georgee | 9 years ago
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A man looks to buy a motorbike but ends up with a scooter, poor man, very unfortunate.

A very sad end if that is it for Steve, hopefully a swift recovery and he enjoys his rest.

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EddyBerckx | 9 years ago
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I just...I just...sorry. Really sorry. Really, really rooted/am rooting for the guy, been following the updates on twitter etc and have been amazed at the miles being stacked up in horrendous weather that left me feeling utterly wasted after a 25 mile commute.

But I wondered if it'd all be for nothing after some numpty did something like this. Tommy didn't have to deal with the twunts on our roads Steve has. Fingers crossed he'll be able to continue soon and finish the job though, no matter how it looks now.

Regardless, well done that man!!!

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mrmo replied to EddyBerckx | 9 years ago
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StoopidUserName wrote:

I just...I just...sorry. Really sorry. Really, really rooted/am rooting for the guy, been following the updates on twitter etc and have been amazed at the miles being stacked up in horrendous weather that left me feeling utterly wasted after a 25 mile commute.

But I wondered if it'd all be for nothing after some numpty did something like this. Tommy didn't have to deal with the twunts on our roads Steve has. Fingers crossed he'll be able to continue soon and finish the job though, no matter how it looks now.

Regardless, well done that man!!!

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CC0Q...

Quote:

In pre-war and wartime Britain, travelling on the roads carried a greater risk of being killed. For example, between 1939 and 1941 the number of fatalities averaged around 8,700 per year, over three times the annual number killed today. Since the 1970s the number of road deaths has fallen considerably, from over 7,700 deaths in 1972, to 1,754 in 2012.

Just to point out it wasn't some utopia.

Shit way to end, and i suspect it will be, how long will it take to heal, how far ahead will Kurt get.

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Olionabike replied to EddyBerckx | 9 years ago
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StoopidUserName wrote:

But I wondered if it'd all be for nothing after some numpty did something like this. Tommy didn't have to deal with the twunts on our roads Steve has. Fingers crossed he'll be able to continue soon and finish the job though, no matter how it looks now.

Tommy got hit a couple of times and ended up in hospital at least once. Second your other comments though.

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EddyBerckx replied to Olionabike | 9 years ago
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Olionabike wrote:
StoopidUserName wrote:

But I wondered if it'd all be for nothing after some numpty did something like this. Tommy didn't have to deal with the twunts on our roads Steve has. Fingers crossed he'll be able to continue soon and finish the job though, no matter how it looks now.

Tommy got hit a couple of times and ended up in hospital at least once. Second your other comments though.

Didn't know that (or what the other commenter said) fair play (even more) to Tommy then!

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