Amir Kabbani and Patrick Schweika set the new Guinness World Records achievement for the greatest vertical descent on a mountain bike in 24 hours at Bikepark Schladming in Austria last October. The two athletes rode the 1074.75-metre descent as often as possible within the 24-hour window to break the existing record of 32,796.9 metres. After every descent, the riders were shuttled back up the winding road to the start of the track in a Mercedes-Benz X-Class.
| Up until the 20th time, it was still fun. After that, we just kept on functioning until 6:30 in the morning.—Amir Kabbani |
The pickup was the perfect partner for the job: The loading surface provided plenty of space for the bikes and enabled rapid loading and unloading. The route to the starting point ran through a winding sealed road and continued along a gravel path. Thanks to its driving dynamics and off-road capabilities, the X-Class lost no valuable time here at all.
A team of 50 people made the record possible while shooting an epic mountain bike content piece. The entire staff of mechanics, physiotherapists, organizers, officials, stunt drivers, camera crew, and drone operators did an incredible job. When the two athletes equaled the former record in the middle of the night, they kept pushing on, setting a new all-time best of 40,840.5 metres. Even with the disadvantages of short autumn days with little daylight and a slippery track with frozen conditions overnight, the two riders were able to push through their fatigue and shatter the previously set record.
Pro mountain bikers with marathon conditioning.A moment's respite during 40,840.5 metres of descending.Keeping everything running smoothly.
MENTIONS: @mercedes-benz
The marketing people who put this together need to dial back the cringe a few notches. We would have got that the attempt was sponsored by Merc without all the marketing speak and photos of the trucks without the bikes even in the back.
How about instead of:
"The pickup was the perfect partner for the job: The loading surface provided plenty of space for the bikes and enabled rapid loading and unloading. The route to the starting point ran through a winding sealed road and continued along a gravel path. Thanks to its driving dynamics and off-road capabilities, the X-Class lost no valuable time here at all."
Something like:
"The attempt was sponsored by Mercedes who provided their X-Class to speed up the uplift compared to the chairlift and increase the number of runs possible."
so we don't have to cringe ourselves inside out reading it.
Congratulations to the riders, that much descending is a true marathon.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wytqqfzC5E8
But then again congrats to the riders who set the record & i can tell from my experiences with 24 Hours DH events it's the hardest thing in DH.
Mercedes: *invests more sponsorship money in mountain biking*
Pb commenters: WTF?!?!?!?
Not really sure why you all seem to be surprised that an article categorized as sponsored content with the title "24-Hour Downhill Mountain Biking World Record With the X-Class" included advertisements for the X-class.
For example, the Toyota advertising trip up on Haida Gwai was well done. Clearly an ad,but not in your face about it, and a cool trip. I still remember it months later, so it was effective.
Also if you ask me making a Guiness record like that is R-worded as hell.
Maybe they can evolve
Plus there have been People that did more in 24 Hours, just look at the results of the 24 h Downhill race in Semmering 2016:
Winner did 152 rounds with each 335 hm, equals about 50,920 m which is more than 32,796 m.
Dont get me wrong, nice for those two to have such a big projekt with Mercedes and a outstanding performance but they obviously didnt do much research.
Tecnically they are right because the effords in the 24 hr Downhill race in Semmering werent bonified by Guinness world records.
Anyway, heres the link to the result sheet:
my2.raceresult.com/54178/#1_94B8D8
Plus there have been People that did more in 24 Hours, just look at the results of the 24 h Downhill race in Semmering 2016:
Winner did 152 rounds with each 335 hm, equals about 50,920 m which is more than 32,796 m.
Dont get me wrong, nice for those two to have such a big projekt with Mercedes and a outstanding performance but they obviously didnt do much research.
Tecnically they are right because the effords in the 24 hr Downhill race in Semmering werent bonified by Guinness world records.
Anyway, heres the link to the result sheet:
my2.raceresult.com/54178/#1_94B8D8
Plus there have been People that did more in 24 Hours, just look at the results of the 24 h Downhill race in Semmering 2016:
Winner did 152 rounds with each 335 hm, equals about 50,920 m which is more than 32,796 m.
Dont get me wrong, nice for those two to have such a big projekt with Mercedes and a outstanding performance but they obviously didnt do much research.
Tecnically they are right because the effords in the 24 hr Downhill race in Semmering werent bonified by Guinness world records.
Anyway, heres the link to the result sheet:
my2.raceresult.com/54178/#1_94B8D8
"Our intention was never to set a world record that we thought would last. Mount 7 is the last place you would choose if your intention was the biggest possible number. There's no chairlift and it has a steep uphill that added 5180 feet of climbing to our day. The opportunity existed to start something official with Guinness and bring exposure to our sport, so we wanted to set the bar on a track that is notorious for its punishing nature and really defines what DH means to us. It can easily be beaten elsewhere, but we hope to see someone try to take the title where it began; Psychosis on Mt 7. We'll even let you try it in the dry." - Mark Haimes
By contrast, this record is the equivalent of those dudes who basically get Sherpas to carry them up Everest for a summit photo-op.
For the next generation Sprinter please can you just get rid of all the leaks, make it wide enough to sleep across and sort out the rear brakes because they are made of cheese and squeak to much. Thanks.
*I have a converted Sprinter.
"The contents displayed are of a fictitious nature. Filmed for the purpose of advertising, solely professionals participated on a secure and prepared terrain. The contents do not in any respect correspond with the designated use of the vehicle. We expressly do not recommend such use."
I take that as meaning: look at how this truck Tokyo drifts around gravel corners; however, if you take yours off road, it voids the warranty.
smh
And had to hike-a-bike...for parts of it... in the dark/ pouring rain... I recall sleet somewhere in there as well..
Non- pro riders ( from what it seems)
This:
Purely Mercedes lift assisted ..
Pro riders
Looks like an easier track in better conditions..
Tons of corporate sponsorship by the looks of it..
Looks like comparing apples to oranges...
No mention of the Alberta crew .. WTH
Go team Canada ! You guys rock ...
Yes, this is a feat .. but not comparable. ..in my mind.
Also, save some coin and opt for the cheaper (and mechanically identical) Nissan Navara or Renault Alaskan.
Congratulations to the new record holders. Many of the comments are about the commercialization of this article - but I’d make a comment to that the previous record holder Reg Mullet did the record attempt solo using chairlifts. To me there should almost be another category for this event, vehicle and chairlift categories. I’m surprised that the article did not in any way discuss/honour the previous record.
From Mercedes, I would have been a lot more interested if there was technical information about the truck. What makes it an ideal vehicle for this - what makes it better than literally any other crew cab pickup? What's the suspension design? Is there a turbo, to avoid power loss at altitude? MTBers are gearheads; play to that. Don't just do this because you know bikes are expensive so riders must have money to spend on a truck.
An outdoors-oriented influencer I follow on Instagram was given or lent a Mercedes SUV to create content, and I thought it weakened her brand without strengthening theirs. Jarring to see this tough hiker posting pics of a shiny vehicle no one else will ever drive to those remote trailheads. It was similarly disingenuous.
Levy could have done the drive back up the mountain in his Mini. I've driven my Nissan Micra on way worse roads while towing a trailer with bikes on my roofrack. I mean c'mon.
Yeah, that's pretty cool, brah, but try the "Ride The Divide" ride and talk to me about arduous.
Then maybe you'll end up with something that actually gets shared around, accomplishing your goal, rather than something people make fun of in the Pinkbike comments section.
Why not go green and use an ebike?
That's right... Mercedes is a sponsor! Gotta make those $$$.
-Tighten stem bolts bottom to top, ride it.
-Tighten stem bolts top to bottom.
-Also with try it with the handlebars bolts.
You will notice it feels different and also gives you different handling.
The Pros have a specific bolt tightening sequence to make the bike being capable to jump and ride faster.
Plus there have been People that did more in 24 Hours, just look at the results of the 24 h Downhill race in Semmering 2016:
Winner did 152 rounds with each 335 hm, equals about 50,920 m which is more than 32,796 m.
Dont get me wrong, nice for those two to have such a big projekt with Mercedes and a outstanding performance but they obviously didnt do much research.
Tecnically they are right because the effords in the 24 hr Downhill race in Semmering werent bonified by Guinness world records.
Anyway, heres the link to the result sheet:
my2.raceresult.com/54178/#1_94B8D8
doesn't seem like much of an accomplishment when you are only doing the fun part.
disagree with "doesn't seem like much of an accomplishment...."
If you've ever done any endurance sport for close to the 24 hour range it ceases being fun a loooooooong time before that, especially if it's repetitive like this. Also, maybe you have the finger, tendon, and forearm strength of a professional climber, but I don't. Even if the terrain isn't BC-certified gnargnar..... holy sh*t, this is insanely brutal on the body. Have you ever spend a day at the bike park casually clocking laps and still come out fresh at the end of the day? No.
Mercedes Benz Marketing Dept: Hold my beer.
How did that slip past the content editors?
Who gives a sh*t if I plant 12 trees if when my Corolla dies I replace it with a monstrosity like this.