MIAMI VALLEY — Not only did two men from the Miami Valley break a world record, but they did it a day early.
Matthew Belmonte, of Beavercreek, and Graham Hunter of Clayton made their way to England to ride a bicycle that seats seven people and break a record set in 2010.
To hit the world record Hunter, Belmonte, and the five other bikers had to bike roughly 1,000 miles from northern Scotland to southern England in seven days.
“So we worked generally as one team, but we had to split into two to give each a slight rest between each leg of the journey,” Hunter told News Center 7′s Haley Kosik.
Belmonte and Hunter would bike for eight hours straight and then rest for another eight before hitting the road again.
“There was a little bit of competition to see who would be on the bike at the end, but we figured that the actual best way to finish it was for the last 100 meters, we managed to get everybody on the bike and get it over the finish line, so we all crossed the line together,” Hunter said.
>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Two men from Miami Valley attempt world record on bicycle that seats seven
The biggest challenges were to keep going, several rigorous inclines and the lack of rest in between journies.
“It’s just something I never thought I guess would really achieve. It’s one of those things as I kid I always got the Guinness Book of World Records book and would spend hours reading through that book just thinking one day I’d love to own one of those,” Hunter said.
“I don’t think it’s going to sink in until we get the certificate. It still has to be fully ratified,” he added.
It will take around 12 weeks to verify the record, according to Hunter, but he can’t wait to see himself in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Belmonte and Hunter’s efforts raised £15,000, which is equal to around $20,000, to support children battling cancer.
For now, Hunter said he will bask in the glory and rest his very sore legs.
“I think all of us need a little bit of time off of the saddle, it’s going to take a while to get over some of those pains, but I imagine something in the future with another cycling challenge,” Hunter said.
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