Bayley bags new record

Cycling

Tim Bayley rode into the record books for a second time, breaking the national 12-hour team record in the first of a series of time trials at Newbury in Berkshire.

The Hythe man teamed up with fellow Arctic Tacx riders Mike Broadwith (Oxford) and Jonathan Schubert (Oman) to pass the previous best mark by more than 20 miles, having beaten the 24-hour record in July last year.

Bayley said: “This is a major achievement as we are the first team to hold two national team records for the ultra-distance blue ribbon events.

“The 24 hour record was the main aim for us last year as it had stood for 30 years.

“After such a successful season last year, breaking the 12-hour record (part of the British Best All-Rounder Championships) was always a real motivation to continue the good condition I had this year.”

Strong winds blowing across the undulating course made things tough. Targeting the previous record of 855 miles, the three-man team started out at 7am – riders setting off at one-minute intervals.

Bayley added: “Four hours in we settled down to the task, passing the 100 miles at a combined average speed of 25.8mph.

“They weren’t easy although we only had headwind sections for half an hour at a time.

“Conditions were hard and at four hours I knew if I pushed too hard there was a risk the overall distance would be compromised.”

While other riders pulled out, Bayley continued.

He said: “By 4pm it was clear the (other two) riders would hit 200 miles with two thirds distance completed.

“The team were riding strongly as each rider held a constant average speed (24.5mph) hour after hour and with almost 15 minutes left, I was approaching 280 miles and finished with a lifetime best of 284.

“My two team-mates’ individual distances approached 295 miles each, which pushed us past the magic mark of 855 miles to finish with a provisional distance of 875.”

Bayley’s next event is a tilt at the National 100-mile TT Championship early next month.