Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

Josh Quigley breaks North Coast 500 record

Nine months after sustaining life-threatening injuries, Scottish ultracyclist beats existing record by less than 5 minutes

Scottish ultracyclist Josh Quigley has set a new record for the North Coast 500 – riding the 516-mile route in the Scottish Highlands in a little over 31 hours to beat the previous record by less than 5 minutes.

Starting and finishing in Inverness, his ride, which now has to be ratified by Guinness World Records, took place just nine months after he sustained life-threatening injuries when he was hit by a car in Texas while riding around the world.

Writing on Facebook today, the 28 year old from Livingston, who only began cycling four years ago after suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts, said: “We set a New World Record for the fastest ever time to cycle around the 516 mile North Coast 500 route.

“My official time was 31 hours, 19 minutes and 8 seconds. Beating the previous time by 4 minutes and 27 seconds.

“Knowing what my life is like, it was always going to be a nail biting and dramatic final few hours and minutes.

Everything in my life is #Hollywood and this was no different.”

He added: “There were so many people involved in this project and also hundreds of people lining the streets of the NC500 and waiting for me at Inverness Castle.

“Thanks to my team, all sponsors and all of my fans and supporters who came out to see me and who supported online.”

His ride was undertaken to raise money for the Baylor Scott & White Medical Centre, in Temple, Texas, where he was treated after being hit from behind by a motorist last December, sustaining injuries including a punctured lung and fractures to 10 ribs, his skull, pelvis and ankle.

> Round the world cyclist Josh Quigley happy the driver who hit him from behind will not be charged

The North Coast 500 was launched by Visit Scotland in 2015, billed as the country’s answer to the iconic Route 66 in the United States.

The previous record of 31 hours, 23 minutes and 35 seconds 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.

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.

Add new comment

5 comments

Avatar
Gkam84 | 3 years ago
0 likes

I'll wait to see if Guinness certify it. With the deleted videos and photos of him being drafted behind a car. I highly doubt it. 

Avatar
EK Spinner | 3 years ago
0 likes

A massive achievement, and well done that man

On a wider note for discussion, should anyone be on the roads (sharing them with trucks cars ambulances as well as you and I on our bikes) of this country after 31 hours of exertion? Surely everyone has a responsibility for the safety of other road users around them and that level of exaustion doesn't sound like it should be on the roads

Avatar
TheBillder replied to EK Spinner | 3 years ago
2 likes

The Audax scene has a fair amount of events that will take that long, and people learn how to cope both in avoiding really dangerous exhaustion and knowing what to do when it's imminent. And that's with less support than Josh had. Plenty of interesting articles out there, particularly about Paris-Brest-Paris, which can take 90 hours. Mad and inspirational at the same time.

Avatar
quiff replied to TheBillder | 3 years ago
1 like

TheBillder wrote:

people learn how to cope both in avoiding really dangerous exhaustion and knowing what to do when it's imminent

My difficulty with this is how do you learn to avoid it without having a potentially dangerous learning experience. I.e. how can you know where your limit is without pushing yourself too far? I once (in younger, stupider days) drove home after a 24 hour charity event, and was horrified when I realised I was microsleeping on the motorway and had no idea how long my eyes had just been closed for. Nothing happened, but it's not an experience I would recommend to anyone.            

Avatar
NZ Vegan Rider replied to EK Spinner | 3 years ago
0 likes

That's a very good point. We're told not to drive when tired (well here in NZ we are). I had a girlfriend who fell asleep at the wheel and drove off the road.

It would be terrible for a cyclist to loose control and ride out into traffic.

Most PBP riders etc hopefully are hopefully sensible enough to take time out for micro sleeps.

 

Josh; a remarkable achievement!!

Latest Comments