Unsupported Around Australia record smashed by over 5 days

Shortly before 1am on May 17th, Irish rider Bryan Taaffe set off from Spencer Street Station in Melbourne, aiming to break the unsupported Around Australia record set by well-known long distance rider Peter Heal in 2010.

The RRAA Around Australia rules (first recognised in 1996 by Guinness World Records and Cycling Australia) require a minimum distance of 14,200km. Heal rode a longer route of 14,913km, taking 48d 23hr 37m.

Bryan started strongly with an incredible 529km on his first day taking him to Cann River near the NSW border. 

He rode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge early on Day 3.
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Before enduring heavy rain and cold temperatures through Northern NSW and Southern Queensland.

The weather improved as he made his way up the Queensland coast, although poor road surfaces caused rapid tyre wear, and a buckled rim near Rockhampton.
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Through the heat of far north Queensland he developed severe pain in a hamstring tendon which threatened to end his ride. After one short day from Cloncurry to Mt Isa, and receiving medical attention, he fought back with a massive 450km stage to Barkly Homestead.

Bryan struggled with severe heat through the Northern Territory and into the top of Western Australia, before being knocked off his bike by a bird north of Hall's Creek, causing significant damage to the bike, and extensive cuts to his arms, back, and legs.
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Again it looked like Bryan's ride might be over, but luckily Hall's Creek was one of four allowed drop points for spare food and parts, and with attention from the local medical centre and a huge serving of determination he was able to punch out 287km to Fitzroy Crossing the very next day.

Heading down to the Pilbara the temperatures started to ease, and Bryan made strong progress, even having to sprint away from a chasing dingo!
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The brisk pace continued down the west coast, until heavy rain and cold temperatures between Busselton and Albany forced several short days to avoid dangerous conditions.

As ever Bryan kept a positive attitude saying "I only have to cycle home now. When I was in Queensland I was still going away from home. I can see the end to this pain in 2 weeks. One day only at a time I will get there, whatever is put in front of me I will overcome it."

While the rain cleared as he approached the Nullarbor Plain, the temperatures plunged to near freezing during the nights.
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No accommodation available at Caiguna saw him spend the night in a toilet block, and a loose water bladder lid meant riding 70km without water on Day 38.

In less than 6 days he crossed the whole of South Australia and was in sight of the finish line.
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After 2 huge days back to back, Bryan returned to the Spencer Street Bridge just before midnight on June 29th, after covering a colossal 15,006km.

His total time was 43d 23hr 1m, breaking Peter Heal's 12 year old record by 5 days and 36 minutes. As with his record breaking ride last year from Perth to Sydney, Bryan was raising money for youth mental health charity ALIVE, and at time of writing has raised more than $10,000.

Praise has flooded in on social media with many congratulating Bryan on his "massive", "astonishing", and "unbelievable" achievement.