Milton A. Smith Marathon Bicycle Ride

On August 17-18, 1927, my father, Milton Smith--who was sixteen-years-old-- established a world endurance record for staying aloft on a bicycle. He cycled nonstop around Washington, D.C.'s Hain's Point for twenty-four hours and twenty-seven minutes, covering 250 miles. The event is detailed in the attached article. Below are two photos featured in a local newpaper during his ride, then several photos and a headline from a feature in The Washington Herald prior to the event. Thanks to my son, Nate, for digitally enhancing the photos, which were scanned directly from news clippings.


	Dad begins his marathon ride.		Part way through his 24 hour ride, Owen Evans takes dad's pulse.



This is part of a feature from The Washington Herald on August 16, 1927, the day before dad's marathon ride, detailing his intention to try for the endurance title (the left side was clipped off in the scrap book, but probably read "Youth Will Attempt to Set Endurance Record" etc.). This piece demonstrates the level of local interest which the event aroused.

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