DAY 0 — THE EVE OF THE ATTEMPT

Less Than 24 Hours to Go

Inside the chaos, the planning, and the mindset the night before a 7-day cycling world record attempt.

At a glance:

Days of riding: 7
Hours per day: ~16
Total calories: ~100,000
Sleep target: 6+ hrs

The Final Prep

It’s less than 24 hours to start time, and today has been all about getting everything locked in. Bike gear, food, clothing, electronics — the sheer volume of equipment spread across the room is honestly a lot to take in. We’ve got tracking devices, lights, electronic shifting, charging cables running everywhere, and nearly 100,000 calories of food sorted and stacked.

Bailey has been hands-on with every single part of this. Today, Bailey got a refresher course on changing the chain. Every night when I get back in, she’ll pull the chain off, drop it in wax, and put a fresh one on ready for the next morning. She’ll know that routine better than anyone by the end of the week. It’s a small thing, but it matters a lot when I need to be recovering and not thinking about the bike.

“I’m staring at a hundred thousand calories, all of these bike tires and wheels, all of these clothes — and it’s just the two of us. We could use a whole team to do this, but we’re making it happen.”

A Plan That Came Together in a Week

Honestly, this attempt wasn’t the product of months of careful planning. Seeing Alex McCormack complete the upright TT 7-day challenge recently, it had been on my mind. When my original schedule wasn’t going to be optimal, I thought, why not now? With less than seven days before departure, everything shifted–different bikes, a different location, a totally different plan to figure out.

The weather here in Center, Colorado isn’t ideal this time of year. It’s cold and the wind is unpredictable. But after studying the forecast closely, I found four days that I think will work. The plan has evolved into splitting the week. I’ll do three and a half days of daytime riding, take some mid-day sleep, then flip to overnight riding for the back half of the week. The wind dies down at night, which makes it safer and honestly more manageable, even if the cold is a real factor.

Why I’m Protecting My Sleep

One thing I’ve been deliberate about is keeping sleep a priority. I’m targeting six or more hours a night, which might sound like a lot for a record attempt. But I’ve read enough on recovery to know that sleep isn’t optional. It’s what makes the next day’s riding possible. I want to show what’s achievable when you approach something like this properly, with rest, good training, and smart preparation.

Could I ride more hours each day by cutting sleep? Probably. But this week is also groundwork for bigger record attempts I have planned for later in the year. I want to come out of this having learned something, not just having survived it.

The Cruzbike V20c

I’ve only had a few months of serious outdoor riding on my Cruzbike, and I’m still dialling in the fit. Foot position, pedal stroke, leg extension — all of it adds up across this many hours. I’ve made changes over the last couple of days and the signs are encouraging, but I won’t really know until I’m deep into day one.

The Cruzbike also provides a huge advantage. In the kind of gusty winds we’re expecting out there, a road bike or TT bike would have me crawling. On the Cruzbike, I’m fully supported and still pushing 18 to 20 miles per hour into a headwind. I don’t have to worry about my neck, my back, or holding an aero position through gusts. That matters enormously when I’m out there for 16 hours at a stretch. My lower center of gravity should be a helpful piece in this.

“If I’m not able to just relax, tell myself to let go, and not tense up — that tells me something isn’t right. The last couple of days have felt really comfortable. That’s what I’m looking for.”

Why I Do This

People ask me why I would willingly do something like this and the honest answer is that I genuinely love the process. Not just the finish line, but the training, the preparation, the long days in the grind. Most people enjoy racing but aren’t as drawn to the day in and day out of building the fitness to get there. I’m the opposite. If the competition was just who could train hardest, I’d be completely happy with that.

I’ve been obsessed with different things throughout my life — music, various pursuits, relationships. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to channel that energy into good things, and right now it’s pointed at cycling. Ultra-endurance is where I can really shine, because very few people are willing to put in the hours and dedication it takes. That’s my edge and this week is me leaning into it.

The Moments I’m Looking Forward To

In any ultra event, I need milestones to hold onto. Getting through day one is huge. It’ll tell me whether the process is working. Reaching halfway is another big one, because at that point I know exactly what’s left and I’ve already proven that I can do it. And getting to that final day, which I’m currently planning as an eight-hour ride, is going to feel incredible. Half the usual length, with the whole thing almost done.

Beyond hitting the record, I’ll have a decision to make at the end: bring it home cleanly, or leave absolutely everything out there. I genuinely enjoy both. That one will make itself when the time comes.