While they might be going nowhere fast, Mike "Mad Dog" Gallagher and John "Blue Dog" Jurczynski's attempt to break the world record for indoor stationary cycling has begun.

When you eat dinner tonight they will be peddling and when you go to bed they will just be starting their second long night on the "spinning" bikes at the Laconia Athletic & Swim Club.

And it has only just begun for the pair as they will have to ride for more than 111 hours, 11 minutes and 11 seconds to break the world record currently held by George Hood of Chicago, Ill.

Gallagher of Gilford and Jurczynski of Holderness — two biking enthusiasts — began their record-attempt at 5:05 a.m. on Monday as part of a "Cycle Mania World Record 2007" event that is hoping to test their limits while raising $50,000 for the Children's Auction, sponsored by WLNH, Metrocast Cablevision and Lakes Region Public Access Television.

"There is no pacing ... I'm just going how I feel. It's all about mind over matter," said Gallagher as he stands up on his pedals with a large digital clock in back of him indicating that he is just under 9 hours into his ride.

Gallagher and Jurczynski are positioned side-by-side with one another near the entrance of the athletic club and have plenty of company as Guinness rules require that two witnesses and a medical staff member be present during the entire attempt.

The pair spent Monday greeting club guests, talking with one another, watching videos and — of course — pedaling no-stop which will need to happen until about 8:17 p.m. on Friday if they are to break the record.

The effort is huge and the restrictions are strict under a Guinness set of guidelines that requires them to average 12 miles per hour and only affords them 5 minutes of down time for every hour that they ride.

The pair of riders said they plan to save or "bank" the minutes so that they can take naps later in the ride with their only current time off the bikes being spent in the bathroom.

Gallagher, a mountain bike enthusiast, said he didn't train for the event or get any more sleep than normal in the days leading up to it.

"I'm just a ball of energy," said Gallagher, adding that nervous energy kept him from getting a lot of sleep the night before they started.

Last year Gallagher rode the stationary bike for 48 hours straight and he this attempt could mark the last time he tries something like this.

"I'll never spin again," said Gallagher.

When asked about what he will do once he gets off the bike he responded: "I know I won't sit down for a while."

Both riders said they will alternate between sitting and standing positions on the bikes throughout the event to avoid having a sore backside and to work different muscle groups.

Gallagher and Jurczynski agreed that the biggest challenge of breaking the record involves convincing themselves to keep pedaling and they said fitness likely won't come into play.

"It's all about comfortability," said Gallagher.

The pair have been eating small meals comprised of everything from pasta to energy bars and have a number of items at their side to try and take their minds of the fact that they are attempting to ride a stationary bike for five days straight.

Gallagher is listening to plenty of music and watching DVDs while Gallagher has his laptop computer ready to be placed on his handlebars so he can check his e-mail and get a little work done.

Jurczynski placed first in his age group at a recent Race Across America event that saw him riding his bike across the entire country. Last year he rode a stationary bike for 89 hours straight so he is fairly confident about how he will feel and his chances of actually achieving the feat.

He said he will be happy when they reach the halfway point sometime around Wednesday as it will mark a mental victory.

"(At that point) it feels like you are heading back to the barn," said Jurczynski.

Jurczynski said nobody — to his knowledge — has contacted Hood about the attempt to beat his record, but he is reasonably confident he will catch wind of the attempt.

"If he knows, he is going to be keeping a close eye on us," said Jurczynski with a smile.

The pair said it helps to ride together and the Laconia Athletic & Swim Club will be open to the public 24-hours a day during the attempt to meet Guinness rules.

LASC owner Tom Oakley said he will spend the next four days at the club to assure that the two men's efforts don't get disqualified because of a clerical error, which has happened in the past during other world record attempts.

Oakley encouraged residents to visit the club to witness the feat, meet the riders and make a donation toward the Children's Auction, which kicked-off on Monday evening.

"They are giving themselves to the community. People should come and cheer them on and drop a little something in the bucket," said Oakley.

Jurczynski and Gallagher apparently have a goal in mind that would see them breaking the record by a substantial margin, but they aren't revealing it until they hit the milestone number.

Oakley said he is still looking for independent witnesses and medical personnel to volunteer for 4-hour shifts on Saturday in the event that the two men are still pedaling.

"I don't want to just break it by a minute," said Jurczynski.