
When the lockdown restrictions began to ease, after months of being trapped on the turbo or at best daring to venture out for an hour on the local lanes, we were all eventually free to ride further, but where would we go? There were no races on, no sportives to enter, you couldn't meet up with your clubmates and certainly couldn't go abroad to ride up mountains, so we all had to become self-sufficient.
Before long, forums like Strava started to kick back into life as people began posting rides again, and as time progressed and their creative and competitive juices began to flow, some of these rides became ever more extraordinary. The desire to challenge oneself to ever greater athletic feats was fast turning into some sort of global contest to see who could upload the craziest ride.
Setting the challenge
To begin with, Everesting was the thing and everyone was doing it, from your mate's gran to Alberto Contador. Then double Everesting, triple Everesting, Trenching (gaining the equivalent height/depth of the Mariana Trench by repeatedly climbing one hill), 1,000km rides using just one leg, riding the circumference of the Earth, in your garden. You name it, someone did it. For the pros, it was a chance to show off what they were made of but for most, these self-devised adventures were intended to create a focus, a positive force in a time of great doubt and uncertainty.
Never one who liked being left out, I decided I had to bring something to the party. Now, no matter how much I love the hills, I've no inclination to Everest anything - I simply can't be bothered as it doesn't look like much fun.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 11, 2022 من CYCLING WEEKLY.
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 August 11, 2022 من CYCLING WEEKLY.
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

UK SCENE WILSON WINS AT CLAYTON SPRING CLASSIC HANDICAP
Junior rider Atkins wins North Road CC 25

"I'm Geraint Thomas," he said politely."And I'm a bike rider"
The Doc salutes the Welshman's staying power and charm

AN EXPERT'S TAKE ON...STRENGTH TRAINING
The need-to-know essentials for cyclists lifting weights - Rob Kemp asks an expert

NOURISH TO FLOURISH
The nutrition you need to age-proof your performance

THE WORLD'S FASTEST DESCENDER
DOWNHILL MAESTRO SAFA BRIAN TELLS MARIA DAVID HOW HE MASTERED THE ART OF DESCENDING TO BECOME FASTER THAN EVERYONE EXCEPT, PERHAPS, TOM PIDCOCK

VISION METRON SL 60
Super-stiff, responsive race wheels that hold their line when the wind whips up

RIDDEN AND REVIEWED GIANT TCR ADVANCED O £3,699
Lively all-rounder that offers pro bike pedigree without the premium price tag

Six days of Paris
This is one of those images that makes you feel almost as though you're there in it, soaking up an atmosphere heavy with embrocation and cigarette smoke, those hanging lamps creating a ghostly glow across the arena.

Alberto Dainese's BMC Teammachine R
We take a close look at the Italian sprinter's Tudor Pro Cycling team bike

Pogačar has fun in the desert
World champion wins UAE Tour overall, with some chaos on the way