Cyclists seek world record and your help to aid WLNH Childrens' Auction

For 25 years, the WLNH Children's' Auction has been setting its own records for fundraising, each year raising more than it had in the one before. This year, a couple of men will work with the auction to set a new kind of record, one they hope will be logged in the Guiness Book of World Records — and they'd like your help in doing it.

The record they hope to set is for longest time spent on a stationary bicycle. The two men, Mike "Mad Dog" Gallagher, 38, of Gilford, and John Jurczynski, 50, of Holderness, will ride together during the auction, each of them trying to individually break the world record of 111 hours, 11 minutes and 11 seconds of continuous pedaling on a stationary bicycle. The run at the record will take place at Laconia Athletic and Swim Club, which will be open around the clock during the event, dubbed "Cycle Mania 2007"

Gallagher and the club have conducted similar exercises in the past, but not nearly as ambitious as this one. This is the fifth year they've held a "Cycle Mania," to raise funds for the Childrens' auction and Tom Oakley, owner of the athletic club, said this will be the final year.

Last year Gallagher cycled for 48 consecutive hours for the event, which is the longest he's spent on a bike. His cycling partner, Jurczynski, has spent as many as 87 hours consecutive hours on a stationary cycle, which unofficially broke the world record of 85 hours. Since then the record has been raised to the above mentioned mark.

Jurczynski also completed the Race Across America, bicycling from Oceanside, Calif. to Atlantic City, N. J. in just under 12 days. Gallagher hopes to simply break the record; Jurczynski has the goal of cycling for 120 hours, the equivalent of five days of solid pedaling.

The Guinness guidelines do allow for some time to be spent off the bike. For each hour spent pedaling, the cyclists earn five minutes of rest. That time can be accumulated for a short nap. Over the course of 120 hours of pedaling, a cyclist would earn a total of 10 hours of rest. The rules also require that the cyclists pedal faster than an average of 12 virtual miles per hour.

The cyclists plan to start early in the morning on Monday, Dec. 10, and expect to break the world record shortly after 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14.

World record is secondary

It would be a nice feather in their cap to hold the world record for stationary cycling, but Gallagher and Jurczynski are more interested in setting a fundraising record than one for cycling.

"I grew up poor," said Gallagher, "and it's my way of giving back — putting my legs to good use." Last year the cycling event raised $28,000 for the Childrens' Auction. Gallagher hopes to bring in $50,000 this year. To do it, they're looking for corporate sponsors and people who would like to ride with them and cheer them on.

For the first 60 hours of the event, the two men will be on bikes positioned in the lobby of the athletic club. The doors will be open around the clock, and they'd love to have well-wishers dropping in at all hours of the day to keep their spirits up. In Gallagher's experience, it's actually the early afternoon hours that are the most trying. At night and through the early morning hours the event has a more exciting feel, similar to a slumber party with the addition of stationary cycles.

From 8 a.m. on Dec. 12 up to the record breaking, the two cyclists will be moved to one of the athletic club's studios, where there will be many cycles ready for the traditional relay teams of cyclists to join them.

It may come as a surprise that the cyclists consider the challenge more mental than physical. "It's your attitude," said Jurczynski. If he's in the wrong frame of mind, he can't stand to stay on a stationary cycle for more than five minutes. If he's enjoying himself, however, he doesn't want to stop. Gallagher agreed, adding that besides staving off boredom, the biggest challenge is maintaining proper hydration and caloric intake.

Gallagher and Jurczynski are looking for many relay teams to join them in the final stretch. A number of teams have already signed up, including three teams alone from The Fitness Edge in Meredith — "an extra special commitment", said Oakley — and there's still time to form new teams. Each team must have a minimum of six members (there's no maximum), and each team must raise at least $2,000 in sponsorships. The athletic club has a few of its own teams, and will gladly invite individuals to join those. The club will provide cycles, food and drinks for the riders. The deadline for registration is December. 5.

"Cycle Mania has taken on a life of its own," added Oakley. "For the first time ever all three local health clubs, Laconia Athletic and Swim Club, The Fitness Edge and Gilford Hills will have their own relay teams raising money for the auction. The event has transcended itself into a true community effort for the needy."

For more information on joining the ride, call the club at 524-9252.

A bit about the auction itself

Warren Bailey started the Children's Auction in 1982, in response to what he called "a ton of hidden poverty in the Lakes Region." At that time he was working for WLNH, which is now operated by Nassau Broadcasting. Bailey now works for Rutter Media, a television production company, but is grateful that his former employer asked him back to run the auction. The fundraiser works by collecting items donated from local businesses, and then auctioning them off. The first auction brought $2,500 the first year, and last year raised $202,000. "We set new records each year," Bailey said. Over the years, the auction has raised $1.4-million, which is distributed to local charities.

This year's auction will run from Tuesday, Dec. 11 through Saturday, Dec. 12. The event is broadcast live on both WLNH 89.1 FM and MetroCast Cablevision Channel 25.