CYCLING AROUND THE PLANET WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT

On the 13/02/05, cyclist Steve Strange set a world record for the circumnavigation of the planet. His record was 276 days and 19 hours, for the 28,970 kilometers.In February 2008, Scottish professional, Mark Beaumont, set a new record of 194 days and 17 hours at the age of 23. He spent two years preparing for his attempt. Recently, the record was lowered to 175 days, broken by British rider, James Bowthorpe. It has been lowered again by Julian Sayarer to 165 days and is becoming ever more competitive.

The record criteria requires the rider to cover 28,970 kilometers by bike, in an East to West or West to East direction, wavering no more than 5 degrees off course.The total journey distance must be a minimum of 40,075 kilometers, to include all transit by flight or sea. The ride must start and finish in the same place and must pass at least two antipodal points(This is two points that line up through the earths center).

When the rider reaches a transit point to connect with a flight or boat to the next continent or country start point, the clock stops with regard to the actual riding time. As most of the earths surface is water, this is unavoidable and fair as it applies to all athletes attempting the record. Once customs is cleared at the next destination, the clock immediately starts again.

The same bicycle must be used throughout the attempt, although repairs and replacement parts and bikes are allowed for mechanical failure.Satellite tracking is highly recommended by Guinness World Records and a daily log, signatures of dignitaries and photographs at strategic points must be collated as evidence.

EUROPEAN EXTREME ENDURANCE CYCLIST ALAN BATE IS AIMING TO BREAK THIS RECORD IN HONOR OF THE KING OF THAILAND. ALAN DEEPLY RESPECTS THE KING FOR HOW HE HAS CONDUCTED HIS LIFE. A TRUE INOVATOR AND ROLE MODEL, A PHILANTHROPIST AND ENVIRONMENTALIST. AN EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD.

Alan holds four Thai time trial records. His most recent was on the Kings birthday, where Alan rode at a record pace of 43.6 km an hour between his home village of Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai province and the City of Chiang Rai. Now his final dream is to break the Round the World Record by a massive margin in honor of His Majesty, King Rama Nine, the Thai Nation and the UK, his birthplace. Alan regards Thailand as his homeland and  loves this country. Alan plans to achieve as many positive outcomes globally from this worldwide event and beyond.

The event will start and finish  in  Bangkok, in a dramatic way. The plan is to lower the record to a point where it will be very hard for any other cyclist to beat it for years to come. The final stage from Chiang Khong to Bangkok, will be attempted without sleeping or stopping for food, a distance of 1150 km. His dream is to dedicate the WORLD RECORD TO THAILAND BY ACCEPTING THAI CITIZENSHIP AT THE FINISH AND TO HAVE JOINT CITIZENSHIP, BONDING THE UK AND THAILAND TOGETHER IN A MARRIAGE OF FRIENDSHIP. THIS WILL BE FANTASTIC FOR ECONOMIC TIES AND TOURISM FOR BOTH COUNTRIES.

Alan has many,many Thai friends, his favourite word in Thai is ISSARA OR FREEDOM AND HE WOULD LOVE TO CHOOSE THAT AS HIS THAI NAME!

He is a member of the Chiang Khong Tourist Development Association and has the full backing of the Sheriff of Chiang Khong, The Chiang Khong Tourism Development Association, The Chiang Rai Governor of Sport and Tourism and the Governor of Chiang Rai.He recently opened a cycling museum, cafe and bar in Chiang Khong. The museum is free! He has lived in Chiang Khong since 2548.

Alan has the support of the King and Queen of Thailand, via OFFICIAL endorsement from Khun Doctor Charin Suankaew. Dr. Charin is the President of the Anniversary Foundation of the King. It is a great opportunity to bring both countries together. Alan is an ambassador for children’s sports play charity, www.righttoplay.com, here in Thailand and supports a number of other charities, including SAVE THE CHILDREN.(please see charities section). He wishes to highlight the plight of the Burmese refugees living in the camps by the Myanmar border, the child mortality rate in Bangladesh and the CHARITABLE work being supported by sponsor, RED SPOKES.

ALAN’S MANIFESTO

I discovered cycling at thirteen years of age. I felt like a bird flying from the nest for the first time. Since the day I watched the headlights of the lead car at that first race, appear out of the mist on a cold Autumn morning in England and then stared at the riders whizzing by……I Knew my destiny. That day, all the hairs on my body stood on end-I had the bug! Cycling still does that to me even today!

I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN, WHO I LOVE VERY MUCH. THREE SCOUSERS- LAUREN, AN AIR HOSTESS WHO IS 18(LOOK OUT FOR HER ON RYAN AIR), SOPHIE A STUDENT COME FUTURE PRIME MINISTER, WHO IS 17 GOING ON 40!, DANIEL, ONE OF MY BIGGEST FANS AND ALREADY SIGNED UP AS A FAN ON FACE BOOK…..will pay you later Dan! AND MARIO WHO WAS BORN HERE IN THAILAND TO MY PARTNER, MAY.

I finished fourth in the British 24 hour championships, when it was believed I had NO CHANCE, as a road rider with no specialized preparation. I created the British professional team “TravelWise”, in 1998.Sponsored by the British Government,we had victories in more than 80 races, including gold medals in the TT and RR’s at the World corporate games, three silvers at National championships, five bronze and the National track scratch race championship.
We were invited to meet the then deputy Prime Minister, Mr John Prescot and THE FAMOUS Glenda Jackson MP.

Here now in Thailand, I have the ASIAN records for Chiang Mai to Tak (8 hours 23 m, 287 km), Chiang Mai to Bangkok (26 hours 4 m, 760 km), Phuket to Bangkok (29 hours 15 m,930 km) and this year, Chiang Khong to Chiang Rai(2 hours 42 m,105 km, at a record 43.6 km per hour). I had the great honor in 2006, to be invited by the Kings foundation, to attempt Chiang Mai to Bangkok as part of His Majesty’s OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY celebrations.
NOW…..I WANT THE ROUND THE WORLD RECORD BEFORE HANGING UP MY WHEELS FOR GOOD

SUPPORT TEAM

I HAVE TO PERSONALLY THANK MY FRIENDS IN MY SUPPORT TEAM, ALL VOLUNTEERS AND IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

NOI,SIMON,MAY,JOHN,MOURAD,JULIA,YANYONG, DERMOT

SPONSORS

WELL, HERE, THERE ARE THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. FOR NOW JUST THE GOOD:

WHETHER YOU HAVE SUPPORTED ME WITH A BIG OR SMALL INVESTMENT, CASH OR PRODUCT, WHAT MATTERS IS THAT YOU HAVE HAD ENOUGH FAITH IN ME TO SUPPORT ME WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS. EVERYONE KNOWS I AM OLD TO GO FOR THIS RECORD AT 45. I ALSO FEEL THE YEARS A LITTLE NOW, ACHES HERE, PAINS THERE.

FAILURE WOULD BE TO BACK OUT OF THIS ATTEMPT ON THE RECORD BUT I WILL GIVE THIS 100% AS MY LAST EVER COMPETITIVE EVENT. AT THE TOUGHEST MOMENTS, I WILL THINK OF MY CHILDREN AND THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF MY OBSESSIVE LOVE OF ALL THINGS CYCLING, OF MAY WHO HAS PUT UP WITH ME ALSO, MY FRIENDS, PAST AND PRESENT, MY DECEASED MUM, DAD AND SISTER, THE DOUBTERS, THE LEECHES THROUGHOUT THE CYCLING WORLD AND THE PHONIES WHO HAVE LET ME DOWN.(MORE ABOUT THEM AS I RIDE…YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!). 

ROUTE

The route will start in Bangkok on the 31/03/2553, traveling South through Thailand and Malaysia to Singapore. Then from Perth Australia to Brisbane, hugging the coast as much as possible.. Next is North Island New Zealand, supported by John of Keywin and on to San Francisco, USA to New York. This leg will continue into Canada to Sydney-Canada . A transfer to South America, will then see the record attempt travel through Argentina, Uruguay and Brasil, to the Amazon basin at Recife.

From Brasil, Alan  will head for Portugal, Spain, France and across the channel to London, England. Then back to France, visiting Ypres in Belgium and the famous track finish for Paris-Rubaix, where it is hoped to complete a lap. Then, South following the Eastern border of France, passing Monaco, San Remo, Nice and onto Milan, Italy. The South East coast of Italy will see a ferry crossing to Greece and a stage to Athens, the birthplace of the Olympics. The shortest stage is in UAE, riding from Dubai for approximately 30 km. From here, Alan will head to Agra in India and onto Dhaka, Bangladesh. A transfer to Mae Sai, Thailand’s most northerley point, then a stage to Chiang Khong before the final marathon stage of 1050 km to end in Bangkok and hopefully……. A NEW WORLD RECORD FOR THE KING AND THAILAND!

Related Posts

1. Press Release
2. BACK IN THAILAND!
3. Interview with Alan on Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News
4. Nation Multimedia article on previous record
5. Letter of endorsement from the Kings Foundation of Thailand