SAN DIEGO -- A San Diego man and his bike-riding partner who broke the world record for stationary bike riding said Monday they battled sleep deprivation, fatigue and pain to raise funds for burn victims.

Former Marine firefighter Pete Masiel and Wendy Gardiner, a resident of Georgia, got on stationary bikes at 8 a.m.

Wednesday in front of Zumwalt's Bicycle Center on El Cajon Boulevard, taking only brief breaks in their quest to tie the record of 85 hours set by another cyclist earlier this year.

The couple, known as "Pete and Wendy," or Team Kitten, decided to pedal some more to make sure they broke that record by more than 11 hours.

They ended their ride Sunday with a total time of 96 hours, four minutes and eight seconds.

Gardiner and Masiel raised money and awareness for the San Diego Burn Institute and its programs, as well as the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation.

"There's nothing that compares to the event, the ups and downs," said Gardiner, fighting another battle Monday with laryngitis.

"We were just a vehicle to help recognize the true heroes, the burn victims that have to live day in and day out," Masiel said.

"We're always pushing for recognition for our charities," Masiel said.

He credited a massage therapist/acupuncturist for helping the couple get through the grueling cycling, and he also credited his partner, Gardiner.

"Without her, I don't know if I could have done it," Masiel said.

He thanked the catering company that donated food -- and everyone who donated their time and money.

Gardiner and Masiel said they are working on the documents needed to recognize their effort by the Guinness World Record committee.

They said they are still tallying donations, so they don't have a final total yet.

Next for Masiel and Gardiner are some warm-up races, then the challenging Race Across America from Oceanside to Atlantic City, N. J., in June.