A conversation about which cycling challenge I was going to try to take on this summer quickly turned into so much more when it was brought up over coffee with the LINX Collective, a group of like-minded and passionate cyclists. It doesn’t matter that we’re all ‘lockdown cyclists’. We’re 3 years into it and none of us show any signs of letting up anytime soon. 

Beyond this being a cycling challenge, it was a personal one too. Having felt like I’d wasted time in my 20s doing a boring job, playing too many video games and generally whiling away my days, the seeds of change had been sown the year before Covid-19 took hold of the world. I’d started a new job which had given me much more control over my time. It rewarded me in ways I hadn’t been previously experienced and taught me that I could move out of my comfort zone and try new things. Then came lockdown, a bike and a sense of adventure I’d lost long ago.

The Everesting Challenge was the test. How far had I come in these three and a bit years? How much had I learnt about myself? How deep I could go? Did I have the mental strength to stick at it when things got tough? I had never tested myself in this way but then again, I’d never realised how much support I’d have – which for me was the biggest positive I took away from the day. 

Waking up at 4am, I tried my hardest to get a bowl of porridge down whilst trying not to wake my partner up, as I didn’t want her to wish me ‘good luck’ or anything else at this point. I think there was a part of me that didn’t want to entertain what I was about to attempt, just in case I couldn’t do it. We’d previously ridden 320km from Leeds to London, which to date was the biggest ride I’d done. 

Pulling into the car park just as the sun was rising and seeing Tom, Brad, Ben & Jordan, it all suddenly felt very real. There was no backing down now. No chance. The boys were here. It was happening. ‘The next 14 hours are going to be interesting’ I thought to myself. We built up the bike, stocked our pockets and headed off down Norwood Edge to start the first of 52 climbs. 

The first hour was serene, the sun was coming up and the haze burning off in the valley as I prepared to dig in. It was an amazing sight. I’m fortunate enough to live in a truly beautiful place - Yorkshire. I’ve been fortunate enough to see some amazing places, but, for me, nothing can compare to home. Seeing the passage of a full day across the valley was something I was looking forward to. I’d seen it before, but this time would be different. 

Chris was the first of many who came to join me, to tick of a few early morning reps, which I wasn’t expecting. I had no idea he was coming, I assumed everyone would be at work. We rode 3 or 4 together before he had to slip off to work, but this set the tone for the rest of the day.

I couldn’t, and still can’t, believe how many people came out to support me and to be involved. Aside from the LINX boys, who I can’t thank enough for sitting for the best part of 14 hours on the side of hill, creating the video and amazing pictures of what is simply my proudest achievement to date, seeing my friends both old and new roll up the hill in their cars or bikes to the car park, joining me on reps or cheering every time I rode past the car park was actually the hardest thing to deal with. I’ve never been one to put myself out there in this way – come watch me succeed or come watch me fail – and feeling the support everybody gave me and seeing the effort all of these people made still puts a lump in my throat two weeks later.

The day flew by. Aside from a little rain mid-morning the weather was almost perfect. The Cervelo rode like a dream, the nutrition plan provided by OTE worked a treat and the Universal Colours Chroma kit kept me comfortable all day. Every time the 16% gradient bit at my legs, I was lucky enough to either have someone with me or to know that there’d be people on the next corner ready to cheer and shout the climb number, pushing me up one more time. Without them, this wouldn’t have happened. 

The day grew older, and the reps took longer but still we kept turning round and going for one more. It wasn’t until I’d completed my 50th that I realised it was really going to happen. Most of the day is a blur, but I intensely remember punching the air as I descended before my penultimate climb. I’d done 50, there were only 2 to go, and I certainly wasn’t giving in now. 

Climbing up to the car park one last time, seeing the silhouettes of around 15 of my nearest and dearest is something that’ll live long in my memory. It made the previous 13 hours so worthwhile. Knowing that there are people who are willing to be there for you if you struggle and to help you on your way is priceless and truly heart-warming. I hope one day I can return the favour.