The Guinness Book of World Records contains statistics on unique and challenging feats performed by people across the globe, and while many have glanced at the book, few actually make it onto its pages.

Sumner resident Danny Rodgers has an unusual way of riding a bicycle and hopes this skill will put him in the famed record book.

Rodgers’ bicycle technique is to pedal while sitting atop the handlebars facing the seat, causing the bike to travel backward.

Rodgers said he rode BMX bikes as a hobby during his childhood and began riding backward for fun.

The talent might be lost forever if it weren’t for a program offered by his company, Merkl Inc. and his desire to fulfill a dream.

Every business quarter, Merkl Inc.’s Dream Grant program gives one employee from any of the company’s offices the chance to fulfill their dream. Rodgers has a list of goals to reach during his life and he submitted items from the list to the grant program before, but without success.

This time was different and Rodgers said when he submitted his application, he wrote he wanted to break a Guinness World Record, but didn’t specify which record, in order to leave it open-ended and possibly improve his chances with the executive board, which has final say.

A 20-year hiatus existed between his time on the handlebars as a youth and the start of his training for world-record glory. Rodgers said getting back in the habit didn’t take long.

“It was kind of like if somebody hadn’t ridden a bike for 20 years,” he said.

Rodgers is six months into training, which started with a workout regimen. He began an exercise regimen to get in shape before riding his bike regularly for about 60-65 miles.

In order to break the record held by Australian Alan Pierce in 1985, Rodgers needs to ride 62.5 miles in less than 4:05:01.

Rodgers trains about five or six days a week and practices his backward bike technique at the Sumner Middle School track.

Attached to his bike is an odometer with more than 500 miles recorded. More miles are on the way as Rodgers continues honing his skills in preparation for the record-breaking attempt Aug. 1.

Rodgers is attempting to break the record at Sunset Chev Stadium Saturday beginning at 7 a.m. He said he hopes to be done by 11 a.m., beating the record by just more than five minutes.

Because Guinness requires travel and boarding expenses to be paid by the person attempting the record, an official representative is not attending, but Rodgers said cameras are set to roll and witnesses are signing in to verify the event.

He said if he can go about three hours, it should be smooth pedaling after that.

“The last half hour or 45 minutes is going to be adrenaline,” he said.

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