Lakerat

2 days left

unterhausen

I hadn't thought about the men's record being separate. So I guess we'll keep seeing these attempts. Wonder if Guinness makes the same distinction?

europa

Guinness destroyed their credibility years ago with all sorts of stupid 'records' and ridiculous requirements. I recognise the value of records but the frantic proliferation of the things and the artificial requirements does reduce their relevance.

Coker's achieved something truly remarkable. Let's just remember that.

himespau 

Yeah, whatever she chooses to do in the future, her accomplishments are amazing.

steve-in-kville 

Can you give an example of that? Not being a smart@ss, just ignorant.

europa

Not off the top of my head, in part because I stopped taking any real interest in their 'records' some years ago. I believe though, and I may be wrong here, that one of their long distance cycling records required bikes that could be bought off the shelf. The proliferation of records is another concern of mine - I catalogue library books and so see the new Guinness books as they come off the press each year. Maybe I'm just getting grumpy in my old age but next time you see a Guinness record being touted, have a look at the restrictions placed upon it.

HTupolev

In her current state, I'd be impressed if Coker didn't pop off the back of the women's pro field when things accordion at the first corner, assuming she could hold the pace at all. Being able to be on a saddle and turn a couple of crank arms in circles for twelve hours every day is brilliant if your goal is to do lots of miles, but it means little in a pro racing field. The effort level she holds (20-21mph on flat ground, with drafting and recumbents/TT/whatever allowed) is bonk-intensity for a pro racer, and since she isn't doing epic interval training, her short-term thresholds likely aren't all that remarkable.

The main reason that pro cyclists lack saddle tire compared to Coker isn't lack of commitment. It's because they're doing higher-intensity workouts that would be compromised by spending more time exercising. Even rest days are a crucial part of training. Strong racers find that they start getting weaker if they just put in tons of miles every day; repeatedly doing 200 miles at 20mph doesn't build you toward doing 100 miles at 27mph, it just makes you incredibly good at doing 200 miles at 20mph.

What Coker is doing is extremely impressive, but it's not road race prep. If she wants to excel there, she'll have to train specifically for it.

CliffordK

No doubt demands would be different. And some will be whether her cardiovascular system can hit the peak power demands.

It isn't clear how much drafting Amanda is doing, or what bikes she has been riding. I see her power that is posted on Strava is estimated.

The power for riders in the middle of the peloton may well be close to the power that Amanda is riding to maintain 20 MPH. Of course, one can't always follow. Everyone should lead at least some of the time. And, hills may also push up the power demands. And, of course, sprinting after 50 to 100 or more miles.

Anyway, she has a lot of choices once the record attempt finishes. Perhaps she'll be sick of riding bikes.

John_V 

Right now, she's talking about triathlons and time trials. I think the car crash she was in pretty much squashed her chance at going pro. However, one never knows what the cards hold.

znomit

Shes done it!

100,000 miles. 423 days!

europa

Well done. That's a pretty good effort in a car, let alone on a treadly.

Rowan

Congratulations, Amanda. An incredible achievement.

jeffpoulin

Impressive! After so much riding, I imagine it will be hard getting back to "normal" life. I wish her all the best and hope the adjustment goes well.

DXchulo

Simply amazing. She did what many considered impossible. Think about that next time you feel like a ride might be too difficult.

antimonysarah

I've read several things about pro women's cyclists looking at or actually doing triathlon because the money's better. I don't know how much of a consideration that is for her, but it has to be at least a bit of one.

CliffordK

Time for a "Recovery Ride" tomorrow?

znomit

I'm guessing her running and swimming isn't too good right now.

John_V 

She slept in late yesterday but was out there in mid morning doing 50 miles with her dad. She was out there again today doing another 50 mile ride with one of her regular riding partners.

Her dad is a runner and he said he is now going to pick it up again. I'm sure she will join him when he runs. As for the swimming, maybe at the clubhouse pool where they live?

c.miller64

Well, today she rode a quick solo lap and averaged just below 27mph. Not too bad considering it's just a few days since the challenge ended and she wasn't in any aero gear.

I don't think she's going to have any problems with her power.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1083420590

HTupolev

When you say "no aero gear", you mean she was riding a mass-start road bike, correct?

CliffordK

That was only about 7 miles at just under 27 mph, but still an impressive speed in the middle of a 70 mile ride.

Apparently Amanda and George Gibbons set her QOM on that segment back in May at 27.9 MPH.

Anyway, I have no doubt that at the speeds and distances she's been riding, she could go far in cycling if she chooses.

c.miller64

No, I meant no aero helmet or skinsuit.
She was on her Tri Bike, but it's still set up for all day riding and she's not even close to a proper TT position.

c.miller64

Well, then I guess you will be extremely impressed to learn of her first outing as a member of the UCI Professional/Development Team Twenty/20 that took place a couple of weeks ago? Amanda came in 6th out of close to 50 Pro 1-2 women on a very hot and hilly 62 mile course where 2/3s of the women DNF'd. Also- the woman that Amanda beat out for 6 place was national and world champion Amber Neben. I'm pretty confident that she'll be able to more than hold her own in her future pro races, too.

HTupolev

Yes, people performing well in pro races is extremely impressive.

I don't think that has much to do with my post that you quoted, though. I wasn't saying that she wasn't cut out for pro road racing, I was disagreeing with the claim that her ultradistance riding was effective immediate top-level road race prep. I made that post more than a year ago, and I would presume that during the interim, her riding schedule has included things aside from riding at a high steady pace all day every day.

CliffordK

When will we see Amanda Coker in the Tour de France, or whatever passes for the women's version of the race?

Actually, there was apparently a protest ride this year... too bad Coker wasn't there.

https://mashable.com/2018/07/30/women-tour-de-france/