Maria Parker (born February 7, 1963) is an American long-distance

cyclist Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...

and the holder of multiple

cycling records Certified and recognized cycling records are those verified by the Union Cycliste Internationale, International Human Powered Vehicle Association and World Human Powered Vehicle Association, Guinness World Records, International Olympic Committee, ...

. She is also the founder of 3000 Miles to a Cure, an organization to raise money for Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. Maria Parker, ultracycling champion

Maria Parker setting the 24-hour world record on the Cruzbike Vendetta recumbent bicycle

Records

Parker rides a front-wheel drive Cruzbike

recumbent bicycle A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle that places the rider in a laid-back reclining position. Most recumbent riders choose this type of design for ergonomic reasons: the rider's weight is distributed comfortably over a larger area, supported by ba ...

and holds the: *24-hour road record: 469.198 miles (19.550 mph) *12-hour road record: 257.804 miles (21.48 mph) *200-mile road record : 9:17:03.0 (21.54 mph) *100-mile road record: 4:27:19 (22.45 mph)

Other cycling achievements

*2012 National 24 Hour Challenge: Set women's recumbent course record (still standing as of 2016) with 407.9 miles *2012 Bike Sebring: 1st among male and female competitors in RAAM qualifier with 474.5 miles *2013 Race Across America: 1st female finisher. Over-50 Recumbent Women's Course Record, exceeding women's standard bike record by approximately 16 hours. 3002 miles in 11 days, 20 hours, and 54 minutes. *2015 Hoodoo 500 Solo Race, St. George, Utah, First Recumbent Female to ever finish. 46 hours, 20 minutes. *2015 Assault On Mt. Mitchell, Spartanburg, South Carolina, 6:58:57, Fastest Recorded Time for a Female Recumbent. 102.7 Miles, 10,357 Feet Climbing. *2015 Calvin's Challenge UMCA National 12 Hour Championship, Springfield, Ohio, 257 Miles, Course Record for Recumbent and also exceeding standard female record. *2016 Bessie's Creek 24 Hour, Brookshire, Texas, 458 miles (non-drafting). Course record, exceeding course records for both men and women on recumbent and standard road bikes.

3000 Miles to a Cure

In October 2012, after her sister was diagnosed with Stage IV

brain cancer A brain tumor occurs when abnormal cells form within the brain. There are two main types of tumors: malignant tumors and benign (non-cancerous) tumors. These can be further classified as primary tumors, which start within the brain, and secondar ...

, Parker helped found 3000 Miles to a Cure, a brain cancer research funding organization with a goal of raising 1 million dollars to support brain cancer research.

2013 Race Across America

As part of 3000 Miles to Cure's fundraising efforts, Parker participated in

Race Across America The Race Across America, or RAAM, is an ultra-distance road cycling race held across the United States that started in 1982 as the Great American Bike Race. RAAM is one of the longest annual endurance events in the world. All entrants must prove ...

, the 3000 mile cross-country bike race, in 2013. Parker won the race, despite facing setbacks early on. 612 miles into the 3000 mile race, her follow vehicle was rear-ended by a texting driver outside of Tuba City, Arizona, and several crew members, including Parker's son, suffered minor injuries. In addition, her backup bikes and primary follow vehicle were destroyed, and Parker withdrew from the race. However, after a 24-hour break, Parker resolved to continue the 3000 mile ride, believing that she would be disqualified for missing a time cut-off. Upon resuming her ride, the

organization forgave the time cutoff that would have disqualified Parker, and allowed her to re-enter the ride as an official racer. After returning to the race, Parker quickly climbed the women's field, performing what RAAM commentator David Towle called "one of the greatest rides in Race Across America history". Helped by six-time RAAM winner Seana Hogan's early withdrawal (due to respiratory problems), Parker finished first in the women's field with a time of 11 days, 20 hours, and 54 minutes.http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/userfiles/file/RAAM%202013%20-%20Race%20Summary%20-%20Part%201%20-%20Solo%20Race%20-%20final.pdf.

References

External links

3000 Miles to a Cure Website
* http://www.bentrideronline.com/?p=8622 {{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Maria 1963 births Living people American female cyclists 21st-century American women