THE CONCEPT IS straightforward: in one ride, on one hill, go up and down often enough that you accumulate a vertical elevation gain of 8 848m - the height of Mount Everest. Why? Perhaps, as the famous mountaineer George Mallory was said to have answered, when asked why he wanted to climb the real Mount Everest, "Because it's there." Although in the case of Everesting on a bike, it' isn't really there at all; it's a contrived challenge, and 'why' is really to test your limits as a cyclist.
And test them it will. No matter how you go about it, Everesting (or base camp', where you do half an Everest - a great place to start, if the concept grabs you!) is one of the ultimate tests of cycling. It got plenty of media attention a few years ago, when the likes of Lachlan Morton and Alberto Contador briefly held the Everesting record; before an Irishman, Ronan McLaughlin, set the current incredible mark of 6:40:54, in 2021.
Physiologically, the challenge is significant; in effect it's a gigantic interval training session where you ride and recover, over and over, for almost a full day. But if you're going to conquer Everest, it's not solely about fitness and physiology, but about psychology, emotion, and a good deal of planning to balance a set of fascinating tradeoffs.
HERE'S THE PLAN
The most crucial tradeoff is in your selection of the climb you'll do. Theoretically, you'd want to ride the steepest stretch of road you can manage, because your vertical gain at any power output rises faster; more gradual slopes 'waste' time and energy covering horizontal distance when you really want to go vertically.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July/August 2023 من Bicycling South Africa.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July/August 2023 من Bicycling South Africa.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
PAINT YOUR BIKE
A DIY GUIDE TO CUSTOM- PAINTING YOUR BIKE AT HOME
THE CASE AGAINST STRAVA
I'LL BEGIN BY SINGING SOME PRAISES. Without Strava, I'm not sure I'd have re-engaged with cycling at the level I did. Coming from just occasionally messing around on mountain bikes as a teenager to trying my best to race at an elite level, Strava has played a role in pushing me to ride faster, harder and longer than I'd ever done before.
OVERBERG MEANDER
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE IN THE ROLLING HILLS OF THE SOUTHERN CAPE.
THE RIGHT TO RIDE
THEY LED A CYCLING REVOLUTION IN AFGHANISTAN, WHERE WOMEN WERE FORBIDDEN TO RIDE. WHEN THE TALIBAN RETURNED TO POWER, THEIR ONLY HOPE WAS A HARROWING ESCAPE TO AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.
ONE MAN'S CRUSADE TO TAKE DOWN ZWIFT CHEATS
INDOOR CYCLING AND VIRTUAL RACING ARE BOOMING - AND SO ARE THE RANKS OF DIGITAL DOPERS ABUSING THE PLATFORMS.
Gale Force
IN 2025, THE ABSA CAPE EPIC WILL ROLL OUT FOR THE 21ST TIME. ONLY TWO RIDERS HAVE FINISHED ALL 20 PREVIOUS EVENTS.
The Contenders
Matt Beers is undoubtedly the most popular cyclist in South Africa.
The Czech Mates
THIS YEAR, BLIND ATHLETE ONDŘEJ ZMEŠKAL and his tracker Marek Peterka will tackle the Absa Cape Epic riding a tandem. And far from being daunted, the duo are excited about the challenge ahead.
Beyond The Trails
Over the past two decades, the Absa Cape Epic's impact on South African cycling tourism has been nothing short of phenomenal. The race not only attracts professional and dedicated amateur riders from across the globe, but also plays a pivotal role in boosting local economies and showcasing South Africa as a premier destination for adventure seekers. Let's delve into how the race achieves these feats:
The Fixers
EVERY DAY, WHEN YOU FINISH A STAGE of the Absa Cape Epic, it's your chance to recover and recharge for the next day.
