Go Grandpa!

[covie]

Proving that age is no barrier to cycling, Frenchman Robert Marchand has established a cycling world hour record for riders over 100 years old.

Marchand, who turned 100 a few months ago, completed 24.251km around the velodrome at the World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland. "But I’m not playing at being a champion," he said. "I just wanted to do something for my 100th birthday."

He rode a standard track bike with no aero equipment for his attempt, his biggest problem being his familiarity with velodrome riding. "I haven’t cycled on a track for 80 years," he said. "You have to get used to the fixed gear! I prefer cycling outside but that is impossible at the moment. I don’t want to catch the flu. So I am short on training."

During his preparation, Marchand was warned not to get his heart rate above 110, a rule that for the most part he obeyed. "I did climb a steep hill not long ago and went up to 134 but it’s best to avoid that," he said. "But I would be very surprised if I had heart attack.

"For the last five years I have decided not to go for rides of more than 100km. There is no point going overboard. I want to keep cycling for some time yet."

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/100-year-old-sets-cycling-hour-record-mark-33217?ns_campaign=Other_br-article-test&ns_mchannel=hl&ns_source=article_type_a_most_viewed&ns_linkname=0&ns_fee=0

 



Edited February 20, 2012 by covie