About Vin Cox
- Age: 34
- Married: To Helen
- Born: Derby
- Lives: Cornwall
- Work: IT & Bikeability instructor
Those are the facts, but Vin likes the idea that we are defined by what we do.
So here is what Vin's done; how he became who he is:
-
2009:
- Working mainly in cycling.
- Lots of planning & training for the record.
- Trekking on Arran, Scotland.
- Winter climbing in Scotland (-16C!).
- Trip to India - dysentery, then hospital, no fun.
- 2008:
- David Piper suggested attempt on the circumnavigation record.
- Trekking in Patagonia.
- Trekking and bush-craft in Highlands.
- South West Cyclo-Cross Series Champion.
- 2007:
- Solo 24hr MTB racing.
- Trekking in the Alps.
- Free-diving in the Maldives.
- Running (1/2 marathon).
- Lapland trip: snow-shoe, xc ski, etc.
- South West Cyclo-Cross Series Champion.
- 2006:
- Trekking: UK coast2coast, glaciers in Switzerland, Spain.
- Cycle touring: UK, France.
- Mad new year cycling, climbing, and sea-swimming, Scotland.
- 2005:
- Broken arm in MTB crash stopped cycling.
- Trekked Hadrian's Wall.
- Safari in South Africa.
- Sky diving etc in New Zealand.
- Got married.
- 2004:
- Lots of mountaineering and walking.
- New year cycling and climbing on Sky, Scotland.
- 2003:
- Trekking Borneo
- Visited remote forests of Finland and desert in Tunisia.
- New year cycling and climbing on Isle of Mull, Scotland.
- 2002:
- 12th in Elite rankings for British cyclo-cross.
- 2001:
- Lots of cycle UK touring.
- First ever 24hr MTB race.
- 2nd overall, Notts & Derby Cyclo-Cross League.
- 2000:
- Pro cyclo-cross in Belgium and Holland.
- Lots of mountaineering and walking.
- 1999:
- Raced cyclo-cross in UK, USA, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg.
- Climbed and trekked in Alps
- 1998:
- Mountaineering and climbing in Alps.
- 1994-97:
- Uni (Liverpool/Chester)
- Mountaineering.
- Cycling.
- Rowing (uni 1st 8, 4, and pair).
- Younger....
- Family of cavers, climbers, and cyclists.
- Taken wild camping at 9 months old.
- Raised on tales of travel and adventure.
Preparation results
As well as long rides for endurance training and equipment testing, Vin will be doing shorter distance racing to monitor fitness in the run-up to the attempt.
Cyclo-cross 2009:
Long training rides:
- June/July 1000km through France (see video page).
- August/September Cornwall to East Midlands via Wales and back.
- November Snowdonia tour and Yorkshire Dales trip.
- December Scotland tour; Edinburgh to Orkney in the snow.
- January Belgium tour.
Endurance racing 2009:
- Bontrager 24/12 (24hr MTB) - 7th placed solo man.
- I also help organised or hosted:
- Wiggle Enduro 6 (6hr MTB).
- Original Source Mountain Mayhem (24hr MTB).
- Adidas ThunderRun24 (24hr running).
- Sleepless in the Saddle (24hr MTB).
Cyclo-cross 2008:
- 2008/9 South West Series - 5 wins and the series champion.
- 2009 World Masters Championships - 17th.
The Record
Guinness set the criteria for all sorts of circumnavigation records long ago. Cyclists were slow to take up Guinness' challenge, instead tending to simply ride for it's own sake.
Eventually Steve Strange established the record as 276 days in 2004.
Inspired by the challenge, Mark Beaumont treated it as a race and pushed hard to improve the record by two and a half months! His 2008 record was 195 days (95 miles per day).
James Bowthorpe finished his ride in September 2009. Bringing the time down to 175days (daily mileage 103).
Next, Julian Sayarer claimed the record in December 2009 with 165days (daily milage 109).
Ultimately the record could come down much further, particularly as there are no rules preventing support. In the future, someone could have a support team and vehicles drive behind them all the way with spares, luggage, food, encouragement and logistical help always on hand.
Vin will attempt the record in the adventurous style of those who've gone before him. He'll usually be alone, carry his own baggage, frequently camp at the road-side, and he'll rely on himself and the kindness of strangers to solve problems.
