Nick Sanders….Prudhoe Bay to Ushuaia.
Fastest world record attempt in progress.
Nick rode around the world in 2005 on an R1 in 19 days and 4 hours. He has now motorcycled around the world 7 times- and circumnavigated the world twice on a bicycle.
He first motorcycled the length of the Pan American route in 1996 when he broke his ankle in the snow the day after setting off and continued to ride the whole length but failed to get the record. It has bugged him ever since.
Nick rode from Calgary to Prudhoe Bay ready to start the record ride. The side stand was kicked up and the first mile began on Saturday 21st August on a YZF-R1.
Not the right bike?
Can he beat the current record of 27 days?
Is he mad?
He is making a series of videos as he is travelling heading south
Nick’s world record ride
Hi everyone. It’s Caroline at base in the UK. Nick is doing well and going very smoothly after a horrible scare. The starter motor packed up and he has been bump starting the bike all the way from the Alaskan border to Calgary and on to Salt Lake City. Tim at Wrights has got a motor pulled out of a new R1 ready for him! 4 mechanics standing by to do a really fast service and tyre change to Conti Road Attack 1s. Nick will carry a spare set and could still do the record in under 23 days! Check out the blogs…and photos…and even video blogs!! at Nick’s website
GPS Tracker
Almost forgot to tell you…after the first GPS tracker unit failing we hope to have a new live tracker uploaded on to Nick’s website in the bext few hours so you can watch his progress real time!
You can chew your finger nails to the quick, like me, and see how close he gets to the current record of 27 and a bit days.
Nick’s going really well now but still has time to make up. The Foreign Office are saying not to go to Mexico so he is trying to pick the safest route and border crossings. As far as not going is concerned what choice does he have??? This is a record he really wants.
Spot tracker will be back on line very soon.
What is the safest route through Mexico?
I bet you motorcycle couriers out there have got an opinion?
Agreed! Furious with the shop that sold me the Spot Tracker as that series has been recalled in the States… ripped me off to the tune of £200!
The bike problems were most unexpected…never had any problems in any of the previous 4 R1s…and the 2007 bike did 50,000miles round the world. But all fine now and Nick is just crossing into Mexico.
He is on for a 21 day record ride…and hopefully will entertain you all the way with blogs and videoblogs!
Enjoy the ride!
Hope you like the new book and DVD cover…my brother-in-law designed it. He is a biker too…and my baby sister…you should check out their website www.2ridetheworld.com
Must have been something our mum and dad fed us when we were young???madness can be genetic…:hehe:
Was a Spot2. And I feel really stupid that I was ‘done’! But had to get it at v short notice…well I’ll send it back and get money back. It just stopped sending…my mates in USA told me about the recall and said it was exactly same problem.
Live and learn I suppose. Your ride for the London Air Ambulance is cool. We support Welsh Air Ambulance. They all do amazing jobs. We need them! Good luck!
Nick now well into northern Mexico…Spot just told me so!
I also run the spot2 and have had a simular problem, the light on the unit on but the satalite tracker not picking up. I found that I had to replace the batteries daily. I also mounted the unit so I could keep an eye on it, and see it sending messages. + 1 for the Welsh Air Ambulance as this is the area I do most of my riding.
Let us know if you manage to sort out the spotwalla link.
Thanks guys!
Tried the battery thing…in the end a mate got hold of a mark 1 unit and that’s what’s supplying the track on the website now…
but Nick has failed to call in all day. Nothing for 9 hours. This is the bit I hate…waiting at home thousands of mies away is fraying my nerves. Maybe it’s just the Spot unit not working…
Sorry about that melancholic post. I will update when Nick checks in, which I’m sure he will do soon.
How many of you are coming to Sam Manicom’s book launch at the Ace? We should all be there. He is one the nicest guys and writes great books too. Can’t believe I am lucky enough to know two such lovely, great guys.
Good morning! I bet you are all out on your bikes. Lucky you! I am sitting on a Welsh hillside working…well…a bit!
Nick checked in well south of Mexico City. I get the impression he will get this record…he seems so determined. 30 years in the adventuring business has made him that way.
He was questioning the validity of this ride and record attempt last night but I know what it’s about. It’s like climbers who just have to conquer that one mountain that’s slipped form their grasp before. It just has to be done. Sure it’s a fast ride and he is having difficulty seeing what’s around him but the record is the purpose. We will ride this route again in March 2011- in reverse- with 18 bikers much more slowly and soak it all in. Now that’s my kind of ride!
Enjoy the sun today and ride safe!
Nick is heading for Panama and has to get the bike into customs tonight to get it freighted up for a flight tomorrow at 8am if he is to still have a chance at the record.
He has had landslides, huge potholes and torrential rain and has lost time. Tonight is crucial. Even if he makes this flight he still has 8 x 900 mile days to go to get the World Record.
He has less than two hours to get to Tucomen Airport in Panama City.:unsure:
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