Chris Boardman - 2000 U.C.I. Athlete's Hour Record
Visitors to the Manchester Velodrome might assume that this bicycle is one of John Pinkerton's collection - displayed around the outside of the concourse. It isn't. However, whilst not part of the collection, the bicycle on display above the catering bar dedicated to former World and Olympic Champion Chris Boardman is an essential part of the cycling legacy that is the Manchester Velodrome. The background photograph is of Chris during the ride. This bicycle was ridden by Chris on September 9th 2000 at the World Track Championships at the Manchester Velodrome when he successfully attacked Eddy Merckx' 1973 hour record (set in Mexico at altitude) adding 10 metres to Merckx' record and setting the new standard of 49.441 kilometres. It was his last ride as a professional cyclist. The record has since been broken by Ondrej Sosenka of Czechoslovakia with a ride of 49.700 kilometres on the 19th July 2005 at the Moscow track. The record remains at this mark. Records will show that Chris also broke the U.C.I. hour record (he shattered it!) in September 1996 during the U.C.I. World Masters Championships taking the record to 56.375 Km, albeit using the Lotus used in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. It was a memorable occasion and the outright record was, in all probability, put 'on the shelf' for ever. The reader should bear in mind that a rider would normally attempt to ride towards a 250 metre 'buffer' so that there is an element of safety when attempting such a record. Chris added 1.25 kilometres to the record - 5 more laps of the Manchester track than the previous record. Following his 2000 ride, the U.C.I. changed the regulations banning the monocoque to revert to the traditional 'diamond' frame so that subsequent braking of records could be only due to the mind, heart and legs, the ability of the rider rather than a technological advance. The complete bike was designed to put Chris in the most aerodynamic postion possible similar to that of the 1996 'Superman' position and yet stay within the U.C.I. regulations. Return to The Pinkerton Collection
Return to Cycle Jumbles.info

Chris Boardman - 2000 U.C.I. Athlete's Hour Record

Visitors to the Manchester Velodrome might assume that this bicycle is one of John Pinkerton's collection - displayed around the outside of the concourse. It isn't.

However, whilst not part of the collection, the bicycle on display above the catering bar dedicated to former World and Olympic Champion Chris Boardman is an essential part of the cycling legacy that is the Manchester Velodrome. The background photograph is of Chris during the ride.

This bicycle was ridden by Chris on September 9th 2000 at the World Track Championships at the Manchester Velodrome when he successfully attacked Eddy Merckx' 1973 hour record (set in Mexico at altitude) adding 10 metres to Merckx' record and setting the new standard of 49.441 kilometres. It was his last ride as a professional cyclist.

The record has since been broken by Ondrej Sosenka of Czechoslovakia with a ride of 49.700 kilometres on the 19th July 2005 at the Moscow track. The record remains at this mark.

Records will show that Chris also broke the U.C.I. hour record (he shattered it!) in September 1996 during the U.C.I. World Masters Championships taking the record to 56.375 Km, albeit using the Lotus used in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. It was a memorable occasion and the outright record was, in all probability, put 'on the shelf' for ever.

The reader should bear in mind that a rider would normally attempt to ride towards a 250 metre 'buffer' so that there is an element of safety when attempting such a record. Chris added 1.25 kilometres to the record - 5 more laps of the Manchester track than the previous record.

Following his 2000 ride, the U.C.I. changed the regulations banning the monocoque to revert to the traditional 'diamond' frame so that subsequent braking of records could be only due to the mind, heart and legs, the ability of the rider rather than a technological advance. The complete bike was designed to put Chris in the most aerodynamic postion possible similar to that of the 1996 'Superman' position and yet stay within the U.C.I. regulations.

Return to The Pinkerton Collection

Return to Cycle Jumbles.info