Utah endurance cyclist Matthew Lefthand spent 10 nights in an altitude tent — an enclosed canopy over his bed which lowers oxygen levels to simulate high-altitude environments — before attempting to become the fastest rider ever to cover 200 miles on a standard upright bicycle.
But that was only one aspect of his meticulous preparation that included months of aerodynamic testing, equipment optimization, nutritions strategies and training to sustain roughly 200 grams of carbohydrates per hour during the effort.
Lefthand rides at about 4,400 feet elevation near his South Ogden home, but traveled to Colorado late last month for the record attempt at 7,700 feet, where there is less air resistance.
Endurance cyclist Matthew Lefthand of South Ogden, Utah, pictured here on July 26, 2026, became the first rider in history to average more than 30 miles per hour over 200 miles on a certified road course using a standard, upright bicycle. This single performance included six World Ultracycling ***** ociation (WUCA) and Guinness World Records on a 61-mile stretch on Highway 17 in Colorado's San Luis Valley. | Bailey Lefthand
On July 29, he became the first rider in history to average more than 30 mph over 200 miles on a certified road course using a standard upright bike, according to the World Ultra Cycling ***** ociation. He averaged 30.11 mph riding an aerodynamic time trial bike back and forth over a 61-mile, pancake-flat stretch of Highway 17 in the San Luis Valley in 6:38:31.
#upright #utah
But that was only one aspect of his meticulous preparation that included months of aerodynamic testing, equipment optimization, nutritions strategies and training to sustain roughly 200 grams of carbohydrates per hour during the effort.
Lefthand rides at about 4,400 feet elevation near his South Ogden home, but traveled to Colorado late last month for the record attempt at 7,700 feet, where there is less air resistance.
Endurance cyclist Matthew Lefthand of South Ogden, Utah, pictured here on July 26, 2026, became the first rider in history to average more than 30 miles per hour over 200 miles on a certified road course using a standard, upright bicycle. This single performance included six World Ultracycling ***** ociation (WUCA) and Guinness World Records on a 61-mile stretch on Highway 17 in Colorado's San Luis Valley. | Bailey Lefthand
On July 29, he became the first rider in history to average more than 30 mph over 200 miles on a certified road course using a standard upright bike, according to the World Ultra Cycling ***** ociation. He averaged 30.11 mph riding an aerodynamic time trial bike back and forth over a 61-mile, pancake-flat stretch of Highway 17 in the San Luis Valley in 6:38:31.
#upright #utah
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