Father-son bicyclists set record after a day in the saddle

A lot of dads enjoy the companionship of an occasional father-son bicycle ride.

But here's one that lasted all-day and all-night and resulted in a record.

The father-son team of Chuck and Matt Knott, left, competed in the National 24-Hour Challenge last summer in Middleville, Michigan.

They each completed 420.1 miles, breaking the previous record of 782 miles that had been standing for 15 years.

The two, who live in Ohio, also raised money for Cross Eyed Missions, a nonprofit that brings eye-care to people in Central and South America.

Some 300 cyclists competed in the annual endurance challenge, scheduled every year on Father's Day. The 2012 event is scheduled for June 16-17 in Middleville.

The father, Chuck, who rides with a Stark County, Ohio, bicycle club first suggested he and Matt go for the record, according to an article in the StowSentry.com. Matt was “intrigued” by the idea and started training. He told a reporter:

“The National 24-Hour Challenge isn't just a test of physical endurance. It's a mental game as much as anything else.”It also requires attention to diet and nutrition both during training and the race. In an event as long as this one, it is important to hydrate and eat properly. This requires planning because if you wait until you are hungry or thirsty, it is often times too late.”In setting the father-son record, they also both posted the highest mileage in their respective age categories.

Not surprisingly, the best mileage was posted by a recumbent cyclist. In this case, it was John Schlitter of St. Petersburg, Florida, a member of Team Bacchetta. He completed 487.6 miles.

Chris Ragsdale, from the Seattle area, posted the most miles in the 30-34 age group; his 427.6 miles was 4th best overall. (Chris later went on to post the best time for an American at the 2011 Paris-Brest-Paris ride.)

Photo of Chuck and Matt from 2Cycle4Sight.org.