Audax Legend Visits Great Dunmow

Steve Abraham, the legendary Audax UK rider, visited Great Dunmow on Saturday (28 February) to ride Tom Deakins' 200km helper's event, 'The Horsepower', as part of his endeavour to break the year time trial record.

Steve (centre with yellow high vis ankle tape) before the off

The record was last set in 1939 when Tommy Godwin battled all year to achieve an astonishing 75,065 miles and, Steve is to crack the record, he will have to average at least 200 miles per day.

 

Speaking before the ride Steve described the ups and downs so far of attempting this incredible feat: "It's the sleep deprivation that's hurting me at the moment. Although I'm up on my February total so far so I'm going to have a bit of a rest today so I can catch up on sleep tonight, and hit it again tomorrow."

 

Steve flying past up the hill at Finchingfield

Steve is relying on the hospitality of friends to help him before and after rides that are further afield from his home in Milton Keynes, and last night stayed at Takeley resident, Alex Watts' house. Mr Watts spoke of his experience hosting Mr Abraham: "He's going really well but he looks so tired. Steve got in at 9:00pm last night and I kicked him out of the door at 5:15am this morning. He's going to come back to mine tonight so he doesn't have to worry about getting back to Milton Keynes and can get a good meal and a decent nights sleep."

 

Steve's total so far to 2 March is 11,482 miles and is 1,940 miles up on Godwin's record, putting him in good stead to break it only two months into the challenge.


Steve is not the only cyclist going for the record. American Kurt Searvogel is also giving the record a shot but as it stands is nearly 1,000 miles short of Mr Abraham although he did start ten days later.