Around OZ Record Attempt by Pete Heal

[Aushiker]

Hi

Pete Heal is starting a solo unsupported attempt at the around Australia record. He's starting from Observatory Hill in Sydney at Midnight on 1 May.

The current record of 51 days and 47 minutes was set by a Danish cyclist, Erik Straarup, in 2008. The distance is approx 15,000km following sealed roads as close to the perimeter as possible.

Pete's plan is to travel anti-clockwise in under 50 days. That's about 300km a day!

Those interested can track his progress courtesy of a Spot satellite tracker which is feeding into a web site run by Track Leaders.

There's also a Yahoo web site to discuss his ride.

Regards
Andrew

[cavebear2]

I've calculated that Pete should be about number 2 on bike journal if he makes it all the way. I'm sure that's not his reason for the attempt!

[Aushiker]

Hi

It will be good to determine his route for a future (dream?) ride around Australia, albeit considerably slower!

Andrew

[trimike]

Don't dream it Andrew, take that long service leave, pack your panniers and GO....

Mike

[chuckchunder]

did this get moved from the general discussion forum, or am I going senile?

smash it pete.

enjoy your "tour"

chuckles

[cavebear2]

did this get moved from the general discussion forum, or am I going senile?

Knowing you I'd say senile.
All I can say is: I'm not sure that I would classify it as 'touring'. If that's touring then so was our Oppy record attempt where we rode 601km in 24hrs....

[Kalgrm]

did this get moved from the general discussion forum, or am I going senile?

smash it pete.

enjoy your "tour"

chuckles

I don't know if it was moved from there, but I've moved it back ...

This is no tour - it's a sprint! Go Poit.

[tipsy.mcstagger]

I've calculated that Pete should be about number 2 on bike journal if he makes it all the way. I'm sure that's not his reason for the attempt!

Yeah, but what doe's he do for rest of year?

[Wollemi]

Pete Heal is starting a solo unsupported attempt at the around Australia record. He's starting from Observatory Hill in Sydney at Midnight on 1 May.

Another solo unsupported attempt... http://www.seakayakforum.com/viewtopic. ... 53&start=0

[Aushiker]

Hi

Pete is on the move ... you can follow him at http://www.trackleaders.com/aroundozi.p ... Peter_Heal

Andrew

[sogood]

Gosh, people really want to continue to crack this record.

[John Lewis]

I put some of the Spot coordinates into OziExplorer to get distances. Times from Spot.
Allowing for bends in the road he seems to be averaging close to 30kmh. He did seem to be slowed down out to Hornsby and no spots for a while in that section. The Great Circle distance from start to Kew is 271 km so he must surely have managed 300km for the day. Just added all the segments and came close to 296 so better than 300 allowing for bends.

John Lewis

[s-s-a]

Update from Pete 2 May

Hard day. Lots of yobs in town at midnight. Very drunk ones. Good time to ride
out of big city. Morning fog and mist till 10am. Cold even. Sun and warm later.
Now at Kew waiting for pub meals to start. Two flats and a broken spoke today. Roads
pretty good but have thread the needle through trash at side.

According to Whereis, Observatory Hill to Kew is 355km - Pete arrived by 3.45pm so this gives an average speed including stops more than 22.5km/h. Amazing!

Steph

[John Lewis]

Pete is amazing. Not sure he isnt a cyborg or something.

He hit Ballina at 8:11 pm . Around 750 km since starting.

John

[s-s-a]

Today's average speed even higher than yesterday too!

[John Lewis]

You can hear Poiter on ABC here.


http://blogs.abc.net.au/canberra/2010/0 ... afternoons


John

[william]

This guy still amazes me.
Listening to the radio interview its all matter of fact... We'll have to call him Bionic Pete.

william

[william]

Update.
As of this time he has passed Cairns and heading towards Karunda in the ranges.
This will be a bit of a hard slog for him with supplies needed to carry. After Karunda he will need to carry extra water going farther from normal civilisation.

william.

[cavebear2]

Certainly a man on a mission and very matter of fact about his attempt. His apparent relaxed attitude must conceal his intensity - good luck to him. I've noticed that his 2010 BJ goal is 30,000 km. Not too hard when you are going to cover 15,000 in 50 days or thereabouts!

Posted some info on Pete's website last night regarding some info. he requested last month regarding part of his W.A. route.

[cavebear2]

Pete is now past the Normanton turnoff and blasting his way towards Cloncurry. Must be camping out tonight methinks.

Roughly 3500km in 11 days - he's ahead of target.

[stevepedlin]

Lets will him on! - I often wonder if he has had second thoughts, specially going west of Cairns, but I'm starting to doubt it!

Simply awesome progress, yeah he has to be part machine, has to be...

[John Lewis]

What a day! These stats posted on Pete,s Yahoo list.
Took a look with street view after he stopped for the day. He seems to be camped at a spot with a shelter, tank and what looks to be a toilet block.

Absolutely phenomenal effort.

Day 11
Camped 102km SW of highway junction at Normanton
Start time 2:00 AM
Finish time 8:00 PM
Elapsed time 18:00
Distance ridden 398km
Average speed 22.1km/h

Cumulative stats
Total distance 3530km
Average km/day 321
Days for trip 46.7

[lethoso]

pff, lazy sod is doing it lying down

[cavebear2]

Update 19th May C.O.B.

Peter Heal has reached W.A. staying at Kununurra last night. He is now by my reckoning, about 1.5 days ahead of his schedule to complete the 15,070 km in 50 days. If he can get a good run south with reasonably favourable winds and then get some tail winds across the Nullabor he may make it in as little as 45 days. Lots of variables yet though, but what an incredible ride so far!!

[Aushiker]

Hi

Peter Heal near Doon Doon in WA ...





Andrew