Thursday, November 4, 2010

Longest stationary bike riding - George Hood sets world record
  HINSDALE, IL, USA--Indiana native George E. Hood Jr., 52, stopped pedaling after 222 hours, 22 minutes and 22 seconds while riding a stationary cycle at Urban Tri-Gear in Burr Ridge and raise more than $21,000 for the Gunnar Hotchkin Memorial Fund - setting the new world record for the Longest stationary bike riding .
   Photo: George Hood has set a new World Record for the Longest stationary bike riding , spending an incredible 222 hours 22 minutes and 22 seconds in the saddle to raise money for the family of a US soldier killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan. 
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 The World's Longest Stationary Bike Riding raised money for the Gunnar Hotchkin Memorial Fund, established in the name of Pfc. Gunnar R. Hotchkin, former Hinsdale resident who died while serving in action June 16 in Afghanistan. Hotchkin served in the U.S. Army.

 The effort has raised more than $21,000, according to Matt Baron, publicist for the event, named Operation Hot Chicken.

Donations can be made via Hood's website .

 The tank Hotchkin was accompanying was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), resulting in the death of Hotchkin.

   The family of Hotchkin, including his mother, Chris, wife, Erin and three children, were on hand when Hood broke the record .
Hotchkin's widow, Erin, said: "I'm very honored to have people remember my husband this way. It's really nice to know he touched so many people."

The previous Guinness World Record for the Longest stationary bike riding was 200 hours set by Frank Trischa .

 Volunteers tracked the ride from start to finish, documenting data every hour.
Guinness World Records rules dictated Hood must "travel" 12 miles every hour on the stationary bike.     He earned five minutes of break time for every hour, which could be accumulated for longer breaks.

 Throughout the course of the event Hood had to maintain a speed of 15 miles per hour, and often took nourishment while pedaling.

"Once I am done tonight I plan to go to a nearby hotel and sleep, recuperate in total quiet, without any sensory stimulation," said Hood, a former U.S. Marine who set two Guinness World Records in the past, only to have them broken.

   "The hardest part is the mental aspect," said Hood, who recently attempted to break a Guinness World Record for stationary endurance cycling, but came up short at 175 hours.    

   "This time I didn't train just physically, I really prepared mentally as well," said Hood.

     Hood is the son of Indiana Mayor George E. Hood Sr. and his wife, Arlene.

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