Monday, November 2, 2009

Fastest to cycle the Pan-American Highway-Scott Napier sets world record

  USHUAIA, Argentina -- Scott Napier , 24, a Scottish bicyclist, reached Ushuaia, Argentina after cycling about 14,050 miles in just 125 days, passing through 14 countries on the way and setting the new world record for the Fastest to cycle the Pan-American Highway .

 Photo: Scott Napier , 24, from Leslie in Fife, started in Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, at the very top of the North American continent, on 22 June and finished in Ushuaia, Argentina - generally regarded as being the most southerly city in the world - on 25 October.  ( enlarge photo )

  His route took him through 14 countries in North, Central, and South America. The route in known as the Pan American Highway.

Scott Napier said: "Highlights of the trip included seeing bears at the side of the road in Alaska - although I was glad they didn't take too much interest in me. "Also sleeping under the stars in the Atacama Desert in Chile was an amazing experience.
   "One of the hardest things was being on your own for so long. Speaking no Spanish, in Central and South America it was difficult but lots of the local people were really helpful."

   "My aim was to push myself to go as far as I could every day to beat the previous record of 140 days," said Mr Napier. "I was carrying a lightweight tent and slept wherever I could at night – by the side of the road, in bus shelters and if I was very lucky, the occasional motel.

    Mr Napier, who has a degree in outdoor education from Edinburgh University and worked as a stage door attendant at the Edinburgh Playhouse, spent seven months training for the charity cycle.

   "I'd been warned by people I met in America and Canada that I'd probably get killed in Mexico or Latin America, but I had no problems at all," he said.
    "I think folk in the more remote areas were a bit taken aback. I was a novelty to them – this ginger-faced man riding by with a Saltire on the back of his bike. They were shouting 'gringo, gringo, gringo', which doesn't mean 'ginger' but is used for strangers, usually Americans.
     "They also fed me and helped me with repairs and directions, despite me not speaking Spanish."

    After reaching his destination of Ushuaia on the island of Terra del Fuego on 25 October, Mr Napier had his finish recorded by a witness statement at the local police station. His position was tracked daily by GPS satellite signalling.

 The money raised by Scott through sponsorship will go to both MS Society Scotland and Casa Alianza, a South American charity helping street children in some of the countries he rode through.

On the Net :     Scott's Cycle South on Facebook
Scott Napier's Fundraising Page

   The previous Guinness world record of 140 days was set by a cyclist accompanied by a sag wagon to carry his gear. Napier made the journey alone and carried everything he needed on his bike the entire way.

  The Pan-American Highway passes through many diverse climates and ecological types, from dense jungles to cold mountain passes. Since the highway passes through many countries, it is far from uniform. Some stretches of the highway are passable only during the dry season, and in many regions driving is occasionally hazardous.

   According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world's longest "motorable road".

Related world records :
Longest journey on mini-bikes-world record set by
Ryan Galbraith and Chris Stinson

Longest tea run-world record set by Rebecca Wass

Fastest cyclist to circle the globe-world record set by James Bowthorpe

Longest solar-powered flight by paramotor-the Cardozo family sets world record

Longest rickshaw ride-world record set by Simon Etkind and Lianna Hulbert

Longest unsupported Arctic journey-Emirates NBD Greenland Quest sets world record

Bicycling across Canada-world record set by Cornel Dobrin

 Youngest to sail solo around world-Zac Sunderland sets world record

Longest Distance Skated on the Road -Abhishek Navale sets world record

Greatest Distance on Motorcycle in 24 Hours-world record set by Omar Al Mamari

Monday, November 2, 2009