Long-distance biker tackles world's shortest street
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When an endurance cyclist/motorcyclist rolled into Wick he made it a must to head along to the shortest street in the world situated along one side of Mackays Hotel.
Nick Sanders MBE (born 1958) is a British bicyclist, motorcyclist and author noted for his long-distance accomplishments having ridden around the world seven times. Sponsored by Squire Locks, he is currently on his fifth ride around Britain's coast using a motorcycle this time but also previously completing the journey on a bicycle.
"I'm going around the coast of Britain because I travel internationally and at the moment I can't do that," said Nick last Friday.
"So I'm travelling round the longest journey you can do in Britain, which is our coastline of around 4800 miles. Half of the journey is completely in Scotland and, to be honest, it's the best part. In fact, I'd say that the very best part is from about here to Applecross over on the west coast."
In 1992 Nick rode around the world on a Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle and then in 1997 he completed a world record 19,930-mile motorbike circumnavigation of the globe in just 31 days and 20 hours on a Triumph Daytona.
Nick has completed many other global motorbike endurance rides but he is also known to mount a bicycle saddle too. In 1981 he set the original world record for cycling around the globe – riding 13,609 miles in 138 days and in 1984 he repeated the world cycling circumnavigation, riding about 22,000 km in a time of 79 days.
He still holds the Guinness World Record for fastest ride around the coast of Great Britain, with a verified 4800 miles in 22 days.
Being no stranger to record breaking, it was fitting that Nick posed for photographs on the Guinness Book of Records officially recognised shortest street in the world – Ebenezer Place, which stretches a mere 6ft and 9in along one end of Mackays Hotel.
The hotel's owner, Murray Lamont, said: "Nick was booked in by the office of the North Coast 500 to stay here. It's been a joy to meet him. He's such a character and has such fantastic stories of his journeys around the world."
Murray said he is delighted that Nick is not only a motorcycle ambassador but also acting as an ambassador for the NC500 route to show that it is open for business again after the lockdown.
"Nick's only making a flying visit here but when he speaks he's certainly worth listening to with all his stories."
Nick said: "My journey started at the end of April, setting out from my home in Wales. The idea was to sleep out most nights in my tent and record the story and edit the films on the road."
Nick's journey and films of the road trip can be followed at www.nicksanders.com
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