Josh Quigley, the Scottish round-the-world cyclist who sustained horrific injuries when he was hit by a driver in the United States last year will set out on Sunday to try and break the world record for the North Coast 500.
The 28-year-old from Livingston suffered life-threatening injuries including a punctured lung and fractures to 10 ribs, his skull, pelvis and ankle when the driver crashed into him on December 21.
His record attempt aims to raise money for the Baylor Scott & White Medical Centre in Temple, Texas where he underwent surgery on a broken heel and ankle and had a stent fitted in an artery in his neck which feeds blood to his brain.
> Round the world cyclist Josh Quigley happy the driver who hit him from behind will not be charged
The record for the North Coast 500, launched by Visit Scotland in 2015 as the country's answer to the iconic Route 66 in the United States and which actually covers 516 miles, currently stands at 31 hours, 23 minutes and 35 seconds.
It was set in 2016 by former Rapha Condor JLT and NFTO pro cyclist James McCallum, who also won bronze for Scotland in the scratch race at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Quigley will have to ride at an average speed of around 16.5 miles an hour to break the record.
Writing on Facebook, he said: “I'd like to take this opportunity to first acknowledge the current record holder James McCallum and pay my respects to James and his team who set this record.
“It was a phenomenal ride and I've personally studied and watched a lot of what they done and took many lessons from it, so thanks to James McCallum for setting the bar so high and it's an honour for me to get a chance to take on this record and see what my own personal best is.”
On his fundraising page on Gofundme, Quigley said: “Ever since my accident, I’ve wanted to do something to thank to the hospital and staff at the Baylor Scott & White Medical Centre who saved my life.
“During the weeks I spent there, I underwent a series of surgical procedures to fix the long list of injuries I sustained.
“These included a traumatic brain injury, fractured skull, seven broken ribs, punctured lung and multiple fractures to my back and legs.
“I then embarked on a rigorous physiotherapy and rehabilitation plan and, just eleven weeks later, was back on my bike; determined to get back to my peak fitness levels and complete my challenge.”
His attempt on the record will begin at Inverness Castle at 5am on Sunday morning – and all being well, he will be back there before noon on Sunday, or shortly thereafter, to celebrate breaking it.
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Nothing like a bit of drafting to get you back on track. Look at his facebook page, photo and video of him being drafted
The huge black and white sails on his back in the main photo look like they may be quite effective in a tailwind! .
Laughing a bit now, this photo and others, plus the video of him drafting between the two cars has now disappeared...calling bullshit on the record because he's being assisted...
Hope the weather is good for him. I did it last week and conditions were atrocious. Had to abandon the stretch between Durness and Thurso as it was so grim.
I did it in 6 days 😂. Blows my mind to think people can do it all in one hit
Good on you doing it.
What an amazing recovery from so much terrible damage ;-(
All the best for him but it'll be a really tough task!
I say this without any malice but, from previous reports of Josh's misadventures (if you're not familiar with his work, click on the tag under the story) I don't hold much hope of a new record. But I guess it's the attempt and the fundraising that matters, and his story of perseverance is pretty inspirational, in a hapless sort of way. Good luck to him.
You've said it a bit kinder than I was going to post. He's a loon, he still harps on about winning the Tour de France and World Championships...Having never raced in his life. 28 year old...he'll be going some to make the highest level in the UK.
* Eats hat *
think you got the start day wrong, or intended average speed.
it's still numpty tourist season north of inverness unfortunately, applecross and durness - tongue are the most congested.
There was an attempt last weekend too. The weather was not the best and it didn't come off.