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Video/Photo Story: Cam and Jordy Conquer (the height of) Everest
TL;DR: two mates did an Everest simultaneously in different states,
one was wet one was dry,
it was hard, we raised ~$8500 for a bike based charity.
one was wet one was dry,
it was hard, we raised ~$8500 for a bike based charity.
In mid 2023 Jordy and I were in Europe for some bike racing. Despite being teammates we’d
only met once before we were picking our van up in Edinburgh (we live in the same country
but 2500km away from one another)
Jordy and Cam in Innerleithen for the first round of the EWS
After getting our respective heads kicked in at round one of the EWS in Tweed Valley we
drove to Andorra for 10 days of panic training. Camping in a pop up tent at the top of
Andorra Pal Arinsal we woke up excited to ride the bike park only to realise it didn’t open for
another two weeks along with everything else in the Port Du Soleil. Nevertheless we got to
work climbing up via the road and descending some pirate tracks before racing the Pyrenees
Cup in Naturlandia. (Funniest race of our lives, video of this to come)
Cam at the top of Naturlandia after 4 weeks of riding and baguette eating (in no particular order)
Following a few days of ride-ups we got ahead of ourselves and the idea of doing an Everest
started popping up in conversation pretty frequently over a few too many post ride beers.
Fast forward a year and the wheels were in motion and we agreed on a date, and postponed
it, and postponed it til eventually we started our respective Everest’s on August 11th.
We decided if we were going to put ourselves through it we would want to do it for a cause
and we couldn’t think of a charity more deserving than Lighthouse Youth Projects. They are a South Australian based
not-for-profit who focus on getting at risk kids out on bikes, mentoring them through riding and trail building. We
raised just under $9000 and this has allowed them to donate bikes to help kids get to school.
The Lighthouse crew is comprised of a bunch of BMXers, Mountain bikers and local legends of the cycling community in South Australia, their energy and passion to help people is inspiring
Lighthouse involved in the community at the Port Adelaide Christmas Pageant
Lighthouse were also able to buy a trailer with the funds raised so they can transport kids bikes to riding/trail building
locations. After riding with the Lighthouse Crew we couldn’t be more stoked with how far this
money will go for these kids. A huge thanks to all who donated!
More on lighthouse and a link to donate here: https://lighthouseyp.org/donate
The Routes
Jordy’s route consisted of a smaller climb being roughly 120m of vert over 2.5km whereas
mine was slightly more vert but much longer- roughly 200m elevation per 5km. That’s 45
laps for cam and a whopping 79 for Jordy (he did some bonus laps whilst I was trudging
through the last few kms of mud)
Honourable mention- Jordy got the Strava KOM on his descent after 18 hours of riding
Favourites of the ride:
Cam-
Food: Woolworths brand creamed rice
Drink: it’s gotta be a tie between SIS GO lemon lime carb mix and the classic Coke (thanks
Yatesy for the 3:00 drop off)
Song: Talking Heads-Once in a Lifetime
Piece of kit: Lezyne Multi drive- kept the track kit up and once the sun came up I used the
battery pack to charge my Wahoo.
Best moment: 3am delusional sing alongs with the Kookaburras
Worst moment: When the rain soaked through my last rain jacket after 16 hours of riding in
mud.
Our support crews made all the difference in the last hours of the ride
Jordy-
Food: 6 pack of iced doughnuts, honerable munchion to the bacon and egg roll at sunrise.
Drink: Infinit nutrition speed mix and coke every couple of hours.
Song: Inxs-Mystify
Piece of kit: My mate jakes full size boom box strapped to his back riding along with me.
Best moment: First lap after the sun came up
Worst moment: Second lap after the sun came up realising I still had 8 hours to go.
Jordy's trolley, fun fact we both burnt over 15,000 calories during our respective rides
Bike Check:
Cam-
Frame: Santa Cruz Megatower C Large
Wheels: Reserve 30HD Carbon
Fork: Rockshox Zeb Ultimate 170mm
Shock: Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate Air
Tires:
F: Pirelli Scorpion Enduro M Race
R: Pirelli Scorpion S
Drivetrain: Sram Transmission XO
Bars: Santa Cruz Carbon 30mm Rise 760w
Lights-
Bar: Lezyne Mega Drive 1800i Direct X Lock
Headlight: Lezyne Multi Drive on GoPro mount
Computer: Wahoo ELEMNT
One incredibly muddy bike and it's relieved pilot
Jordy-
Frame: Santa Cruz Megatower C Large
Wheels: Reserve 30HD Carbon
Fork: Rockshox Zeb Ultimate 170mm
Shock: Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate Coil
Tires:
F: Pirelli Scorpion Enduro M Race
R: Pirelli Scorpion Enduro M Race
Drivetrain: Sram Eagle XO Mechanical
Bars: Burgtec Ride Wide 30mm x 780mm
Stem: Burgtec Enduro Mk3 50mm
Lights-
Bar: Lezyne Mega Drive 1800i Direct X Lock
Headlight: Lezyne Multi Drive
Computer: Wahoo ELEMNT
A huge huge thank you to Lighthouse Youth Projects for giving us a purpose for the ride, Mallard Media, Sean Lee Creative and everyone who donated or came out to support!
Author Info:
Member since Apr 9, 2020
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