A RIDE WITH NEIL CAMPBELL

Essex-based architect Neil Campbell broke the European, British and Commonwealth bicycle speed record of 149 mph in September 2018

FITNESS IS A FACTOR

“I’m a road cyclist but the bike and gear, and the demands of a world record attempt, are so far removed from taking myself out for a routine ride. I have to work on my general fitness and do a lot of strength training and anaerobic stuff. Ironically, having smashed records at breakneck speeds, my only accident was on a club ride.”

ONE GUY INSPIRED ME

“I’ve had my heart set on the cycling speed record for half my life, but it’s only been in the past five years that I’ve been in a position to go for it. I took inspiration from the motorcyclist, mechanic and allaround action man Guy Martin. After watching him breaking the British record in 2016 (112mph), I looked at him and thought, ‘I don’t believe you need half the stuff he has on his bike’.”

WE TOOK A TANDEM

“We ride the record attempts at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire – it’s an old WW2 bomber runway that’s really rough in places – hence the need for motorbike leathers and a crash helmet. At first we stripped down the old tandem that Andy Wilkinson used to set a LEJOG record with – we hooked it up to a family estate car with the boot jacked open and set off.”

MY ‘OTHER BIKE’S’ A PORSCHE

“For the new record I was pulled by a Porsche Cayenne Turbo up to 110mph, then I disengage from the car and accelerate in its slipstream. I rode a custom-made Moss Bike with a long, stable wheelbase, special gearing and tyres rated for autobahn speeds. I hit 149.160mph – beating the European record of 135mph I’d set in June.”

I GAVE MY ALL

“The acceleration of the Cayenne was incredible – like being strapped to a rocket. I was pedalling throughout, harder and harder, before I released from the car and got my head down and gave it all I could. The length of the runway is the limiting factor in all this – we’ll need more room if I’m going to try for the world record of 167mph.”