Young Christchurch rider clocks up over 430 kilometres

Thursday 31 December 2009

Looking for a way to keep busy and motivated by messages on social networking site Facebook, young cyclist Hendrik Bakker rode for over 17 hours on Tuesday completing the iconic Christchurch Long Bays ride six times, riding over 430 kilometres.

The popular training route is well known to local riders, and the most it has ever been ridden is believed to have been five times.

Long Bays incorporates a scenic loop from Christchurch out through Halswell and Tai Tapu to Gebbies Pass and round the bays of Lyttelton Harbour before returning to the city via the seaside suburbs of Sumner and Redcliffs.

Very few people knew what Bakker had planned until he started updating his progress on social networking site Facebook. As the morning progressed the number watching his progress on the site increased, many offering encouragement and some actually getting out on the course to motivate the young rider.

He said he probably would not have ben able to continue and complete his targeted six laps without the support and motivation he received via Facebook.

He started at 2am and completed the sixth lap accompanied by Daniel Dean as darkness set in.

After completing his first two laps he joined a local bunch ride for the third lap before again continuing on alone.

The stats
• Ride time: 17h38m45s
• HR ave: 143
• HR max: 170
• Calories: 10,703
• Distance: 437.8km
• Ave Speed: 24.8 kph
• Punctures: 0
• Clothing worn Untouched World's new Ecovelo cycling kit

ENDS

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