Hood pedaling closer to record

The TV pointed toward George Hood showed the end of a "Survivor" episode. For the more than 20 people gathered at the Fry Family YMCA on Sunday night, the show they were watching was about to stretch into its 168th hour.

Hood, the Aurora resident pedaling his way toward a Guinness world record for longest stationary bike marathon, has survived well past the goal he initially set for himself - 154 hours. He's done that because he discovered Friday afternoon that the record he was shooting for was actually 175.5 hours, not the 132 he thought when he stepped onto his LeMond Revmaster spin bike on May 4 at 9 p.m.

His new goal will take him until 6 a.m. today. As of press time Sunday night, Hood was on the final leg of a long, winding journey that has covered more than 1,500 miles without ever leaving the stage set up at the YMCA.

"I have an extreme sense of accomplishment," Hood said of reaching the one-week mark. "For me to feel as healthy as I do is just remarkable. I'm just grateful for the health that I have to do this. I really want to be done with this and put this behind me."

Hood, who twice set the world record in 2007 only to be upended both times, found out Friday afternoon from Guinness officials that the record of 132 hours set by Eddie Kontelj of Australia had been broken.

"We're going to do this thing and be done with it," Hood said, shortly after learning the news. "I got a fight on my hands right now."

That fight is why Hood was still on his bike - except during his Guinness-allowable break times - as the YMCA's Kathy Lewandowski changed a handmade sign on Sunday night from 144 hours to 168, marking the seventh day Hood has completed.

A cheer went up in the room as she announced his time.

A volunteer, Alena Edwards, grabbed the sign and turned it so Hood could see.

He nodded his head, smiled and kept pumping.