Alan Bate - Round the world Cycling record 2010

GRAND PALACE REACHED AT 3.15PM

Alan — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:13:07 +0000

The Grand Palace, the final destination, was reached at 3.15 pm yesterday(04/08). The reception was amazing and I have to say a massive thanks to Rawin and Singha and the Grand Palace for allowing us to end our journey at such a sacred location.

THANKS to the support team and every one who took the time and trouble to follow and support us through the whole trip.

To all the companies who were kind enough to support us………..THANK YOU! Each day from now on, we will tell you a little more of each one and what they actually do.

Our distance is over 29,000 km and the progress map is approximate until all fine details are added.

The kind words and warm hearts mean every thing to me.

ALAN

440 KM in the first 24 hours!

BACK IN THAILAND!

Alan — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:26:24 +0000

AFTER EUROPE, A NIGHTMARE FOUR DAYS WERE ENDURED IN INDIA. THE WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY TRIP AND I THINK IT IS BEST I DON’T SAY ANYTHING ELSE. ARRIVED AT CHIANG RAI AIRPORT ON THE 31ST TO A LOVELY RECEPTION FROM THAI PEOPLE. LOCAL TEAM, CHIANG RAI AND SOME MEMBERS FROM TEAM CHIANG KHONG WERE GIVING ME A FANTASTIC PULL TO CHIANG KHONG(MY VILLAGE). WE STOPPED FOR FOOD AND I COMPLETELY WENT TO PIECES IN THE LAST FIFTEEN KILOMETERS. NEARLY COLLAPSED. I HAD MANAGED TO GET FOOD POISONING AND SPENT THE WHOLE NIGHT BEING SICK.

I HAD TO FORCE MYSELF TO RIDE ON THE FIRST AND COVERED A VERY SLOW TWO HUNDRED KILOMETERS. EVERY ONE OF THEM WAS A NIGHTMARE. YESTERDAY, I WAS STILL BAD BUT LATER FELT BETTER AND MANAGED 296 KM. NOW, I AM EXCITED TO FINISH……JUST TWO MORE DAYS BEFORE WE END AT THE GRAND PALACE IN BANGKOK, TO STOP THE CLOCK AT 114 DAYS.

THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING AND SUPPORTING THE EVENT. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE END.

LOTS OF LOVE TO MY KIDS, MAY. THANKS TO MY FRIENDS AND ALL THE SPONSORS.

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EUROPE UPDATE

Alan — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:25:20 +0000

Hi everyone. I landed in Portugal, only to crash the first day and to put a deep cut in my left calf. I lost a day, then continued through Portugal, Spain and France. England a short and as expected grey visit. Happy though for UK stage. I met up with a cyclist named Tom Matthews in Calais and we rode together for 2 days….BIG THANKS for the company! Then onto Rubaix, to visit the famous velodrome. I was lucky to gain entry to the stadium and to do a lap of the finishing track for Paris Rubaix.

I continued South and into Italy yesterday. Very very hot and I had the company of another cyclist named Cecil Conn from Ireland. Past through Monaco, Nice, San Remo. Bike serviced at Speedwheel in Savona, a great shop, friendly and with a deep love of cycling.

Sorry I do not update often, I am shattered and find it difficult to do. Photo and video to follow later. So, now I am really looking forward to finishing this ride. Can’t wait to reach the end. The route a little wrong in Northern France, I didn’t go round in circles, at least not a big one. Please zoom in on route for more detail of my points.

So now, Italy, Greece and then I think India( I may change this). Then Thailand for the finish in Bangkok. Thanks for supporting me.

LONG LIVE THE KING!

After Italy

EXITED TO REACH CAMBRIDGE SOON

RECIFE REACHED ON DAY 75

Alan — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:40:16 +0000

Hi everyone,

So, we have reached our destination in Recife, Brasil on day 75. I haven’t posted much during the ride, so I will speak a little of things that have happened, how I feel and about the people and organisations who have helped so much and made this possible.

We have definately had the protection of good spirits alaong the way. Leading up to the event, I crashed three times in two weeks, the final one on the day of the event start. I began with a really bad leg infection but it cleared up after a few days. For the week before, I couldn’t train and the first day back on my bike was the starting day.

For two months before the start things were hectic. The promised bikes from the owner of Milani of Italy, never arrived. The ONLY sponsor to let us down. Singha paid for a new bike, kindly provided at cost by Bangkok shop, Bike Station. Singha corporation the Title sponsor and Rawin there, my great friend have been AMAZING. Most corporate organisations decide to sponsor only for commercial return. Rawin and Singha are VERY DIFFERENT. They became involved, simply to honor the King of Thailand and asked for nothing in return. Unlike the usual arrangement, they have kept in touch throughout the event and constantly ask if I am ok and if I need any help. They ensured the support team could join me in Brasil, knowing I was feeling very low( BIG THANK YOU RAWIN AND SINGHA).

The company produces beverages, including the famous Singha and Leo beer, water, soda water and B-ING health drinks. They have supported many charitable groups and good causes, asking for zero commercial return! It’s very rare to find this and I once saw them give 5 million baht to the Thailand footsol team without any media presence.

Their support gives me the will and confidence to ride to the finish for His Majesty and Thailand. There has been some incidents along the way. Australia posed some tough challenges with many bad truck drivers, with little consideration for other road users. The cold wet weather and many freezing wet days and nights in tents, tested me and the team. The food was also a problem. Then there was one nightmare night in a trailer park, where we recieved shouted threats of violence as we tried to sleep, from a drunken mob.

New Zealand was very cold for the two days there and it was the very kind help of John of Keywin, our pedal and chamois cream sponsor that got me through, albeit with a bus transfer to avoid severe frost.

America was where I first went solo. Whilst I met some nice people, I found the USA very challenging, being hit with a stick and almost having my bicycle stolen. I was lucky to miss the expected high temperatures in the Southern states and to benefit from mostly tail winds. The atmosphere in the USA was threatening for me and I became very nervous and depressed. I found the isolation very hard and only the chance to speak with Rawin, my friends and May in Chiang Khong and my children, got me through.

Visiting Cambridge was the highlight as I got to visit the very room where the King was born, a great honor.

Canada was very cold, with tough winds off the Atlantic and driving rain. Only three days though and then off to Uruguay. After a ferry from Argentina, I spent two cold days in Uruguay. With a tailwind, I headed for Brasil and arrived in Porto Alegre on the 8th of June. I was very excited to meet up with the team and cried with relief as my isolation ended. Our host Tiago of Hostel Porto Do Sol was a huge help. Unbelievably friendly and without his help, we could not hire the support vehicle. Our card wouldn’t work but he stepped up to use his own as security.

So, Brasil…..very cold and wet in the South but it got warmer as we headed North. The roads were mostly in bad condition, poor surface, many roadworks, narrow and very dangerous drivers with no consideration for other road users, especially cyclists. Again, it was the truck drivers who were the worst. We managed to meet a lot of nice people along the way, although Brasil is a violent society and dangerous in places. I was almost knocked off my bike many times. A lot of climbing but no massive mountains, mostly it is rolling roads.

In the North, the rains came and a disaster area was declared. Now, many towns and villages are destroyed, many dead, countless missing. We missed one of the worst hit places, Rio Largo, by 24 hours. It was our next destination. Close to Recife, we witnessed a village, that was destroyed. Very hard to see, Brasil has terrible poverty already. Many people have nothing, live in houses made with clay and straw or even plastic bags. A lot of street kids too. Hope the new found wealth of the country filters down to the people who most need it soon.

So, now I am waiting for my flight to Portugal on the 26th. Today I hope to have my bike serviced as I need some replacement parts desperately. The team of Noi, Simon and May will return to Thailand tomorrow. I will go solo again through Europe and until the last two stages in Thailand.

Thanks to my friends and family for supporting me, also to the other team members, sponsors, especially John of KEYWIN and Dermot of RED SPOKES, Chiang Khong village and everyone who is supporting and following me.

I am tired but will continue until the end in Bangkok.

THANK YOU SINGHA, THANK YOU RAWIN MY FRIEND!

LONG LIVE OUR DAD!!

Alan

CONTINUING IN BRASIL

Alan — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 11:15:08 +0000

It’s the 19th of June and we are continuing North,through Brasil. Now, the weather is hot and the temperature is increasing by the day. There is finally some new video available via the video link. A lot of hard climbing but no huge mountains so far.

It’s a special day for me today as it is my son’s birthday……..so HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIEL! See you soon son.

LOVE FROM DAD XXXXX

BYE USA, HELLO AND GOODBYE TO CANADA AND URUGUAY……BIENVENIDOS BRASIL

BYE USA, HELLO AND GOODBYE TO CANADA AND URUGUAY……BIENVENIDOS BRASIL

Alan — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:59:39 +0000

Hi everyone, sorry it has been so long since the last post. Finished USA and Canada was short, friendly, cold,wet and windy. Thanks to great bike shop, Bikes and Fitness I think, for service and flight arrangements from Sydney. Uruguay saw the cold weather continue but dry and a strong tailwind. Some hills though to Chui border town.

Now two days in Brasil and very happy to meet up with Noi,Simon and May in Porto Alegre.my support team for Brasil. Just to see friendly,familiar faces is great. Taking a day off today and enjoying resting at the FANTASTIC Porto Do Sol hostel. The owner is really great and set up a TV interview and located a hire car for us. It is a new hostel and the owner, Thiago is a great guy.

Thanks Rawin for everything!

LONG LIVE THE KING!

BIRTH PLACE OF HIS MAJESTY REACHED

Alan — Sat, 29 May 2010 03:11:10 +0000

Today I reached Cambridge, the birthplace of His Majesty. I visited the square named after the King and Mt.Auburn hospital. I actually was so, so lucky to meet a lovely lady who gave me the once in a life time chance to visit the very room where the King was born. It is in the old part of the hospital on the second floor, with big windows facing on to the street. It felt amazing to stand there and is the best part of the ride. The record paled in to insignificance and I am not too worried about whether I beat it or not. What happened today was only made possible because of the support from Rawin my friend and from Boonrawd(Singha). I am sad to have missed the chance to meet some nice Thai people and members of the Kings birthplace preservation society here in Boston. It seems like the right time to also thank all the other sponsors and people out there who have helped us get this far.

The strange thing is that today we reached the halfway point of 14,500 km on day 51. I also found out that Rawin has made it possible for Noi, Simon and May to support me through Brasil. This has really lifted my spirits. Sophie, my daughter is the first one to commit to support me in Europe, with Daniel my son, close behind. but I am still looking for a volunteer driver(s).

So, I will try to reach the Canadian border tomorrow but not sure I have the legs.

Many thanks everyone.

alan

EXITED TO REACH CAMBRIDGE SOON

Alan — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:59:18 +0000

IN A FEW DAYS I WILL REACH CAMBRIDGE. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHERE OUR BELOVED KING WAS BORN AND TO VISIT THE SQUARE NAMED AFTER HIM. I AM SORE EVERYWHERE, BUT WILL CARRY ON. NOT LONG TO HALF WAY NOW.

THE GREAT SUPPORT FROM EVERONE IS HELPING ME TO CONTINUE. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAS TAKEN THE TROUBLE TO FOLLOW AND WRITE MESSAGES OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

LONG LIVE THE KING!!!!!!!

ALAN

A special note from the community

Crossing The Southern States

Alan — Sun, 16 May 2010 22:08:01 +0000

Texas was a huge state, I found it very hard, lucky not to have the expected heat and had some storms but no twisters or hurricanes. Mexican border a danger, especially El Paso, where I nearly lost my bike. I hadOther difficult encounters in Alabama. The image here is of Fort Stockton, I liked the mad bird!

EUROPE UPDATE

USA VERY HARD

Alan — Sun, 09 May 2010 21:07:52 +0000

: Image by listentoreason via Flickr

Hi everyone, sorry again not to answer all the lovely messages. When I finish this, I will reply to every last message. I am now totally unsupported in a change of plan, so no support team, just me, my panniers and my bike.

I am finding the isolation difficult and feel very lonely. I know I have so many people giving me their heart. Now, I will stuggle to upload anything as I am useless with technology. When I can, I will post some news but I am relying on internet shops.

I am heading towards arizona and texas. It is the start of the tornado season, so a little intrepidation.

LONG LIVE THE KING!

alan

BYE USA, HELLO AND GOODBYE TO CANADA AND URUGUAY……BIENVENIDOS BRASIL

BYE NEW ZEALAND

Alan — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:50:49 +0000

Arrived at Auckland airport at 20.30 last night. New Zealand was freezing with frost and black ice on the morning of the third.Tough roads, strong winds but warm hearts. KEYWIN owner John and his wife Maria treated me like a member of their family and couldn’t do enough for me. John is like a teenager, full of life and boundless enthusiasm and energy. Many thanks John, Maria and family, never will be forgotten. At the airport this morning, I had a big suprise when Paradorn was true to his word and woke early on the day of his final exam to meet me with his girlfriend. He is a young Thai man at university in Auckland. Thanks for the warm smiles and lovely gift Paradorn. So, I am in Transit now to San Francisco.

Many thanks for the kind messages of support,

alan

AUSTRALIA OVER……NEW ZEALAND TODAY

AUSTRALIA OVER……NEW ZEALAND TODAY

Alan — Sat, 01 May 2010 02:21:53 +0000

Hi, this is Alan. I am happy to finnish Australia. Really tired but ready to carry on. I just want to firstly thank the support team of May, Noi,Simon, Yanyong,Mourad and Julia for all their hard work so far. Mourad and Julia will continue across the USA with me, to be joined by Ajarn John. Noi, Simon and May return to Thailand today. Rawin, my friend from Singha made me feel better with a lovely conversation a couple of days ago. In New Zealand, one of our sponsors, John from Keywin will kindly look after me(THANKS KEYWIN). I am dreading the cold weather of the Winter but hope to cross North Island in two days.

I miss Thailand, my friends, my children, my ordinary life. I am sorry I haven’t replied to everyone. Just no time, only cycle, eat and sleep. Great bike service yesterday in Brisbane from 99 bikes and lovely support from Thai community in Brisbane. Thankyou for all your support everyone.

LONG LIVE THE KING!!!!!!! Alan x

Bishben Airport

Australian video round up, the good the bad and the flies

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:19:04 +0000

With only 275 km to go before Alan finishes his Australian leg, we decided to upload another set of videos showing what the journey has been like so far. There have been some ups and downs which we shall talk about soon, but for now please have a look at what has happened on so far.

Also we would like to thank everybody for their continual support.

5,000,000 Meters So Far Only 22,000,000 Meters To Go

admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:09:21 +0000

Today we arrived at Keith Australia, which is just before Mount Gambier on the southern east coast of Australia. At each and every stop we check Alan’s bike, spottracker, wheels, gears, shoes, and most importantly his distance. It’s amazing how one tiny device can help control the mental will power of a person’s obsession with distance. The little device in question is an odometer, which can calculate the distance of a cyclist by counting the amount of times his front wheel has spun. Alan properly spends up to 10 hours a day staring at this tiny LCD display while riding, counting the kilometres one by one edging on to achieve has daily target of 300km a day. So, you can imagine when the little device said 5000km it was a great moment, and a major milestone had been achieved.

Good new tends to come in threes, not only had we achieved a massive distance we also managed to get Alan on a radio station and a free nights stay at a luxury spa caravan park.

The Radio interview was on Radio Station 5TCB and the interviewer Mr. Hiyman was very helpful and enthusiastic about Alan’s record attempt. Alan was chatting away to the radio Station explaining that this trip was for King Rama 9 of Thailand (BTW Alan says he is a pro at giving interviews now that he is a D lister celebrity) while the support team where chatting away with a group of caravan holidaymakers. One of the holiday makers was kind enough to offer Alan a one night stay at her Park Lane Tourist Park in Tharalgon. She also said he can hang up his helmet and relax his legs in the spa, may thanks to Barry and Denise Stewart.
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Videos of Thailand and Australia

admin — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 00:55:45 +0000

Normally we would love to post video clips as much as possible, but as we have been in the middle of the desert communications can be a problem. Now we have found a cell phone tower nearby finally we can do some updates. Sorry for the delay and enjoy.

You can always see more on Alans youtube channel

Australia – The Bunda Cliffs

Thailand – Alan lost his helmet found by the Police

Thailand – Police escort and are you an ass or a stallion

Thailand – Alan trying to sell his bike to a local

Australia – Alan and Martin, beefing up on some protein

Australia – Kangaroos

Kangaroo Farm

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:29:56 +0000

Kangaroo Farm

When you first see an Australian caravan park you can clearly see that the patrons know what people want. After a long day riding you have everything you need: hot showers, a communal kitchen, hot plates, barbecues and even the odd internet connection if you are lucky.

When we started our trip through the Nullabore desert, we were always advised- don’t ride at night watch out for the road trains (massive trucks the size of a small pool) and watch out for kangaroos. During the night skippy and his pals tend to wonder across the main highways that connects West (WA) and East (EA) Australia. Unfortunately the lorry van drivers cant stop or avoid the kangaroos, as this would crash the vehicle and risk the life of the driver. Its a sad situation as no one wants to harm a beautiful animal.

Its 4pm and getting dark, so one of the support vehicles set off ahead to find a camp spot for the night. 50 km later we found Haven Tourist Park which is ran by a wonderful couple who have a unique look on life. The caravan park itself exists for one reason only, which is to provide a home for baby kangaroos that are still alive after their parents have ben killed on the roadside.

After settling in Janet who runs the site with her husband started talking to our Mr.Yanyong, who likes to chat with exotic women when he can. After a quick chat and an eye wink Janet took us through to her secret garden which turned out to be a sanctuary for 9 kangaroos and Billy the goat who took a liking to our camera mans manhood ( don’t ask ). Before we knew it we where greeted by Biscuit a red back who has a strong bond with Janet and is very playful with humans. We couldn’t believe it when Biscuit approached us and lifted his paws to give us by a hug one by one. Biscuit even gave Alan a free head massage with his little claws.

The real highlight of Haven Caravan park was Janet herself. A selfless lady who loves animals of all kind, to the extreme that she will starve herself if she has to in order to feed her surrogate children. Janet and her husband try to save as many kangaroos as they can afford. In the early morning and early evening they go along the highway to rescue baby Joeys from dying mothers beside the road side.

If you are traveling via route 94 to Coolgardie do drop in and stay at Haven Caravan park as janet is trying to pay for a new fence to protect the kangaroos from wild dogs and other threats to the animals. If your lucky and Janet likes you she will take to meet Biscuit who might cuddle you.

In order to help Janet’s kangaroo orphanage we are asking animal lovers and concerned individuals to donate money to Janet to help save these wonderful animals, which have been put in harms by the corporations who continue to send trucks zooming down the highway with little regards to the natural habitat of Australia’s most famous animal.

Email: haven.caravanpark@bigpond.com

Phone: 0447266123

ABN: 59321798051

PO box 82

Coolgardie

Australia

Long live Skippy and Biscuit- Miss ya mate

Perth to Merredin – Great Eastern Highway

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:10:54 +0000

Alan has started the Australian leg with no sleep (too much Singha beer in Singapore!) and far too late because the support team forgot to pick up Alan at the airport. Nevertheless Alan was determined to make up the kilos. The route starts in Perth riding along the Great Eastern Highway through the Nullarbor desert up until Brisbane on the East Coast. The journey is max 6000 km and the roads of Australia are challenging. Truck drivers high on amphetamines are speeding along causing mini tornados, the wild animals of Australia are frequent visitors on the freeway, arid vegetation, exhausting hills, a climate that fluctuates from hot to cold, Alan’s fear of Kangaroos jumping over him (or rather being faster than him, they probably only need 9 days to circumvent the world instead of 99).

But at the end of a long ride Australia’s people are rewarding us.

Our first overnight stop was in Merredin.

Merredin is a lovely little town about 250 km outside Perth Australia, surrounded by stunning nature. The real gem of Merredin however has to be its inhabitants which were some of the most genuine and kind hearted souls we have meet on our trip so far.

Arriving late in the evening we set upon finding the nearest supermarket, to get some Mars bars and Kit Kats for Alan at the local AIG express. The owners where a wonderful couple who not only gave as a discount on our goods and some free water but organized the local press rep to come out and do a trailer stop interview at the local gas station.

After our pit stop paparazzi photo shoot we then found the Merredin Tourist Park. Again we were welcomed with such warm hospitality that is unfounded in most of the western world.

Our hosts not only provided us with the best roadside bungalows a team could hope for, but gave as a very kind discount which we appreciate so much ( Alan can now have his mars bars ).

Merredin thank you so much for your kind and generous welcome, and special thanks to Sandy and Trevor from the Merredin Tourist Park!

Have you seen our gallery?

admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:08:47 +0000

Each day the team takes loads of photos of the places we have been and the people we have meet. On a daily bases we update our galley with new pictures, and will do so for the whole trip. Feel free to use them for publications or your own site, just link back to us..

So check out the gallery regularly as its always full of new pictures of Alan

you can see the galley here

We are go Thailand

Perth Start-7AM Tomorrow

Alan — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 02:39:12 +0000

FLYING TONIGHT TO PERTH AND WILL START AT 7-7.30AM TOMORROW FROM PERTH AIRPORT. SUPPORT TEAM AHEAD OF ME AND APPARENTLY ENJOYING A QUAFF OR TWO OF THE LOCAL BREW. I’M STARTING TO REALLY LIKE WATER.

SEE YOU THERE MR GEDDES, I HOPE!

ALAN

Leg One Complete

Alan — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:54:04 +0000

HI EVERYONE, THIS IS ALAN HERE. SORRY I AM NOT REALLY VERY GOOD AT THIS STUFF. I ARRIVED YESTERDAY AT ELEVEN FIFTEEN am, TO COMPLETE LEG ONE TO SINGAPORE. COUPLE OF PROBLEMS, THIS WAS THE FIRST UNSUPPORTED STAGE, HAD A BROKEN SCREEN ON MY VIDEO CAMERA TO TRY AND GET REPAIRED, AFTER DROPPING IT.

ALSO SPOT DIDN’T UPDATE(MUST BE ME DONALD). I’M A COMPLETE TECHNOPHOBE. CAMERA COLLECTED FROM PANASONIC AFTER BRILLIANT TURNAROUND AND I FLY OUT TOMORROW TO PERTH.

DEAD LEGS AND EVERYTHING ELSE BUT ON SCHEDULE SO FAR. THE STAGE THROUGH THE MOUNTAINOUS MALAY JUNGLE WAS RIDICULOUSLY HARD. I KNEW I HAD A TOUGH DAY AHEAD WHEN I REACHED THE TOP OF ONE CLIMB TO READ: TOUR OF LANGKAWI KOM! THE HEAT WAS TERRIBLE AND I LIVE HERE.

THE JUNGLE HAS MONKEYS, ELEPHANTS AND WILD TIGERS. THE ELEPHANTS SOMETIMES FALL ASLEEP IN THE ROAD BUT NOT FOR ME THANKFULLY. YOU HAVE TO WAIT TILL THEY DECIDE TO WAKE UP AND WITH TIGERS AROUND, I DIDN’T FANCY THAT. I HAMMERED IT CAUSE I AM SCARED OF TIGERS AND IT WAS FEEDING TIME.

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND SUPPORT….I NEED IT!

ALAN

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