On September 25, 2005 Dan McGehee broke his own 100-mile record by just one minute! On May 22 on the Sun Valley Parkway loop in Sun City, AZ he had set 100-mile road record of 4 hours 11 minutes 9 seconds. He had beaten Paul Solon's 10-year old record by just three minutes 20 seconds.

Dan McGehee clicking in to set the ultracycling century record in Arizona.

In September the conditions were better: the high was only 80 degrees compared to 95 degrees last spring. He rode 8.5 laps around an 11.8826 miles loop, which had been measured by a licensed surveyor. The loop has 180 degree turns at each end, with 200 feet of climbing westbound and 30 feet of climbing eastbound. He covered 100 miles in 4 hours, 10 minutes, 9 seconds, an average of 23.9856 mph.

In May his last laps were 1 to 1.5 minutes slower, due to the 95 degree heat. This fall "My objective was to go out harder than last time and intentionally dig a little hole (physiologically) to climb out of, hoping I wouldn't bury myself in it. This time my slowest laps were six and seven, which I had planned on because of going out faster with the intention of really digging deep for the last lap and a half. "

Dan McGehee hammering down the straightaway to set the 100-mile cycling record in Arizona.

UMCA Official Marie Handrahan reported: "On the fifth lap something happened as he was quite a bit slower than previously and was only seven seconds faster than in May. We were concerned whether he would break the record or not based on how slow his last two laps were last spring. I think Dan realized this and picked it up the last two and gained over one minute during that time. "

McGehee knew he had dropped the pace. "I had to make sure that I didn't lose anymore ground on six and seven. The wind had started to pick up on the eastbound stretch and I felt as if I was forcing it a bit - trying to stay more aero, trying not to let my cadence drop, not taking a needed handoff so I could stay aero. Knowing that the final stretch (lap 8.5) was going to be into this headwind had me worried that I could fall short of the record, especially if the wind were to increase, so I really pushed the lap eight to try to compensate. My body didn't seem very willing to do this so the real suffering of mind over body began. "

McGehee making the 180-degree turn during his 100-mile bicycle record.

McGehee got a handoff every lap. He was consuming Accelerade, Powergel and water. Each handoff only took about 20 seconds and didn't really affect his pace. Handrahan said: "In May, he gave up fuel and took only water the last few laps. At the end he seemed to be in better shape than in May."

McGehee rode a Giant TCR aero frame with Syntace aerobars and an aero drink system. He used 53/21-11 nine-speed gearing, a Zipp 404 front wheel and a Zipp disc rear wheel. He wore a standard time trial skinsuit, a Rudy Project aero helmet and shoe covers.

L - R: Brian Forbes, Dan McGehee, Tim Bolen, Al Schott, Cindy Schott, Marie Handrahan. Larry McCormick is taking the photo.

"Support crews really do not get the recognition that they deserve - giving up their time to help promote the sport of cycling. A few cycling friends, and good cyclists in their own right, helped me out - Tim Bolen, Brian Forbes, and Larry McCormick, and Al & Cindy Schott. It was great having Tim, Larry and Cindy at the turnarounds to fire me up and keep me safe through the turns. Brian was in the car giving hand-offs. Al has been a great friend since 1995 and we have been an endurance team since 1996.

"I want to thank Marie Handrahan for the excellent job she did as well. Like Bill Peschka, she is very meticulous in her documentation and attention to detail. I really appreciate her taking the time to come out and officiate."

Dan McGehee after his second 100-mile bicycle record this year!

He chose to do the 100-mile record because "This is the same course the record was set on in 1991 and broken by Solon in 1996. It seems to make sense to repeat it at the same place so there is no question about one course being more, or less, difficult than another."

Dr. Dan McGehee was the 2005 Dedication Recipient of the 18th Smith Ranch Community Cochise County Cycling Classic. McGehee won the Cochise Classic's 252-mile event for the fifth time on Saturday, October 8, 2005.

He will be trying to break the12-hour road record of 266.50 miles (22.21 mph) later this month. The record was set by Tom Nieman, from Tucson, AZ on the same Sun Valley loop in1995.

McGehee, an optometrist living Mesa, AZ resident rides for Team RPM in Scottsdale, AZ. He also won Cochise in '96, '97, '99 and '04. His time of 10 hours 26 minutes in 1996 remains he record for the 252-mile event. He also has two wins at the Furnace Creek 508 ('98 solo; '03 two man) and first place in the UMCA 12-hour in '02.