Cycle challenge proves most Everesting
An epic partnership
4000 figures for exhibition Martin Nichols first heard about an extreme cycling challenge a year ago and thought it was ‘‘ridiculous’’.
But now the Nelson cyclist has knocked it off – Everesting, that is.
Everesting is an extreme test of an amateur cyclist’s endurance by climbing a designated hill or mountain and ascending the equivalent height of Mt Everest, 8848 metres, within 24 hours and without sleep.
‘‘I thought never in a million years,’’ said Nichols.
‘‘But it gnawed away at me and I had to put it to bed one way or another.’’
When planning began for his daughters Sophie, 10, and Lily, 8 to go with their Atawhai Girl Guides and Brownies group to the Guide Jamboree in Christchurch next year he saw it as an opportunity to combine the challenge with fundraising for the trip.
He said the Jamboree would be a rich experience for the girls, who would make new friends and a chance for Lily, who has Down syndrome, to participate with her peers.
Nichols, who describes himself as more of a weekend warrior than a competitor, calculated that he needed to do 130 ascents of Bayview Road to reach the same elevation as Mt Everest. Each ascent was between 68 to 69 metres. He added on a few extra ascents just to be sure.
‘‘You get to descend Everest too, that’s the fun bit.’’
He chose Bayview Rd because the cul-de-sac was close to home, had low traffic flow, smooth seal, corners that weren’t too sharp for ascents and a toilet near the top.
Nichols got on his bike at 5pm on Thursday, cycling through the night to finish within 24 hours on Friday afternoon.
‘‘It is best to do the second half of the challenge in daylight when the body is fatigued.’’
Strategy is a big part of it, with
Comes to Abel Tasman