Turning 84 is no reason to get out of the saddle, at least not for one record holder.
Hackney-born Sidney Schuman set a new world record for the greatest distance cycled around an Olympic-sized velodrome in one hour for the 80 to 84 age group.
The octogenarian managed 28.388km (17.75miles) at the Lee Valley VeloPark earlier this month. He began cycling aged 11 and has been, in his own words, a “dyed in the wool roadie” ever since with cycling holidays across Europe.
But it was only in May this year that Sidney tried his hand at track cycling for the first time, kickstarting a new love affair that led him to his successful world record attempt.
Despite a fall that left him with a injured shin, Sidney, writing on his blog, said the “engouragement and support” of his family and friends cheering him on “made any feelings of misfortune vanish”.
He added: “Their love had given me, an ordinary guy, the strength to do something extraordinary and I loved them for that. I like riding my bike and this experience has helped me to understand something – love makes the wheels go round.”
For more news and views from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, visit our Parklife section.
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