5000 Mile World Record e-Bike Ride

...So, currently, an application is in process for the longest journey on an E-bike in 24 hours. If that gets accepted, I will be doing a 24hrs, 450 miles ride attempt later this summer or early fall...

Excellent. Best of luck. I think these feats have a real positive benefit for this community in that your experience and the knowledge you gain gets passed on to the rest of us via this forum. Not to mention the positive publicity for ebikes etc. Like Martinet I'll be eager to hear more details (what you are riding, where etc).
 
College baseball uses aluminum bats, MLB wood. Golf, handicaps. A 6 foot guy can play basketball in Europe or Asia. All auto racing has limits, standards. Don't even get me started on the differences between "amateur" college football and the NFL. An axiom in the football world, the best college team on their best day could never beat a NFL team on their worst day. Doesn't make any of the enthusiasts less real!

Go for it @Ravi Kempaiah. Do post the route you plan for the next ride.
 
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Soon after my record attempt last year, certain emotion took over me. More like a impostor syndrome. I think the reason was, I started getting to know real professional athletes and it stuck me that I had terrible riding techniques, no stamina or muscles compared to some of these pro's. So, me claiming some kind of world record was just laughable in front of them. It inspired me to build my core strength and do something that really is challenging. So, currently, an application is in process for the longest journey on an E-bike in 24 hours. If that gets accepted, I will be doing a 24hrs, 450 miles ride attempt later this summer or early fall.

Brilliant Ravi, in a positive way. :) That was kind of what I was trying to get across when being negative about your previous ride, and I am so glad that you have said it. :)

There are just too many variables that make many an ebike world record pretty meaningless, even if you know that you have put the effort in.

Taking your latest challenge as an example, the ride could be carried out on terrain with almost no elevation gain using wind and weather to advantage, ridden on a recumbent ebike that has the optimum size motor available, even with a throttle, and a support team offering an endless supply of batteries, so meaning that the bike could be ridden on the highest power settings for the whole 24hrs, with very little in the way of pedal usage.
To my mind, there should be strict guide lines in place to prevent what could be seen as cheating. I don't doubt your own motives, and know that the above example isn't you, but that is how it could be seen.

If nothing else, your challenges are good for your mind and soul, so keep them up. :)

I have my own World record attempt bubbling away in the background, but mine is about elevation gain, not distance. It did take a slight set back a couple of weeks ago, as I was caught out by altitude. It was one of two things that I had stupidly overlooked. My home town is 732ft above sea level, I was riding at 6,762ft and my destination is 11,371ft. It took me two weeks just to get used to riding around at 6,762ft, so reaching 11,371ft in the distance of just 5.6 miles is going to be very tough on my body. I have now been told that I will require oxygen as well, which was the second detail that I hadn't considered. On a positive note, without challenge and obstacles, these challenges wouldn't be worth tackling. :)
 
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I can't understand why you'd need supplemental oxygen at a mere 11,371 feet.

Many people climb Mount Rainier in Washington State. You can pick up a Starbuck's at sea level (or very nearly so) and less than 24 hours later you will find yourself at 14,410 feet. While altitude sickness is common, and HAPE and HACE sometimes occur, in general it is quite easily manageable.

Similarly, many people climb Mount Whitney in California. You'd typically spend the night at Lone Pine (around 3700 feet) and drive to the Portal early in the morning (around 8500 feet) and then climb the 6000+ feet to the summit in around six hours. I've never heard of somebody using supplemental oxygen on Whitney.

The important thing is that you want to avoid sleeping at higher altitudes until you have acclimatized and ideally you would rapidly descend from your high points to a more comfortable elevation.
 
Just about every cross country touring cyclist in the US goes over the Hoosier Pass at 11,542 feet... the high point of the Trans Am route, and that's with 90 to 100 pound fully loaded bikes. I don't know how they do it, but every Crazy Guy On A Bike journal has that smiling picture in it someplace. Hats off to these guys!
 
I can't understand why you'd need supplemental oxygen at a mere 11,371 feet.
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But you don't know the complexity, temperature and conditions that the ride is being undertaking in. I'm not asking or expecting you to understand.
If it's all the same to you, I will just stick with the advice given by both the mountain guide and doctor. There is good reason that no one has ever tried this ride before.
 
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Very cool! Inspirational as well. Long rides, seeing more and spending more time enjoying the outdoors are all achievable through cycling, and even more so through ebiking. Most of us will never stretch the limits as much as this record, but this record shows the public how reliable an ebike can be. Kind of reminds me of the adventures of people riding a Harley or driving a Ford, cross country in the early 1900's.

Congratulations, Ravi.
 
Excellent, Ravi!

And well deserved; your ride was an inspiration to follow. I hope it continues to encourage new ebike riders to get out and explore.
 
But you don't know the complexity, temperature and conditions that the ride is being undertaking in. I'm not asking or expecting you to understand.
If it's all the same to you, I will just stick with the advice given by both the mountain guide and doctor. There is good reason that no one has ever tried this ride before.

I am sorry, I thought this was an open forum where all opinions were welcome. My mistake.
 
Just closing the loop on this.

If anyone is interested in seeing the certificate that Guinness sends out. Here it is.
In the world of professional cycling, I am a nobody.
But, E-bikes have sure opened up a whole new world to me. Very slowly, I am progressing towards competitive endurance cycling :)
 

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Looks like a couple of riders are attempting this record (Good for them).
DOST bikes is supporting their journey. Now, if any of the EBR folks want to attempt this record by biking 8-10K miles record, Zen would be happy to support them.
I have an itch to ride again and set the bar at 10,000 miles (16,000 kms) in 60 days but I would rather support someone else do it :)


DOST did an official press release as one can see above.

 
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That headwind leg from Maine to Blaine could be brutal! Especially as it looks like they aren't going for aero points with that funky bar rig. Wish them luck though and eventually they will go right by my house if they choose the three capes option off the 101.
 
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