Payson McElveen Crushes the 100 Mile White Rim Record
After a fantastic season opener win at the Landrun 100, Payson McElveen decided to tackle one of the most iconic records in American cycling: the White Rim Trail. On Wednesday, March 27th at 7:39AM McElveen charged through the start line on his Orange Seal Off-road Trek Top Fuel and sprinted deep into Canyonlands National Park for a near six hour sufferfest in an effort to break Andy Dorais fastest known time of 5:59:34. McElveen rolled across the finish line in an incredible 5:45:16.
 | The only way to get better is to explore your boundaries, and I knew tackling this epic loop as fast I could would push me to my absolute limit. Also, as long as I can remember, the payoff of effort and struggle has brought incredible happiness to my life. If I’m in a beautiful place, I just naturally find myself wanting to see what’s around the next turn or over the next rise. Those places seems to call for us to give our full effort—it feels natural to celebrate these places by giving nothing but your very best. |
| The training process for this FKT attempt in some ways has lasted my entire riding career, but my coach and I definitely dialed in specific training starting about four months ago. I did more 5+ hour rides this winter than the rest of my years riding a bike combined. I also was racing time a bit, as a nagging tricep tear added a challenging rehab element. That arm still isn’t at 100%, but thanks to diligent strength work at Red Bull’s High Performance Center and back home in Durango, it recovered just enough to get through all the miles of bumpy rocks on the course. The mental side also posed a unique challenge. I’ve done plenty of long races, but when you’re going head-to-head with other athletes, the races ebb and flow and keep you constantly engaged. A solo time trial effort of this duration was something totally new for me, and required another level of focus. Letting up for even just a few minutes could’ve made the difference between success and failure. |
| A high was definitely getting to my first checkpoint 13 miles in and being over three minutes ahead. That set the tone, and was important for me mentally. Riding a few hundred yards with a heard of wild horses was memorable, too. I tried to harness some of their power and confidence in that heinous environment. I felt so good for the first four hours, unstoppable. I actually had to keep yelling at myself to slow down and adhere to our pacing strategy. The low was literally and figuratively hitting a wall in the last hour. The 2,200 foot climb out of the canyons broke me physically and almost mentally. I had to dig deeper than I ever have. I was using every mental strategy I’d learned, and the support of my team, dad, sponsors, film crew, and spectators that had shown up helped lift me to the finish. Rolling across the finish to the welcome party and sharing hugs after all that went in to this was an enormous highlight. Also drinking just about every type of cold beverage and laying the dirt for 20 minutes was up there, too. |
| One of the goals of the project was to standardize an FKT loop. The way Andy routed his, by starting at the bottom of the last major climb, is undoubtedly a faster way to do it. However, I believe that way is logistically prohibitive for a lot of people. We wanted to start and end at the most commonly used parking lot. I hope this project might inspire more folks to get out and enjoy this beautiful place, whether it’s going for the FKT or enjoying it over the course of multiple days. If you’d like to go after my record, I’d recommend planning your ride when wind and surface conditions are the most favorable. Also definitely ride a full-suspension. Holy bumpiness. Also remember that if you’re pacing it correctly, the first 50 miles really shouldn’t feel very hard. Have a well-thought-out fueling strategy. I ate 300 calories per hour, which requires eating almost every 20-30 minutes. We’re having an official FKT trophy being made, so if you go beat my time using the same start and end point, I’ll ship it to you. Records are made to be broken, so I hope the trophy exchanges hands many times! |
| My dad (Mike McElveen) introduced me to the bike, and though he never pushed me to chase racing or goals, always supported my dreams. In the twenty years we’ve been riding together, there are just too many memories to keep track of. Directly and indirectly, the bike has shaped and guided my life. Both he and my mother Kathy have been adventurers most of their lives, and it’s permeated my family's history. They are my greatest heroes, and remain the people I most want to be like. It was unfortunate that my mom couldn’t make it on this trip, but having my dad there was incredibly special, and gave all the inspiration I needed to give a true, full effort. |
| Luckily I have a bit of break now from racing! I think I may drive up in to the mountains of Durango and try to enjoy my backyard for a few days. That’s not something I get to do often enough. Following that, the van and I will be road tripping to Prescott, AZ for the Whiskey Off-road at the end of April. |
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So did he actually ride straight into a wall? I feel like that's a part of the story that should be elaborated on more...
If not go out and ride your bike, go hard, eventually you will find your wall.
Been there man. Doing the White Rim in a day on a singlespeed was one of the dumbest rides I've ever done. My buddy completely fell apart on that climb and had to hitchhike out. To his credit he rode it again the next spring.
BTW I carried 200 oz of water to do that ride because there is a whole lot of nothing out there. it isn't fair he could do it with two water bottles and a support vehicle. I want a support vehicle
I am a little bit older than you with young boys of my own, and that picture of your dad hugging you made me tear up just a little bit.
I was just trying to taunt my friend Sevenoff by pointing out the cut off.@paysonmcelveen:
Also, that soup strainer would be clogged full of dust and sweat.
Also, also, that does not look like fun.
My buddy even pedaled a spesh demo around it one time.
He also did it on a single speed. Pure masochism. Gears are good, fast rolling tires. Suspension not required if you have big tires and like to pump.
But on a second note, that's goddamn beastly. That's a time difficult to accomplish in a vehicle--can't imagine on a bike!
And I b*tch about the slightly uphill 9km bike commute on pavement lol...
The smartest plan I've heard for solo self supported loop was to leave the day pack at the top of mineral bottom road, drive to the bottom 15 miles away and do that first leg with only 1 bottle.
I guess somehow Payson did it without a pack?!? I like to bring beers.
I agree this is the least punishing way to stage a solo effort. Hit the big climb early, perhaps even pre-dawn, and with no weight burden.
For those who aren't dogmatic about the full loop, just skipping the Mineral Bottom climb + pavement on top makes sense. I've dropped off riders at the visitor center, and then drove down to set up camp just above the lowest/steepest bit of Mineral Bottom. The riders do ~ 80 miles in a big epic day, ending at cold beers, hot sun shower, and backcountry campsite. But no full loop in a day bragging rights.
really...?
As a long time Moab visitor the best time of year to ride there is fall for anyone going for the FKT. Having dawdled along the White Rim many years ago, about the only reason to ride it again is to go for a PR, there are too many other awesome rides in Moab to waste rattling down dirt roads.