News: Fred Meredith Looking to break record

A 17-year-old cyclist, Fred Meredith, has the record books in sight as he prepares to claim a new British title this month – with the backing of elite GB cyclists.

News: Fred Meredith Looking to break record

A 17-year-old cyclist, Fred Meredith, has the record books in sight as he prepares to claim a new British title this month – with the backing of elite GB cyclists.

Fred Meredith is already the Welsh Junior Time Trial Champion as well as being in the top 15 nationally for his age group at Cyclocross and has achieved multiple top 25 positions in the National Road Junior Series. The junior champ is a member of the Holohan Coaching Race Team, and with the support of elite GB cyclist Dan Bigham, coaching from former professional Liam Holohan and British Cycling, he is aiming to complete the longest distance cycled in one hour on a bicycle from a standing start.

The attempt, nicknamed ‘Project 50 in 60’ is considered to be one of the most prestigious records in cycling. Fred will aim to cycle 200 laps of the track in one hour at the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome in Newport, Wales covering a distance of 50km. He hopes to inspire other juniors to get involved in the discipline by taking on the attempt and completing a distance further than that set by Chris Boardman MBE in 2000. If he cycles over 48.5km, it will also be an unofficial world record for a junior cyclist.

The Welsh youngster’s cycling inspiration for the record is current elite hour record holder, Dan Bigham, who has given his backing to Fred’s attempt. The decorated cyclist works as an aerodynamics consultant for Team Ineos. Bigham has offered Fred the use of his state of the art bike that he used for his own successful hour record attempt in September 2021.

Fred, who swapped his birthday and Christmas presents this year in exchange for an aerometer to enhance his cycling, has dedicated himself to training over the winter months and is looking forward to World Record Day, slated for the 14th March 2022. He said: “This would be a massive achievement for me and would be great if it were sufficient to set a British record and inspire other junior riders to give it a go, or even to just get out on their bike. I want to show other young riders in a similar position and at my local club, that it’s possible to race and compete at a high level without any training facilities nearby.”

During the past year Fred has increased the amount of TT’s he has completed as well as investigating the technical side of cycling in much more detail. Fred is inspired by the fact that Dan uses science to eek out advantage based on improved aerodynamics alongside physical output. Fred has a 25 minute power of 375w and after aero testing with Wattshop and Dan Bigham he has measured his CDA at 0.192. This gives him a great chance of setting the record.

To maximise physical power and output in this intense discipline, Fred is working closely with his coach and ex pro rider Liam Holohan (holohancoaching) to improve his power ready for his attempt with a range of different sessions and set goals mapped out in detail. “I’m so honoured to be supported by Dan and my sponsors and be working with Liam and the team at Holohan Coaching, it’s such an intense discipline and it’s very precise training.” he added.

Fred will be taking to the track in Newport, Wales, on 14th March with the support of his family, friends and sponsors.

Follow the live stream of the record attempt at https://www.facebook.com/holohancoachingrt

Fred is sponsored by:
cgpooks.co.uk/
holohancoaching.com/
beaumontlawrence.co.uk/
unventedcomponentseurope.com/
brookscycles.co.uk/
shopforwatts.co.uk/
rule28.com/
bml-hayley.co.uk/