The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Record-breaking cyclist wants new competitors
Mark Beaumont’s book details feat
Perthshire adventurer Mark Beaumont, who cycled around the world in less than 80 days last year, has urged others to try to smash his record -- and even offered to help them.
Beaumont, 35, pedalled more than 200 miles per day to complete the 18,000 mile challenge in just 78 days, 14 hours and 40 minutes.
In completing the remarkable feat, he smashed two Guinness World Records and beat the previous record by 45 days.
The adventurer, who has now circumnavigated the world twice, yesterday vowed never to race around the world again.
But he said there would be nobody better to help another rider smash his record.
He said: “I’m not going to cycle around the world again – twice is definitely enough.
“Last year was my Everest as an endurance bike rider. I’ve had this opportunity to push myself to a new extreme when it comes to endurance, with an amazing team, redefining what is possible.
“It doesn’t always need to be about me. I would love to see my record broken.
“They would have my utmost respect because you’ve really got to be able to suffer to go faster.
“I wouldn’t try to beat them – I’d far prefer to be on their team supporting them.”
Beaumont has spent five months writing a book about his latest feat.
Around the World in 80 Days, which is published on Thursday, tells the story of the challenge, which was inspired by Jules Verne’s classic adventure novel, and the incredible effort it took.
He said: “I had no time to stop and see anything – I was racing 16 hours every day for two and a half months and averaging nearly 250 miles per day so I saw the world like a slideshow.
“This was absolutely about performance – I was just hellbent on finding out how fast I could go 18,000 miles. I never slept for more than five hours.
“I’m not going to dress it up, it was brutal but we smashed the world record by 39%.
“People said we were nuts. Nobody thought it was possible but we got an extraordinary welcome back.”
The book also captures the toll on his body. One crash east of Moscow resulted in Beaumont fracturing his left elbow and breaking some of his teeth.
Beaumont has previously cycled the Americas, pedalled the length of Africa and even rowed to the North Pole.
Now back in Scotland, Beaumont said he is enjoying smaller, “daft” challenges. He recently took on the oldest British record on a bicycle, the Penny Farthing Hour record set in 1886.
He also has a number of film and television projects in the pipeline.
He said: “I’m not resting on my laurels. I’ve some quite exciting plans.”