Pro cyclist attempts to break 165-year-old Pony Express record from Missouri to Sacramento

The Pony Express was a horseback mail service that operated between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, delivering letters in 10 days or less, according to Jalopnik. The service began in 1860 when St. Joseph was the westernmost rail-accessible point, requiring overland travel beyond it.

The Pony Express was created to meet the demand for faster coast-to-coast communication following California's population boom after the 1848 gold rush. However, the service was financially unsuccessful and ceased operations after only 18 months when the transcontinental telegraph was completed in 1861, as reported by the Smithsonian.

Despite its brief existence, the Pony Express became legendary due to the dangerous and demanding nature of the riders' work. Riders, often young men and teenagers, were admired for their courage and endurance in traversing remote and difficult terrain.

A professional cyclist recently set out to break the 165-year-old Pony Express record by riding the historic route with a similar approach to the original service, including using fixed stations spaced about a dozen miles apart for rider changes, Jalopnik reported. This effort aimed to better understand the challenges faced by the original riders.