VeloWay

New Zealand Cycling Records

Under development, if you have records you would like added, please get in contact

This list is a collection of fastest known times and distance records set in New Zealand. All these can be considered forms of time trialing.

Hour Record

This is an unrestricted list of hour records attempted in New Zealand (unpaced)

Distance (km)DateRiderVenueCategorySource
52.78412 Dec 2025Glenn HadenGrassroots Trust Velodrome, CambridgeAge 42, UCI Track Bike, National best, 14th best UCIMore Info
52.66431 May 2009Nigel FarrellTrafalgar Park, NelsonStreamlined HPV, self madeKiwi HPV Archives, News Article
51.62315 Feb 2025Rob ScarlettGrassroots Trust Velodrome, CambridgeAge 45, Counties Manukau Cycling team. Was National overall record and world best for 45-49 years.Facebook Post
50.72731 May 2009Bob KnightTrafalgar Park, NelsonFaired Burrows RatracerKiwi HPV Archives, News Article
50.22629 Jan 1997Lee VertongenWanganui Velodrome22 years old.
.236 in RIDE and 28th quoted elsewhere		Cycling Southland, Kiwi HPV Archives and RIDE
49.98715 Jan 1994Robb SimpsonDenton Park Oval, ChristchurchKingcycle Bean imported from the UK where it set world record in 1990 (75.570)Kiwi HPV Archives
49.18613 Nov 2022Kyle AitkenGrassroots Trust Velodrome, CambridgeU19, age 18, New Zealand Best (Not UCI)Self-published Video, Cycling NZ and Mowett List
48.92221 Dec 2017Rob ScarlettAvantidrome CambridgeAge 37, from AucklandCycling NZ and Mowett List
48.61995Mat BrickDuathlete from TaurangaRIDE Pg 122
48.03414 Feb 2023Gary MikkelsenGrassroots Trust Velodrome, CambridgeAge 50, Te Awamutu Team. Age 50-54 years national record and 8th worldCycling NZ
48.55725 March 2017Rob ScarlettAvantidrome CambridgeMowett List
47.79121 Jul 2017Jaime NielsenAvantidrome CambridgeWas women’s 3rd best ever, age 31, best ever women’s mark at low-altitudeEvent Article, Success Article, Local Article, Article, Personal Comments, Mowett List
47.73319 Mar 2016Jim McMurrayAvantidrome Cambridge55 years old, was UCI Masters 55-59 world recordMowett List
47.69722 Aug 2015Steve BaleAvantidrome Cambridge38 years oldMowett List
47.3608 Mar 2021Jim McMurrayAvantidrome Cambridge60 years old, was UCI Masters 60-64 world record, bettering record set 9 days earlier in SloveniaMowett List
45.95017 Nov 1978Jack SwartWanganui VelodromeConventional bicycle, age 23Mowett List, News Article, RIDE
44.18511 Mar 2023Aaron BleakleyAthletic Park Velodrome, BlenheimMowett List
43.6251 Feb 2025Tinsley JanesGrassroots Trust Velodrome, CambridgeAge 75. UCI Age 75-79 world record and new national recordFacebook Post
43.66 May 2022Reon NolanDenton Park Oval, ChristchurchYoutube
43.447 Dec1967Tino TabakEnglish Park, ChristchurchAustralasian record (26 miles 1745 yardsRIDE, Success, Picture
42.9123 Feb 1966Tino TabakEnglish Park, ChristchurchAge 19, Australasian record (26 miles 1167 yards)RIDE, Intentions (Papers Past), Success (PP)
42.6667 Nov 2021Thomas GuldborgHataitai Park Velodrome, Wellington
42.22918 Dec 2020Pat Crowe-RishworthHataitai Park Velodrome, WellingtonSelf built UCI track bike, age 29Article
41.97424 Mar 2015Steve BaleHataitai Park Velodrome, WellingtonAge 38
41.87517 Aug 2024Colin ClaxtonGrassroots Trust Velodrome, CambridgeJust turned 76, UCI Age 75-79 World Record
41.4766 Apr 1960M R McGregorWestern Springs Stadium, AucklandAge 21, 3rd attempt. Beating the paced national record of H. Thompson from 1896Report (Papers Past) (1373 yards), Reference back to (1368 yards)
RIDE (41.476 km)
41.40812 Nov 2022Lindsay FileGrassroots Trust Velodrome, CambridgePara C4 best national performance
41.13511 Mar 2014Nick WarrenHataitai Park Velodrome, WellingtonAge 37
40.913619 Jan 2015Pat Crowe-RishworthHataitai Park Velodrome, WellingtonFacebook Post
39.29226 Jan 2024Colin ClaxtonGrassroots Trust Velodrome, CambridgeUCI Age 75-79 (but 4th best mark). Had two crashes due to cramps
36.58120 Oct 2018Roi SpeedAvantidrome CambridgeUCI Best Hour Age 70-74, age 72UCI PDF (Achived)
36.23028 Apr 2024Millie DonaldHataitai Park Velodrome, WellingtonAge 16Fundraiser
35.85317 Aug 2023Roger BatesGrassroots Trust Velodrome, CambridgeNew national and was world record for UCI Masters 80-84. Born 3 July 1943, and part of Track Cycling NelsonFacebook Post
33.93016 Dec 2018Zoe PerryHataitai Park Velodrome, WellingtonAge 14, set first womans hour record on trackArticle
29.9932009Ken LooiDubbo, NSW, Australia36″ unicycleYoutube Video
29.634Feb 2015Peter GrandiekSIT Invercargill VelodromeUnofficial world record, no officials presentNews Article
29.1877 Oct 2015Peter GrandiekSIT Invercargill VelodromeUCI Masters 80-84 world best, age 83News Article (with photos, Club),
Facebook Post
26.1663 Dec 23Peter GrandiekSIT Invercargill VelodromeAge 93, NZ Best for Masters 90-94. SouthlandCycling NZ
20.15117 Apr 19Reginald (Reg) RyeGrassroots Trust Velodrome, CambridgeAge 97, World best for Masters 95-99 yearsStuff Article, Avantidrome Article, Cycling NZ

Thanks to Kiwi HPV for keeping records through the 1990’s and 2000’s. For an extensive database, see Mike Mowetts list all time list which has been maintained since 2008

On the 16th June 1896, H. Thompson rode 25 miles in 59:30 at Lancaster Park (first person under an hour), but was paced by two tandems (Papers Past) (though included in the RIDE list). Also holding all the Cyclist Alliance record from 1/2 mile to 25 miles (Papers Past)

Notes

Peter Grandiek has done a number of fundraiser rides: 85km on 85th (article), 100km on 89th, 100km on 90th (video), 111km on 91st (video) and more

To see directly into the community check out the World Hour Record Discussion Group on Facebook.

Ultra-distance (time based)

24 hour

24 Hour Outdoor Velodrome – Colin Anderson – Men 60-69. In Jan 2013 went 393.254 miles (632.881 km). Source WUCA and report

H.J. Jenkins and Fred Painter in February 1884 rode 270 km (from the Carlton Hotel in Christchurch to Waiau and back non-stop, 4:00 am to 3:00 am), “thereby breaking the New Zealand 24-hour record”, see Cycling Pioneers, page 84

On Christmas Day 2025, 21-year old Matthew Fairbrother cycled 2650 laps (503.62 km) of Riccarton, Christchurch McDonalds in 24 hours – Video, Inteview

12 hour

12 Hour Outdoor Velodrome – Colin Anderson – Men 60-69. In Jan 2013 went 219.011 miles (352.464 km) during his 24 hour record attempt Source WUCA

Endurance (distance based)

Historic

10 miles

Tino Tabuk set an unofficially timed record of 21 min 32 sec during his hour record on 7 Dec 1967, bettering N. Ritchie (Auckland) from 12 years prior by 2.2 seconds (Papers Past)

25 miles

Lowered to under an hour (paced) (Papers Past)

50 miles

In April 1892, Tom Clarkson lowered the New Zealand 50-mile record from 3 hours 26 minutes to 3 hours 6 minutes. The next week, Harold Pither lowered it by 6 minutes and 30 seconds.

Account of historic record attempt from RIDE

100 miles

In 1893 Harold Pither won a special prize of five guineas from the New Zealand Cyclists’ Alliance for being the first rider to cycle 100 miles in less than 7 hours 15 minutes. His record was shattered later than year by ‘cash’ rider (A. J. Body) but stood as an amateur record for five years until E.Archer set out to break the 50 mile record.

On his first attempt, Archer lost 20 minutes owing to an accident. He tried and failed the next day, despite a reviver of sherry at the 25-mile mark. Upon completing the 50-mile attempt, he “thought he might try the 100-mile record; and after waiting 35 minutes, during which he had a bath, rub down, and a feed, he spanked out for Leeston”. He rode well to establish an amateur record of 6 hours and 7 minutes. Archer rode a 24 pound (11 kg) Zealandia with a 103-inch gear and was unpaced.

Accounts of historic record attempts from RIDE

Flying 200 m Record

The 200m record was 9.758 seconds (73.79 kph, or 45.85 mph) which Robb Simpson set, riding the Miles Kingsbury Bean @ Teretonga Raceway, Southland on 01/05/1993. This bettered the one Robb had set the previous year, using one of the runways at RNZAF Wigram. (Kingcycle Bean on Velospace)

The UCHP has been building machines to break this existing record.

Primarily attempted by streamlined recumbents

Fast Known Times (Locations)

These records have historically been between the post offices of cities.

North Island W-E – Joanna Sharpe – Women 18-49 – 1 day 6 hours, 51 minutes. March 2022. Source WUCA and report (she also set multiple city-to-city records in Australia in 2024 and a circumnavigation of the South Island in 2025 (CCW) WUCA).

Historical record lists are from RIDE by Jonathan Kennett, likely original newspaper reports can be found on Papers Past.

To record your own there is a website Cycling Fastest Known Times and here is an interview with the creator

Auckland to Wellington

A 650+ km journey between the two major cities of the North Island.

RiderTimeDateNotesSources
Samuel Shaw17 h : 21 m : 34 s15 Dec 2025Average speed ~38 km/h. No stops.Instagram, Article, Paddy Gower Report and Post, Rotorua Article, BTS Video
Lachlan Morton18 h : 26 m : 58 s18 Jan 2025Video, Article
Brian Lambert19 h : 59 m : 27 s1984RIDE, Article, Obituary
Brian Fleck20 h : 9 m1983Morton’s Video
Brian Lambert23 h : 0 m1982 or 83RIDE
D Horner25 h : 18 m1981RIDE
R Bush25 h : 18 m1972RIDE
B Stone26 h : 21 m1971RIDE
J Peoples26 h : 44 m1967RIDE
K Johnston28 h : 32 m1960RIDE
G Lukey30 h : 17 m1951RIDE
S Wright56 h : 5 m1929RIDE
J H Brewin65 h1929RIDE
A Sutherland72 h1927RIDE
Notes
Brian Lambert

He got a sense of the terrain as a competitor in the Dulux Auckland-to-Wellington six day races in the 1970s. – mentioned in Stuff Obituary

Brian Lambert broke the Auckland to Wellington record twice, first in 1982 and again in 1984, fulfilling his ambition of breaking the 20 hour barrier by finishing the 650km ride in an incredible 19 hours, 59 minutes and 27 seconds. He held this record for over 40 years, until Lachlan’s ride in January 2025 in 18 hours, 26 minutes and 56 seconds.

Palmerston North to Wellington

Mrs Kitty O’Sullivan on 28 Oct 1934, as part of her cycling the length of the country, completed the trip in 9 hours. Age 53 1/2 – Papers Past

Timaru to Christchurch

A popular race

Phil O’Shea (article about) numerous race wins

Christchurch to Dunedin

In 1882 Joseph Gee Foxley Norris (Mr Norris in newspaper article) See account in The Cycling Pioneers by Michael Toohey (chapter: A Thirst for Adventure, pg 81)

Had been attempted several times by May 1883 – Papers Past noting that long distance riding was considered “common” by the standard of Auckland in the “Southern provinces”

Mrs Kitty O’Sullivan in Nov 1934, as part of her cycling the length of the country, completed the trip in 9 hours. Age 53 1/2 – Papers Past

Other

Thames to Cambridge – 5.5 hours in 1896

Wanaka to Christchurch – 13:53:17 on the 12th September 2025 by Sam Shaw.

Napier to Wellington – 1896

Paparoa Track, Old Ghost Road and Heaphy Track – 23h:32m by Payson McElveen in 2025

Rufus Wenlock and Joe Nation have set some Shaky Isles

Christchurch to Timaru

  • Mrs Kitty O’Sullivan on 28 Oct 1934, as part of her cycling the length of the country, completed the trip in 8 hours. Age 53 1/2 – Papers Past

Short Bays (Christchurch to Lyttelton via Evans Pass, and back to Christchurch via Dyers Pass) – Pioneered the now classic loop by Ernest Preece as a 17 year old in 1880, in 6 hours (50 km with 670 metres of climbing) on his high wheeler – Cycling Pioneers, page 82

Christchurch to Hokitika – Welsh and Wilson 1876, see Cycling Pioneers, page 82

Christchurch to Akaroa – see Cycling Pioneers, page 82, return trip completed in a day by H.J. Jenkins and Jack Martin on 11 October 1884, see Cycling Pioneers, page 85

Joseph Fitton of Auckland did a cycle touring trip from Auckland to Wellington and back, calculating he had covered 1,130 kilometers on the trip, making it the longest New Zealand cycle tour to be completed in the 1880s (and on a high wheeler!). see Cycling Pioneers, page 85-86

Length of New Zealand

S-N – Jane Carswell – Women 18-49 – 10 days 5 hours 58 minutes Source WUCA and report

Mrs Kitty O’Sullivan “New Zealand’s modern grandmother” (53 years old) in 1934 cycled the length of the country (Spirits Bay to Bluff) having completed the same journey on foot 1.5 years earlier in 57 walking days (along with journeys in Australia, specifically Sydney to Melbourne (18.5 days walking, attempted to break 3 days 6 hours cycling). – See Papers Past

Track Cycling

This should match with Cycling NZ Records

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_New_Zealand_records_in_track_cycling

Useful links:

Frequetly cited “RIDE” is the book RIDE – the story of cycling in New Zealand – Jonathan Kennett 2004

Please get in contact if you have more information you would like added