Dreamt up over a post-ride coffee and launched in London last Thursday, Team Wiggle Tandem is a two year project by Eurosport cycling commentator David Harmon and wilderness trail guide Jez Hastings, who will attempt to fuse cutting edge cycling technology with the traditional demands of long distance record attempts and attack or attempt to set a number of tandem records against the clock under the rules of the Road Records Association.
“We are painfully aware that neither Jez or I could hold a candle physically to some of the great record holders of the past,” commented Harmon when asked about the team‟s chances during the official team launch at London‟s Charlotte St Hotel, “but we feel that using advances in training and equipment we have a realistic chance of success.”
Beginning in late March, the pairing will aim to set a new benchmark of under 17 hours for the „Side to Side‟ from Pembroke in west Wales to Yarmouth in East Anglia before making attempts on the 12 hour RRA tandem record and Liverpool to Edinburgh. An even more ambitious 2011 calendar could see Team Wiggle Tandem mount assaults on the End to End tandem record and venture abroad to ride the legendary Paris-Brest-Paris randonnee.
Project Manager is Richard Gorman from Project 7 Racing. “Breaking records is something that needs a well organised structure,” says Gorman. “I was previously involved with Team CSC and this is a fascinating venture to bring my management skills to. Our sponsors and support staff have been fantastic and have really embraced the ethos of the project”
“Just like road racing, record attempts have so many variables that can effect the outcome; injury, equipment, mechanical support, time, budget and most importantly the weather,” continued Gorman, “it‟s wonderful that everyone involved in Team Wiggle Tandem understands and loves the fact that you just can‟t turn up on your bike and go!”
Team Wiggle Tandem will ride “Rocket 1‟, a development tandem built by world famous constructor Terry Dolan. The machine will be used to develop and test new tandem technology including Rotor Q rings, electronics and Hope disc braking systems, which are expected to find their way onto an all-carbon framed Rocket 2 for 2011.
Team Wiggle Tandem will now travel to Snowdonia for early season training, following that up with a week riding with Team Endura in southern France before putting the final touches to their attempt to set a new standard for the Side to Side in late March 2010.
Follow Team Wiggle Tandem on the Wiggle Athlete‟s Diary Bloggle: www.wiggleblog.com, at the team‟s website, www.teamwiggletandem.com or find the team on Twitter and Facebook.
