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Michael Broadwith breaks Edinburgh to London record in very close-run effort

“Incredible” support hailed as ultracyclist beats Pete Wells’ 1989 time by a little over 5 minutes

Ultracyclist Michael Broadwith has broken the Edinburgh to London cycling record, but it was touch and go with his support crew unsure whether he had done enough to claim it until well after his ride finished late last night.

Subject to ratification by the Road Records Association (RRA), the maths teacher from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire beat the previous record, held since 1989 by Pete Wells, by just 5 minutes 17 seconds, according to a post on Facebook from his Arctic-Aircon Racing Team.

The new provisional record is 17 hour 42 minutes and 47 seconds, but it was a close run thing, not least due to unexpected road closures as Broadwith rode through London to the finish line King Edward Street, close to St Paul’s Cathedral.

The finish location for the record, first set in 1903, was by the statue of postal reformer Roland Hill by the site where the General Post Office stood from 1829 until it was demolished in 1912, with the ride starting outside its counterpart in the Scottish capital, as stipulated in RRA rules for attempts on the record.

He was not just riding against the clock – as he left Edinburgh, a letter was posted there addressed to a location close to the finish, meaning he was also racing against the speed with which the Royal Mail could get it from one city to the other. It seems that he won that one, too.

In 2018 Broadwith smashed the Land’s End to John O’Groats record by more than half an hour, and among those supporting him on the roadside during that ride was Gethin Butler, who had held the record for the previous 17 years. Likewise, he received a message of support from Wells on the eve of yesterday’s ride.

> Michael Broadwith smashes the Land's End to John O'Groats record

His support crew also paid tribute to the “incredible” support he had received on the way from Edinburgh to London, whether from those stood at the roadside, or people following his progress through social media.

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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janusz0 | 2 years ago
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Were any of those records set with fixed wheels?

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chrisonabike replied to janusz0 | 2 years ago
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janusz0 wrote:

Were any of those records set with fixed wheels?

I doubt it - I think carrying your bike would slow you down.

EDIT: I didn't realise just how far back the freewheel goes - sounds like you could have one on your ordinary penny-farthing.

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HLaB | 2 years ago
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I think we've had warm south westerly but strong winds the last few days, against that its an awesome effort laugh

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sean1 | 2 years ago
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Amazing ride by Michael Broadwidth.

But what is also stunning is the fact that back in the 1930s the record was only about 60 minutes slower.  A belated chapeau to Mr Heppleston.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to sean1 | 2 years ago
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I would also state that Vegetarians were putting on a great showing 120 years ago as well. Didn't know it was such a big thing back in those days. (unless it meant something different).

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quiff replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
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