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Billie Fleming's Year record smashed - in just four months!

24-year-old American Amanda Coker will carry on riding - and could smash men's record out of the park...

Billie Fleming’s 1938 record for the greatest distance cycled in a year by a woman has been broken – and the rider who surpassed her distance of 29,603.7 miles did so in just four months and could even overhaul the men’s record.

24-year-old Amanda Coker, from Florida, set off on her quest on 14 May and passed the British rider’s distance at 9am yesterday morning, reports Fox 13.

According to the Human Annual Mileage Record (HAMR) page on the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (UMCA) website, she has averaged an astonishing 227.5 miles a day, at an average moving speed of 19.9mph.

That compares with a daily mileage of 208.85mph and average moving speed of 18.2mph of the American ultracyclist Kurt Searvogel in the year to January when he beat Tommy Godwin’s 1939 record of 75,065 miles, long considered unbreakable.

According to charts on the UMCA’s NAMR page, her daily mileage has been remarkably consistent, possibly explained by the fact that she has stuck to the same route – laps of a flat course in a park that is sheltered from the wind – since May.

Flatwoods Park, Tampa, was also used by Searvogel towards the end of his HAMR attempt.

Coker plans to stay in the saddle, and if she carries on at the same rate for the next eight months she will smash Searvogel’s record, which is recognised by both Guinness World Records and the UMCA, with her annual distance currently projected at more than 83,000 miles.

She began cycling in earnest at the age of 15 when her parents gave her a road bike, and competed in the US junior national championships.

But a crash while out cycling with her father resulted in her suffering brain and spinal injuries leading to two years of surgery and rehabilitation.

Her ride has come in a bit under the radar, with the other two women attempting to beat Fleming’s record both enjoying more coverage in the British media at least.

On 1 January, Kajsa Tylen, originally from Sweden but now based in Nottingham, set out to beat it and so far in 2016 has ridden 23,351.6 miles according to Strava.

That would put her on course to go further than Fleming – known at the time as Billie Dovey – rode almost 80 years ago.

Alicia Searvogel – who married Kurt halfway through his attempt last year having initially been recruited as his crew chief – began her attempt on 4 June since when she has racked up 10,622 miles according to the UMCA, with a projected 12-month distance of 35,245 miles.

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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36 comments

Avatar
bigmel | 7 years ago
3 likes

"A lot of people on here would only accept the record if it was set in Yorkshire. In winter all year.  On a penny farthing."

Luxury !

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Paul__M | 7 years ago
0 likes

Just imagine how the flaming will step up as she takes the outright record. Don't worry there will still be a 'male' record.

A lot of people on here would only accept the record if it was set in Yorkshire. In winter all year.  On a penny farthing.

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The _Kaner | 8 years ago
0 likes

Most people have a life to live and 12+ hours per day on a short, flat(tish) circuit to beat a record...well...that must be an exceptional accomplishment in some/most peoples view.

It wouldnt be my idea of a record breaking "performance"...not sure what Roy Castle would have thought...but distance is distance

...marginal gains and all that...its still a testament to a feat of physical and mental strength, the effort alone is noteworthy.

So best of luck to her.

 

(Ive no apostrophe working on my keyboard)

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RainbowSpirit | 8 years ago
0 likes

A big part of breaking records is to do your homework, ie studying the rules etc, and doing everything in your power to make sure you use those rules to your advantage.

Just because someone else made it harder on themselves by riding on the open road is no reason why you have to do the same. Also the year is not up by a long shot, she may face injury and sickness in the months ahead. Good luck to her I say, if you are a doubter, get on your bike for a year and lets see you have a go...

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davel replied to RainbowSpirit | 8 years ago
0 likes
RainbowSpirit wrote:

A big part of breaking records is to do your homework, ie studying the rules etc, and doing everything in your power to make sure you use those rules to your advantage.

Just because someone else made it harder on themselves by riding on the open road is no reason why you have to do the same. Also the year is not up by a long shot, she may face injury and sickness in the months ahead. Good luck to her I say, if you are a doubter, get on your bike for a year and lets see you have a go...

Ah yes, that cornerstone principle of debate on the internet: 'don't express an opinion until you've tried it yourself'.

I couldn't possibly get close to what Ms Coker is achieving. There's a hill in my park.

(I be hatin on da game*, not da playa)

*which seems to be riding round a pan-flat, sheltered park for a year, no?

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Greebo954 | 8 years ago
3 likes

Why do people object to her riding a recumbent?

 Are they better, more efficient, more comfortable, better for this kind of thing than having a dick shaped peice of plastic wedged up your arse for 8 hours a day.

 Go on, somebody say ''No''

 

 

 

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fenix | 8 years ago
2 likes

This is a waste of a year. 

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dassie replied to fenix | 8 years ago
1 like

fenix wrote:

This is a waste of a year. 

It's her year.  Greatest ever distance cycled by a woman, is not bad after only 4 months, with greatest ever distance cycled by anyone, possibly before the 12 months is up.

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davel | 8 years ago
1 like

Of course it's a massive achievement in its own right.

Is it comparable with riding on proper roads with real hills and headwinds? No.

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dassie replied to davel | 8 years ago
0 likes

davel wrote:

Of course it's a massive achievement in its own right. Is it comparable with riding on proper roads with real hills and headwinds? No.

For the HAM'R , it's about the most miles cycled in a year, in geographical location of choice within the rules; camel hair cycling jerseys are optional.   Not sure I'd enjoy the Florida summer heat, all day on a bike though.

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Jackson | 8 years ago
5 likes

I'm sure she'll be gutted once she reads these comments and sees what some people sitting inside on the computer think about her massive achievement.

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Yorkshire wallet replied to Jackson | 8 years ago
1 like

Jackson wrote:

I'm sure she'll be gutted once she reads these comments and sees what some people sitting inside on the computer think about her massive achievement.

Sadly I've needed to have a job for the last 20-odd years, so such things were never within reach. If my other half can get promoted a few more times maybe she'll let me out cycling 12 hours a day whilst I live off her wages.

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davel replied to Yorkshire wallet | 8 years ago
0 likes
Yorkshire wallet wrote:

Jackson wrote:

I'm sure she'll be gutted once she reads these comments and sees what some people sitting inside on the computer think about her massive achievement.

Sadly I've needed to have a job for the last 20-odd years, so such things were never within reach. If my other half can get promoted a few more times maybe she'll let me out cycling 12 hours a day whilst I live off her wages.

If you keep it to loops of your local park, you can probably have dinner on the table for her when she gets home, too.

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jollygoodvelo | 8 years ago
3 likes

It's an unbelievable achievement, but I can't help feeling that it's not in the spirit of the record.  Modern technology is fine, choosing to do it in non-hilly places fine, but a closed circuit in a park is not a road.

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dassie | 8 years ago
1 like

Amanda has already demonstrated that she possesses the drive, determination, along with the necessary mental and physical stamina for the HAM'R challenge.  If mere boredom was an issue at all I suspect this will have long since evaporated over the 4 months and 30K miles.  Apart from the summer heat and occasional major weather system, Flatwoods looks to be a good option for the record, especially with friends and family supporting her.  It's already an awesome feat, and she still has 8 months left.  I hope Amanda goes on to set an uber total for the highest annual mileage ever.

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stevie63 | 8 years ago
2 likes

^^^^Exactly this. And she has still had to contend with Hurricanes and other adverse weather. I think this attempt is great and she has my admiration.

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DaveE128 | 8 years ago
7 likes

Can't believe the number of sour grapes about this on here!

It's an incredible achievement and feat of mental and physical endurance already, and she isn't even half way through yet!

The record is for the furthest distance cycled in a year. Not the furthest distance cycled on roads with at least x cars per hour on, and with a minimum of x ft per mile of climbing, on a UCI approved bicycle, etc etc! If you're going to break a record you use the right kit and choose the right route. She's done her homework and it's showing.

Why all the negativity toward recumbent bikes anyway?

The fact that she's on course to smash the men's record is extremely impressive, given that Kurt Searvogel broke that on a similar recumbent/upright bike mix, and also used the flattest roads he could find (ending up at the same location). He even tried to use tailwinds I think, with motorhome transport between each day of riding. Picking a sheltered course seems to be the better option.

Personally I suspect a velodrome probably would be enough to drive anyone bonkers, and being outdoors has got to be more pleasant, even with varying weather. I don't think UMCA permit track cycling for the year record - from the rules: "The UMCA sanctions 12- and 24-hour, 100- and 200- mile and 1,000 kilometer records on road courses and tracks" - note the year record is not mentioned here. They define track as: "A track is defined as a loop course less than five miles in length. A track may include ordinary cycling velodromes, auto racing ovals or road courses, motor speedways or auto test tracks."  So, given the length of the loop Amanda Coker is using, this counts as not "track" under UMCA rules I think.

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Yorkshire wallet | 8 years ago
0 likes

I must admit my level of admiration dropped off once severely once I read she just did a flat loop all day. It became one of those things loads of people 'could' do if they wanted but it's just too daft to think about really.

She's obviously got a decent pair of legs on her, so I'm suprised she doesn't do something a bit more challenging that's not utterly monotonous. Each to their own I suppose.

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Judge dreadful | 8 years ago
0 likes

It's amazing how you can rack the miles up, when you record the same ride on several devices, simultaneously

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Leviathan | 8 years ago
1 like

I think we need a Godwin's rule on this. You need to ride a bike-bike, no recumbents, and there has to be a minimum amount of elevation and variety in routes. If you can't match the old fella you aren't playing the game. 

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Danger Dicko replied to Leviathan | 8 years ago
1 like

Leviathan wrote:

I think we need a Godwin's rule on this. You need to ride a bike-bike, no recumbents, and there has to be a minimum amount of elevation and variety in routes. If you can't match the old fella you aren't playing the game. 

You might as well say you have to do it on pre 1950 machinery. Progress is progress.

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Leviathan replied to Danger Dicko | 8 years ago
0 likes

Kaner, sorry to hear about your 'loss. 

Danger Dicko wrote:

Leviathan wrote:

I think we need a Godwin's rule on this. You need to ride a bike-bike, no recumbents, and there has to be a minimum amount of elevation and variety in routes. If you can't match the old fella you aren't playing the game. 

You might as well say you have to do it on pre 1950 machinery. Progress is progress.

Where exactly did I talk about 1950s tech? I was talking about the course and style of bike. A lot of people seem to struggle with reading comprehension these days.

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TeamExtreme | 8 years ago
0 likes

Well at least she's doing it on an actual bike, not a recumbent.

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themartincox replied to TeamExtreme | 8 years ago
0 likes

TeamExtreme wrote:

Well at least she's doing it on an actual bike, not a recumbent.

she is mixing between the two

I gather she enjoys the peace and that she doesn't need to think about externalities, my impression is she enjoys just being with her own thoughts. Ruddy hard work!

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BeatPoet | 8 years ago
6 likes

It's not really cricket is it? Might as well just do it in a velodrome if you're going to be so unadventurous.

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bigshape | 8 years ago
5 likes

mental. so she's riding the same 6.8 mile loop over 30 times. every day. for a year.

I get bored enough doing the commute that I have to mix it up...
it's one hell of an achievement, but she must be so bored!

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cyclisto | 8 years ago
7 likes

Insanely meaningless if done in the same loop. This thing will just burn her mind and time.

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surly_by_name replied to cyclisto | 8 years ago
2 likes

cyclisto wrote:

Insanely meaningless

This.

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dassie replied to cyclisto | 8 years ago
0 likes

cyclisto wrote:

Insanely meaningless if done in the same loop. This thing will just burn her mind and time.

You mean a bit like rowing the same stretch of water 'everyday for years' while training for an Olympic medal, or the like.  Of course it's not meaningless.

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davel replied to dassie | 8 years ago
0 likes
dassie wrote:

cyclisto wrote:

Insanely meaningless if done in the same loop. This thing will just burn her mind and time.

You mean a bit like rowing the same stretch of water 'everyday for years' while training for an Olympic medal, or the like.  Of course it's not meaningless.

No. Nothing like that. This is her event, her Olympic games, now - in her course, which she chose a 6 mile park loop for.

Unless she is just training for an attempt on roads next year. In which case, cap well and truly doffed.

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