31-Year-Old Australian Cyclist Lachlan Morton Shatters Records with His 12,000-Mile Ride Across Two Countries

Published 09/13/2023, 12:06 PM EDT

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This is the story of a man who broke the records while embracing sleep. Yes, you read that right. A man has rewritten the rules of endurance cycling covering more than 12,000 miles.

Conquering all possible barriers, a cyclist’s relentless determination and courage made him conquer the Great Divide. His extraordinary feat stands as a testament to the power of resilience, rest, and renovating the world of cycling. Let’s try to fathom the vibrant flair of the incredible journey.

Pedal, Rest, Repeat – Cyclist’s unconventional adventure to the Great Divide

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This is the story of Lachlan David Morton, who has traveled from Canada to Mexico, reaching the U. S-Mexico border in Antelope Wells at 21:24 Mountain Time. Riding 12,000 + miles, he achieved this incredible feat in just 12 days, 12 hours, and 21 minutes.

Morton started his journey from Jasper, Alberta, and traveled along the Great Divide Mountain bike route. His name will be etched in the history of cycling as he is the fastest man now on the penultimate North American ultra marathon bike-packing route. 

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Besides setting a record, his unique approach to ride-sleep schedule has created a sensation. His signature strategy was to sleep for 12 hours after every 48 hours of riding.

The 31-year-old Australian rode for 2,670 miles at a stretch without brake pads. The rear derailleur of his Cannondale Scalpel with SRAM XX1 Eagle gave up on him after Day 11. Unfazed, Morton did not let mechanical failure dictate his dreams. 

As the derailleur started malfunctioning, Morton resolved to the easiest solution. “I kicked it as hard as I could and then it started working again”, said Morton. However, this could not be the ultimate solution and the next day he had to jam a spare spoke through the derailleur cage and wedge it against the rear triangle. 

Morton had not only created a record-breaking history for himself but also raised about $20,000 to cater to the overall growth of exceptional individuals through his “Adventure For All” foundation.

Netizens react to Morton’s epic cycling journey

Fans reacted with all their love and respect for Morton. One of the users said, “Being able to sustain that pace while sleeping keeping a sleep schedule of 12-48 is nothing short of astonishing. And proves one can knock out big races and sleep.”, praising his incredible strategy.

While another fan mentioned Morton’s diet during the journey, “”Dinner consisted of a beer, a half gallon of milk, a pack of cookies and an entire jar of dill pickles.” Inspirational💚”.

Read More: British Youtuber Achieves Remarkable 60 Miles per Hour Speed on Non-motorized Mountain Bike on Dam Spillway

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Another user, who is a biker himself, commented, “I’ve done the divide and there are no words out there that will do justice to what you just did!! I certainly can’t find the right words!!”, expressing his love and respect towards Morton.

“That’s unfair we need the Alien category on tour divide records right now,” another user humorously commented as Morton did the impossible indeed.

Another fan said, “Enjoy some well deserved rest, Lachy!”.

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Pedaling through storms and wildlife encounters, Lachlan Morton’s journey is not just about speed, but a survival strategy in the world of endurance cycling.

Watch This Story: The New Northaven Trail Bridge a Marvelous Addition For Cycling Enthusiasts

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Written by:

Disita Sikdar

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Disita Sikdar is a Viral Sports Moments writer at EssentiallySports. Having completed her bachelor's degree in English from Bhawanipur Education Society College affiliated under the University of Calcutta, she will soon be stepping towards pursuing her masters in English. She has experience working as a content creator and social media manager previously.
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Edited by:

Debmallya Chakraborty