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Posted

“On average I’m in the saddle for about 10 hrs a day…. I listen to what my body say’s, not the Doctors….I just eat what I want, but in small portions…”

 

No it’s not moi…..But some sage advice from someone experienced enough to know…this guy is 69 years old and granted he is a pensioner who has the time to do this but it does show you what is possible if you have the determination.

 

I read about this a few years ago when our local paper published a story of this guy who rode some crazy hours every day and claiming a world record of 44’000 km in 1 year, now I saw another article on him yesterday and it says that this year (up to 1st October) he has already ridden 66’000 km and is aiming for a new record of 80’000 km by the end of 2012.

 

Here's an english article i found:

"Last year Beat Hauser from St Leonhard in the Passier Valley of South Tyrol broke the unofficial world record last year by cycling 61,025 kilometres in one year.

 

This is what has inspired Ruedi Zweifel of Baar to try and break this record and so far he is on track.

 

69-year-old Zweifel starts off cycling at 5 am every day, but gives himself an hour's rest between 9 am and 10 am. Then it is time for another 4-hour trip, with another in the evening. "On average I am in the saddle for some 10 hours a day," he said.

 

In 2010 Zweifel cycled 44,000 kilometres so he felt that the 61,025-kilometre record was well within his grasp. However in May he went down with shingles, which kept him off the saddle for 3 weeks. Then, even worse, in September he broke his pelvis. Although his doctors advised him not to cycle for 6 weeks, within 21 days he was back on the saddle. "I listen to my body, not what the doctors say," he said determinedly.

 

It was 1 January 2012 that Zweifel began his attempt to beat the 61,025 record, even cycling in temperatures of -15°C and still covering some 250-280 kilometres a day, and all without a special diet. "I just eat what I want," he said, though he admits to eating only in small portions.

 

By the 26 June, he had cycled 40,075 kilometres, the same as the circumference of the Earth, spurred on by one of his biggest fans, Olympic winner Fabian Cancellera, who came to Zug in May just to accompany him on a tour. If he carries on at such a rate, by the end of the year he will have covered 80,000 kilometres, breaking the record of the South Tyrolean, who is actually 25 years younger.

 

On occasions, he does ask himself, "What? You are going out in this rain?" and indeed there has been a lot of rain so far this year. However, such is his determination to break the record.

 

And what then? "Well, then that will be enough. It is not possible to cycle more than 10 hours a day. And some time I know my body will not be able to take it anymore," he said, as he got back onto the saddle again"

 

http://www.zug4you.c...9a143a870965918

Posted

250-280km a day :eek:

 

Best of he comes from my little town, need to track him down and find out exactly which small posrtions he eats...

 

Would love to know how many metres he climbs in a month

Posted

What an impressive story! What determination! Talk about having a goal and chasing it down. We all know how a long day in the saddle can be more a mental challenge than a physical one. He is doing this literally every day! Kudos to him in a BIG WAY!

Posted

He must get bulk discount prices for new chains

 

Its on my list of things to ask him, how many punctures, chains, tyres, saddle sores, road rage events, land rover incidents, energy bars, which bibs he recommends....etc...

Posted

Years ago, we went to nelspruit for a training camp. One of the fellas from our feeder club road from Springs to Nelspruit, non-stop, met us there, had a braai with us, and road back to Springs the next day.

Posted

Its on my list of things to ask him, how many punctures, chains, tyres, saddle sores, road rage events, land rover incidents, energy bars, which bibs he recommends....etc...

 

... and does he walk like the Duke...

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Posted

@SwissVan - I hope you finding him so that you can train with him.

It wont matter what time you train, he'll be on his bike.

 

I did 455km over 2 days a few weeks ago but never had a braai that evening :wacko:

Posted

Best of he comes from my little town, need to track him down and find out exactly which small posrtions he eats...

 

Would love to know how many metres he climbs in a month

That will be like me cycling to Witbank and back every day.

Posted

Years ago, we went to nelspruit for a training camp. One of the fellas from our feeder club road from Springs to Nelspruit, non-stop, met us there, had a braai with us, and road back to Springs the next day.

There was a guy in matric, Michael Angliotti who later went on to marry Frith vd Merwe of Comrades fame. As a school boy he used to cycle from Boksburg to Durban non stop to spend time at their sea side house.

Posted (edited)

There was a guy in matric, Michael Angliotti who later went on to marry Frith vd Merwe of Comrades fame. As a school boy he used to cycle from Boksburg to Durban non stop to spend time at their sea side house.

 

Well at least its downhill

 

 

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Edited by SwissVan
Posted

“On average I’m in the saddle for about 10 hrs a day….

If I had a wife like some of my buddies wives, I'd spend even more than 10 hours a day on the bike!

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