Albert Arthur Humbles (c.1911–19x) was an English cyclist who set the world endurance cycling record by covering 36,007 miles during the calender year of 1932. He broke the previous best mark that had stood since Marcel Planes completed 34,366 miles in 1911 in response to Cycling magazine's 'Century Competition'.[1]
In 1933, Humbles entered the Golden Book of Cycling as the greatest long-distance rider in the world. He rode 36,007 mi (57,948 km) in a year, averaging 100.019 miles per day for the 360 days that he rode.[1]
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Humbles lived in North London during the time of his record bid. In later life he ran a bicycle shop on Bridge Street in Whitby, Yorkshire.
In 1911 the weekly magazine Cycling began a competition for the greatest distance cycled in a single year. The first holder was Marcel Planes of France, with 34,666 miles (55,790 km). The record has been established nine times.[2] A tenth claim, by the English rider Ken Webb, was later disallowed.[n 1]
| Year | Record holder | Country | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | Marcel Planes | France | 34,666 miles (55,790 km) |
| 1932 | Arthur Humbles | Great Britain | 36,007 miles (57,948 km) |
| 1933 | Ossie Nicholson | Australia | 43,966 miles (70,756 km) |
| 1936 | Walter Greaves | Great Britain | 45,383 miles (73,037 km) |
| 1937 | Bernard Bennett | England | 45,801 miles (73,710 km) |
| 1937 | René Menzies | France | 61,561 miles (99,073 km) |
| 1937 | Ossie Nicholson | Australia | 62,657 miles (100,837 km) |
| 1939 | Bernard Bennett | England | 65,127 miles (104,812 km) |
| 1939 | Tommy Godwin | England | 75,065 miles (120,805 km) |
Humbles wanted to demonstrate that an ordinary clubman could break the long-standing world endurance record, so in 1932 cycling became a full-time occupation.[1]
His daily average for 360 days was 100.019 miles per day for the 360 days that he rode. His longest ride in a single day was 172 miles and the shortest was 35 miles. His usual routes were out of London along the Great North Road, the Cambridge Road and the Newmarket Road. He also toured England and Wales, visiting places such as Alnwick, Clovelly, Bury St. Edmunds and Bere Regis.[1]
He broke Marcel Planes' record by riding the 34,367th mile through Hyde Park, London, on December 11, reportedly followed by 3,000 cyclists.[1]
Humbles' achievements were celebrated in 1933 when Cycling Weekly awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling.[1]