In 1911 the weekly magazine Cycling began a competition for the highest number of 100 mi (160 km) rides or "centuries" in a single year.
[11][2][12] Having been made unemployed as a blend-mixer at a tobacco factory,[13] Humbles wanted to demonstrate that an ordinary clubman could break the long-standing world endurance record, so in 1932 cycling became a full-time occupation.
[21] By 5 August 1932, he had visited the coastal resorts of Brighton, Worthing, Hastings, Margate, Ramsgate, Southend and Clacton, signing autographs for holiday makers he met there.
[23][24] On 1 October 1932, he was photographed shaking hands with Mr C. Boughton, described as the “London Champion” who was mounted on a penny farthing[25] as Humbles was greeted by a group of about 200 cyclists from local cycling clubs on his arrival from Brighton[25] for a planned reception [26] at Purley Station.
[26][25] He was congratulated by the store manager, Mr Harding, on the progress of his record-breaking attempt, as well as by Olympic cycling champion, Frank Southall.
[3] On 11 December 1932, he set off from Buckingham Palace[18] and broke Marcel Planes' record by riding the 34,367th mile on the 338th day through Hyde Park, London,[17] reportedly followed from Constitution Hill amongst a packed mass over half a mile long [27] by between 3,000[2][27] and 5,000 cyclists[2][3] of both sexes,[2] including about 150 members of his own cycling club,[11] amid prolonged cheers and the continuous ringing of 3,000 cycle bells.
[18] At Marble Arch, he was presented with a silver cup [17] and a large laurel wreath by Sir Malcolm Campbell,[18][28][3][29][12] who described the feat as a remarkable triumph for the English cycle manufacturing industry and reportedly said he had rarely seen a healthier looking man.
[18] After the ceremony at Marble Arch, he was escorted by a large group of cyclists, to the recently constructed Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London, where a reception was held in his honour,[18][3][27] which was attended by Marcel Planes.
[3] On 31 December 1932, he was photographed[30] ending his world cycling endurance record riding through a paper clock at the New Year's Eve Reunion Carnival Dance of the National Cyclists' Union at the Royal Horticultural Hall in Westminster, London.
Their daughter, Sylvia June Humbles was born on 3 October 1937 at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in St Pancras, London, and was later adopted.
By 1954, he had changed his name by deed poll to Alan Alain Holt and was living in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, working as a painter and decorator.
On 13 March 1954 at High Wycombe Register Office, he married divorcée Pamela Margaret Warren (née Sutton, later Naish) (born 19 July 1926, died 17 October 1978).