Crazy is a word never far from the heart and soul of Victoria University academic Craig Fry.
In that spirit, this Saturday he will be joined by fellow VU academic Marty Fluker, Williamstown chiropractor Chris Munro and passionate cyclists Mat Tippet and Tom Ainsworth in an attempt to break a 22-year-old world record.
Setting off from Macedon at 8am in the Audax Australia Fleche Opperman All Day Trial, the team aims, in just 24 hours, to cycle 775 kilometres across Victoria – a distance longer than that between Melbourne and Adelaide, which would set a new world 24-hour distance record.
Mr Fry was part of the team that won the 24-hour ‘Oppy’ ride for the whole of Australia last year.
“Most people can’t comprehend it, really,” he said of the challenge.
“To sit down and try to imagine it, it’s in some ways too much for the mind to take in.
“We attempted the record last year but missed out by about 40 kilometres.”
Mr Munro will be coming off a recent ‘Everest’ – an 18-hour ride covering 430 kilometres with nearly 9000 metres of climbing.
Mr Fluker rode his ‘Everest’ in January, ascending just over 9000 metres by riding up and down a steep Maribyrnong hill 490 times in succession.
The 2015 ride finishes in Rochester, the birthplace of Sir Hubert Opperman, after whom the event is named.
