How to beat world record.. on a Penny Farthing!

What’s the most dangerous part of completing Le Jog on a Penny Farthing and what training does it take to get to that stage in the first place?

In late July when most of us were enjoying a good barbeque or let’s be honest discussing the crazy hot weather an extraordinary gentleman from Matlock, Derbyshire carried out a unprecedented mission which had not been completed at such speeds in over 133 years!

This challenge was Le Jog, a popular cycling route from Lands End to John O’Groats and the man in question was a teacher by day, Richard Thoday.
The story started back in 2010 when Richard entered a Penny Farthing race; his interest in beating records continued from here and in the Autumn of 2018 Richard started his intensive 9-month training programme ahead of the race.

The original record was set in 1886 by George Pilkington Mills who completed the Le Jog in five days, one hour and forty-five minutes at just 18 years of age.
To add real significance to the challenge Richard chose BBC Children in Need as his chosen charity; knowing that whether he succeeded in his quest or failed he would be able to put a smile on children’s faces from the money raised. You can be part of the story by searching ‘Just Giving Penny End to End’. At the time of going ‘to press’ Richard had raised just shy of £10,000. Help him cross that line today!

As the phrase goes ‘no man walks alone’ and Richard completed his challenge with the help of a huge number of sponsors including financial supporters, media coverage experts, support from many different specialist companies and equipment providers including Zycomm Electronics; whose Hytera radios were provided as a radio hire free of charge, providing a vital communications channel particularly in the last crucial leg of the race in the heights of Scotland.

The most dangerous part of the journey? Probably the thunderstorms on the last day. Many of us will remember the apocalyptic lightning strikes in the last week of July…now imagine you’re the highest point around for miles going over the causeway bridge with standing water all over the roads!

Richard completed the journey in just 4 days and 12 hours, 13 hours less than the previously held record and is just awaiting official confirmation from the Guinness Book of Records.

Richard’s new interview covering the most enjoyable and challenging parts of the trip, how much sleep he had, which parts made the trip most memorable, how it felt to beat the record and his smaller personal victories can be found on the blog section of the Zycomm website. Zycomm can also be contacted ahead of the Autumn Event season for any radio hire requirements.