Congratulations to Gerrald Eddlemon for setting a new 24-hr record in the following categories: upright bike, 80+ age, road course
Rider G.K. Eddlemon’s Narrative Summary for May 8-9, 2026 WUCA Entire Time/Distance Record Attempts
138th – 143rd WUCA/UMCA Records (pending certification)!
Note to reader: I’ve yet to recheck my arithmetic for total number of records, but I believe this is the correct figure. And yes, some of these records were set in some of our smallest states, others in some of our larger states, e.g., Alaska and Florida, and in the One-Week Time Trial (HWMR). If we throw out the short ways across the smallest states and provinces (DL, RI, Prince Edward Island), that leaves 135 WUCA/UMCA records.
Name of Rider: Gerald K. “Gerry” Eddlemon
Start date and time: May 8, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Exact Start Location: Entrance to William Gentry Memorial Eco Park, 1661 Duane Palmer Blvd., Sebring (Spring Lake District, Florida
Conditions: The open road course is nearly flat, paved, and roughly circular with no stop signs or traffic lights and very little traffic. About a quarter to a third of it was considerably more bumpy than I remembered from previous races there. Moderate winds definitely took a toll on average speed. I started at 7:50 at night to avoid the worst heat of the day while pursuing the shorter time and distance trials. During the following day, temperatures at cyclist level rose to more than 110 F. Heat effects on the rider were seriously exacerbated by full body coverage with UV resistant clothing.
Why attempt these records? I was all too aware that at 80 years of age, my times and distances were likely to be slower and shorter than even four or five years earlier and certainly shorter than some of the younger elite cyclists were capable of. In the event, I was stunned at just how my performances would suffer from old age, and interrupted and inadequate training due to multiple family illnesses, injuries and other non-cycling challenges. Even so, I wanted to go for the WUCA suite of records in the 80+ age division from the 100-Km through the 500-Mil time trial because this is probably my last year of racing and record attempts.
Another reason: extending myself further and further to see what I can do with the opportunities and admittedly limited talent God seems to have given me after I believed, after 20 years or so ago, to be all washed-up as an athlete after a serious knee injury. I’ll certainly never be in the same league as any number of younger outstanding ultracyclists, but I’m nevertheless delighted at how far a fairly ordinary and aging athlete can manage to push himself on a bike.
And yet another reason: demonstrating to the public what even older folks can accomplish on what is perhaps the most efficient machine for transportation ever invented – the bicycle. Most people who inquire about what in the world I’m doing are surprised, if not sometimes downright flabbergasted, to learn not only that I’m riding hundreds of miles in a single day, but that I’m often as old or even much older than they. Just maybe some of them will be encouraged to get off the couch, out of the house, out of the car, and see the world from a bike.
And quite frankly, a chance to add to my list of successful WUCA record attempts – 137+/-1 confirmed WUCA/UMCA records (one of which was actually a tie), most of them open-class – 141 if one counts my speed-hiking records in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and a Tennessee Senior Olympics 20-km cycling record (imagine that — an ultracyclist winning and setting a record in a 12-mile race!). For some time I had been saying that maybe I’ll go for an even hundred if I live long enough, and I was dead serious about that latter condition – “if I live long enough.” But no longer! Pending certification by the WUCA, these TT attempts should yield a total of 143 WUCA (UMCA) records over my 20-year ultracycling career (note: about one third of those records were set as “age-class” records). By no stretch of the imagination did I consider this a possibility when I first tested myself at a WUCA record attempt across my home state of Tennessee 20 years ago. Just seven records to go to 150!
Equipment: I started and rode the first 100 miles or so with my 2004 titanium Litespeed Teramo, Profile Design Legacy aerobars, Sidi clipless cycling shoes, SpeedPlay pedals, Cane Creek bar-end shifters, HED 50 mm aero wheels, and Shimano Ultegra 10-speed transmission. This bike, manufactured in Ooltewah, TN about 80 miles down the road from my home, has been my mount of choice for more than 130 of my 137 WUCA records, and most of the races leading to my only overall UltraMarathon World Cup championship in 2010, my six overall World UltraCycling Association Six-Hour Challenge championships and multiple age class North American 12 and 24-Hr Championships. It was my first modern road bike. The frame now has nearly 95,000 miles on it. I doubt there is any other individual bike in the world ridden for so many records and championships.
After about 120 miles, I switched to one of my back-up bikes, a few-months-old Taiwanese-built titanium Motobecane Century Ti with an Infinity Adventurer Seat developed by Dr. Vince Martel, Syntace aerobars, flat pedals and a Shimano 105 group set.
By the way, I found the flat pedals and Adidas 5-10 cycling shoes to be as efficient as my clipless pedals and shoes for this kind of long, relatively slow cycling – and more comfortable.
Food and Drink: Water, including sparkling water, Coca Cola (diet and full-strength mix), caffeine-rich energy gels and beverages provided by crew-chief Amanda Coker, a few Endurolyte pills, magnesium, a pediatric electrolyte solution, yogurt smoothies, bananas; cookies, jelly beans (don’t laugh), peanut butter and banana and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Best Part: My team of crew and officials: Amanda and Ricky Coker, Gary Speer, John Gunning, and Tony Curtis! And of course I’m pleased that, pending certification, I broke six more WUCA records including my first 300+ mile 24-Hr since my early 70s. I would like to extend a special thank you to Amanda, President of WUCA and holder of possibly the most remarkable records in all of sport – the One-Year and 100,000 Mile time trials, the latter having stood for more than 80 years before she broke it. Her inspirational coaching and thrice saving me from serious overheating saved most of my record attempts. Next best part – just finishing!
Hardest Part: Dealing with the Florida heat which reached temperatures well over 110 F at 2 – 3 ft above the pavement, further exacerbated by doctors’ orders that I completely cover every inch of my body and face including wearing a light-weight balaclava under my helmet for protection from Emily Dickinson’s “blond assassin.” I have a skin cancer on my face requiring surgery that I delayed until after these record attempts. I was also acclimated to much cooler temperatures back in east Tennessee. Moreover, preparations for the attempts including fitting in training, logistics, and family matters under trying circumstances (aka, the Department of Life, and sometimes Death, Happens While One Was Making Other Plans). Several non-ultracycling related crises left me with little time to do my own personal preparations, including training and tapering.
Unusual Happenings: Near collisions with wildlife in the night, particularly armadillos and opossums who seemed determined to run under my front wheel regardless of my efforts to avoid them. And of course the extreme heat seemed, as far as I could tell, unusual even for Florida. And thanks to my team, and especially Amanda’s inspirational coaching and treatment of my heat distress, I finally got over the 300-Mile hump for the first time in the 24-Hr TT that, at 311miles, was nearly 83 miles further than my last 24-Hr race.
Acknowledgements: My sincere and heartfelt thanks to my crew and officials for supporting me during this record attempt: in alphabetical order, Amanda and Ricky Coker, Tony Curtis, John Gunning, and Gary Speer. Without outstanding volunteers like these, I would never have been able to attempt my very first record crossing of Tennessee 20 years ago, nor any of the 137 WUCA records since.
And finally, as good King Harry V declared (at least as Shakespeare has it) on learning that he and his little band of brothers had, almost miraculously, won the Battle of Agincourt against overwhelming odds – “I thank God, and not my own strength for it.”
Dedication: I dedicate these record attempts to my wonderful and much loved wife and crew-woman Mikki, my Mother, Germaine, Father, Col. Joe Eddlemon, USMC, and my old Tennessee Volunteers Track and XC Coach, Chuck Rohe.
Exact Finish Location:
Same as start location: entrance to William Gentry Memorial Eco Park, 1661 Duane Palmer Blvd., Sebring (Spring Lake District), Florida.
Exact Finish Times or Distances:
Start time: 7:50:00 PM, EDST, May 8, 2026
Finish time: 8:12 PM EDST, May 9, 2026
Distance: about 311.64 miles in 24 hours.