Man celebrates 100th birthday, sets cycling record

Robert Marchand

 

Video:Robert Marchand sets world cycling record 

On February 17, 2012, Frenchman Robert Marchand set a world record by cycling non-stop for one hour at the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) velodrome in Aigle, Switzerland.

He rode about 25 kilometers in an indoor track. There wasn’t a lot of competition around as he was the first-ever and the only performer in 100-years-plus category. You can say, the competition was virtually dead in his category.

Marchand spent about a week preparing for the event. After the event Merchand said that he could have rode faster but he didn’t because he is not trying to be a champion. He just wanted to celebrate his 100^th birthday.

Apparently, he still rides but likes to keep it less than 100 kilometers a day.

HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY to Robert Marchand
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Reference

Reuter: Frenchman, 100, sets record for one hour cycle,

Denmark’s healthy problem - many bicycle riders

Copenhagen, Denmark is experiencing a healthy problem. It has too many people riding bicycles.

Copenhagen is known as one of the most bicycle-friendly city in the world. About 36% of the population commutes by cycling. The city offers a variety of conditions to facilitate this habit and aims to increase cycling population to 50% by 2015. This all sounds like a healthy and environment friendly trend. 

Bicycle parking

However, according to an article in Guardian, Copenhagen is running into a problem of its own and they even have cycling rush hour because of too many bike riders. Apparently, cycling in Copenhagen in the rush hour is not for sissies because it requires concentration  In rush hour, there are enormous numbers of cyclists fighting for space on Copenhagen's bike paths, which become cramped and packed.

The city is struggling to deal with its growing number of cyclists. It is already near-impossible to find cycling parking places near main stations and the cycling lanes, three to four meters wide, are buried beneath the scrum of cyclists going around the city.

Cycling advocates are working with the government to make cycling better and safer in Copenhagen. The suggestions include increasing the width and number of cycle paths and introducing multi-storey bike parking facilities. It is a challenging task but worth doing when you consider the beneficial impact of cycling and physical exercise on health and the environment

This is something for American couch potatoes to think about.