Endurance

When it comes to setting world records
People do try some mad things.
Rub chillies in their eyes,
Balance spoons on their body,
Cover themselves in tattoos.

But there’s a record which few have attempted.
Tommy Godwin pottered around on his bike,
The former grocer’s delivery boy;
Baked hard in the kiln of life.

1939 – bitter New Year morning
Amidst cheers of well-wishers,
Rolled off into the mist,
On a journey to the unknown.

So raise a glass to the Burslem battler
Who fought cobbles and rain and snow.
Set a record that couldn’t be broken
Why not give it a go?

He had no aerodynamic carbon.
No energy drinks he imbibed.
Just bread, eggs, milk and cheese,
Veggies fuelled his ride.

History went on around him
Soldiers left for war.
Tommy fought his personal battles,
Settled his personal score.

Raise your glass to the Burslem battler
Who fought cobbles and rain and snow.
Set a record that couldn’t be broken
Why not give it a go?

A human dynamo, he lit up the hearts,
Of towns plunged into darkness
As blackout blinds were drawn.
205 miles, a day, every day,
For a year. Not content,
He still pedalled on.

Raise a glass to the Burslem battler
Who fought cobbles and rain and snow.
Set a record that couldn’t be broken
Why not give it a go?

Last year, one Steve Abraham
Decided he would do just that.
For a year, he could get by on savings,
Mortgage was paid on his flat.

Aboard a steel-framed Raleigh
In homage to his hero of old.
Brooks saddle, still made in the Midlands,
To support and soften the blows.

Four hard months, he made steady progress
On track for success, never wobbled,
But a thoughtless moped rider:
Broken ankle, his dream – hobbled.

Undeterred he hopped on a recumbent
One-legged, he stayed the course
Eighty miles a day on half-power
Falling behind, but feeling the force.

Now astride his bike again,
You can follow him by GPS,
In the saddle, passing Bletchley Park,
What would Turing have made of this?

Echoes of war linger on.
Faces a new personal battle,
Endurance against the odds.

So let’s drink to the Burslem battler
Who fought cobbles and rain and snow.
Set a record that couldn’t be broken
Why not give it a go?

You can track Steve Abraham’s progress here – http://trackleaders.com/oneyeartimetrial15i.php?name=Steve_Abraham

Good luck to all the cyclists involved in this epic attempt – Kurt Searvogel (US), Steve Abraham (GB) and and Miles Smith (AUS) are all competing for the Human Annual Mile Record or HAM’R – whatever the final result, all three cyclists are demonstrating incredible endurance and determination.

Tags: abraham, cycling, godwin, ham'r, potteries, searvogel, smith, year record