Australian husband and wife team, Gary and Rachel Corbett, are aiming to set a new world record for the longest electric bike journey ever recorded.
The EuroVelo European cycle route network – stretching through 43 countries in total – will feature prominently in the couple’s record attempt, which is planned to take up to 12 months of cycling through the UK, Europe and Scandinavia.
The task of transporting the pair on their journey falls to two Haibike xDuro trekking electric bikes, with camping gear and supplies in tow. Electric bike retailers, E-bikeshop, are sponsoring the event, with the couple’s journey starting out from their Farnham premises late April.
Gary Corbett told Pedelecs: “The current e-bike long distance record of 16,047 kilometres (9971 miles) was set by German adventurer, Maximilian Semsch, who circumnavigated Australia in 2012. The official Guinness World Record of 6721 km (4,176.23 miles) is held by Canadian Danny Halmo. At the end of 2014 American Tomas Cortijo also completed a journey of 9200km in the USA, which is still pending Guinness confirmation.”
He acknowledges other long distance journeys made by e-bike, including those not recognized by Guinness, such as that made by Guim Valls Teruel on his Electric Bike World Tour, reportedly in the region of 27,000 kilometers. Gary adds that “requirements for ratification of the record are extremely strict” and that the couple’s initial sights are on beating the 16,047km figure set by Semsch.
Gary and Rachel also want to demonstrate the reliability of electric bikes as “the future of personal transportation” for all ages. Cutting to the chase, their website explains that given their ages are “on the wrong side of the mid-50s” the couple feel it is important to show the world that long distance journeys are possible for all ages and fitness levels.
While Gary is no stranger to cycling long distances – using pedal power alone to notch up some of 30,000 kilometres across various countries – Rachel is happy to admit to being “a recreational cyclist” and has recently recovered from a severe bout of acute reactive arthritis.
However keen they are to live a life less ordinary, both know the upcoming 12 month ride won’t be without its challenges: “The distances to be cycled, the wide range of climatic conditions expected to be encountered and the daily necessity to find places to camp, charge their bikes’ batteries and the other 1001 things that have to be dealt with” are very much in their minds.
Rachel and Gary will be riding alone without support crews or assistance. They’re keen to point out that “most people who have attempted to set world long distance electric bike records in the past have been in their 20s and 30s” but happily add “how dull would life be if you didn’t get out of your comfort zone?’
The Corbetts will be making no attempt to race or ride extreme distances every day however, saying “the aim of the ride – in addition to claiming the coveted world long distance electric bike record – is to have fun”. To this end they plan to visit as many scenic and historic destinations as possible and have promised to update the Pedelecs forum with tales and pictures from their travels.
More information on the E-Bike Cycle Tourists can be found here: www.ebikecycletourists.com .
