ComedyPilot said:Err....I am now a little confused.
James Bowthorpe set off on Sunday 29/03/09 and got back on the 175th day Saturday 19/09/09.
Julian Sayarer set off on 10/06/09 and got back Friday 04/12/09, err.....that's 178 days?
On page 2 of this thread I wrote the following:
Jitenmsha said:I think Julian Emre Sayarer is going to run into two problems with this attempt:
1. His route covers the same latitude in central China and SE Asia. Therefore he hasn't travelled in one direction continuously.
2. June 10th (his start date) until December 4th (his probable finish date) is 178 days.
The GWR rules are somewhat unclear in that they state that time not ridden/cycled should be deducted from the overall time taken for the cycle. HOWEVER in the case of both Mark Beaumont and James Bowthorpe this did not apply.
Beaumont: August 5th 2007 - February 15th 2008 = 195 days
Bowthorpe: March 29th - September 19th 2009 = 175 days
I'll be very surprised if GWR sign off on this. All the best to him though. It's certainly impressive regardless and is beyond the ability of most people
I've posted a couple of comments on Sayarer's blog re this. He didn't address these issues in his latest blog, which incidentally is in my opinion more hateful and less insightful than his previous ones. The guy is a good writer, but he is just so angry. A shame. Isn't there an old Athenian (or is it Roman) Proverb: If you want to destroy the Gods, first make them angry"
Anyway, back to the point. Sayarer's figures just don't add up and he has been unwilling so far to address honest questions posed directly to him through his website. Maybe he will address these questions over the coming days, but in any case it will be GWR who will have the final say. My money is that Sayarer has not broken the record.
Finally, I have to state again that while the record (whatever it is - 195 days or 175 days) is admirable, and well done to anybody who cycles around the world irrespective of how quickly or slowly they do it, these record attempts are second rate compared to the likes of Erik Straarup or Nick Sanders.