In October 2013 we made a 24 hour attempt to ride a Boris Bike up Mont Ventoux in Southern France - this is the story! You can donate here: www.justgiving.com/rob-holden1
I've ridden Ventoux on what amounts to a proper bike and it very nearly killed me. Doing that ride on a Boris without stopping is truly something special. Chapeau!
That's fine entertainment right there! Not that it's an equivalent accomplishment, but in the Los Angeles region, there's a road cyclist named Kevin Boyle who's known for riding around the local mountains on a monstrous beach cruiser, the kind you'd see along any beach path with wide handlebars, platform pedals, Hello Kitty front basket and a dingy bell, but fitted with a 7 speed internal rear hub. He does it for the fun and challenge, and to mess with snooty road cyclists as he keeps up with them on all but the steepest sections.
Oh this is just too good. I was well impressed when I came across three brave souls riding Boris Bikes to Brighton last summer. But this goes beyond everything I have ever seen. SuperKudos™
Having done Ventoux I can say what a tough climb it is. Utter respect to you all! Your father must be proud and what a team to have to get the target achieved. As below, take a bow, you all earn't it! Nice work and RESPECT!
Absolutely spectacular! As suspenseful as any TdF mountain top finish! Chapeaux, sirs! And extra Kudos for the cause you support! You deserve your own special "Hors Catégorie" in Le Club des Cinglés!
seriously didnt ride back down the hill after doing that... Thats like working a 60 hours week then saying "nah its ok, I don't want my wages this week" great vid though guys, very entertaining.
After some initial testing of the brakes on local hills we decided that it was probably unsafe to do with a boris bike - your right would of been fun though!
What a great ride - well done! Been up there a couple of times, the last time when I was 70, but never from Bedouin. It's not really that steep in Peak District terms, but it's relentless and very, very hard. Plus there's a reason it called the Ventoux - it can be very windy at the top.
This is great -- Ken Burns meets Richard Attenborough meets Phil Liggett. If only you could split it into a multi-day affair, with interviews while you're getting post-ride massages, ducking questions about doping, and adding a few awkward Q&A with Lemond and Merckx.
I have a bike just like the one they used to conquer Ventoux, except it is a full suspension heavy duty steel Jeep Comanche Classic Mountain bike that weighs like 40 plus pounds. These men ought to be commended for their accomplishment. It is not the bike but the man that makes the Bike.
I bloody love this...you're a bunch of nutters. Well done you beat the Ventoux (&Jeremy Clarkson-all by Boris Bike) 22sec spare...cutting a bit fine lads, eh? (KIDDING!)
Fantastic effort, and a fantastic challenge! Even if you hadn't pulled it off, it was still good crack! Don't know if u used our blog at all in the Ventoux research? We did the Cingles in 2010 and that last 500m is a killer! Well done
If anyone is wondering, the Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising page is still taking donations. If you enjoyed this film, please give something at www.justgiving.com/rob-holden1 . Thank you. Rob Holden (Boris Bike Pilot)
Supreme effort, aside from the cycle up a legendary mountain on bicycle that really is not intended for that cycle. They had to drive from and back to central London all within 24hours! #borisbikes Chapeau.
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If any one from outside the UK wonders what it means to be British, this video sums it up perfectly. Cracking effort!
I've ridden Ventoux on what amounts to a proper bike and it very nearly killed me. Doing that ride on a Boris without stopping is truly something special. Chapeau!
That's fine entertainment right there! Not that it's an equivalent accomplishment, but in the Los Angeles region, there's a road cyclist named Kevin Boyle who's known for riding around the local mountains on a monstrous beach cruiser, the kind you'd see along any beach path with wide handlebars, platform pedals, Hello Kitty front basket and a dingy bell, but fitted with a 7 speed internal rear hub. He does it for the fun and challenge, and to mess with snooty road cyclists as he keeps up with them on all but the steepest sections.
I've biked up Mt. Ventoux before, it was more painful than dying, and colder than space.
Oh this is just too good. I was well impressed when I came across three brave souls riding Boris Bikes to Brighton last summer. But this goes beyond everything I have ever seen. SuperKudos™
Outstanding. Highly inspirational and all for a good cause. Well done.
Thanks Matt
Having done Ventoux I can say what a tough climb it is. Utter respect to you all! Your father must be proud and what a team to have to get the target achieved. As below, take a bow, you all earn't it! Nice work and RESPECT!
Brilliant! You Brits have a great sense of adventure and sense of humor to try and pull off this stunt!
Truly epic effort! Well done Rob and the crew.
Love it. Rode up Ventoux a couple of times this September. Hugely impressed you did this. Very British!!!!
Thanks Marat
Truly awe inspiring. Loved every minute of it!
well done Matthew Winstone, Ian Laurie and Robert Holden - great achievement!
Absolutely spectacular! As suspenseful as any TdF mountain top finish! Chapeaux, sirs! And extra Kudos for the cause you support! You deserve your own special "Hors Catégorie" in Le Club des Cinglés!
That is epic. I rode a conventional road bike up this beast in 2008, which was nothing short of hell. Your epic transcends mine by far.
seriously didnt ride back down the hill after doing that... Thats like working a 60 hours week then saying "nah its ok, I don't want my wages this week" great vid though guys, very entertaining.
After some initial testing of the brakes on local hills we decided that it was probably unsafe to do with a boris bike - your right would of been fun though!
Don't think I'd trust a boris bike going down there.
I love the whole idea behind this, guys. Great work - imaginative concept and nice execution.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it
Getting up Kings Cross rise on the boris bike does me in... these guys are heroes....
congratulations rob. amazing work and just in time
Well done guys i can't believe the weight of a Boris bike lol, makes the ride truly epic!!!
Norb you legend! You made national radio last night. Well done JoP and Jim
THE 22591 CHALLENGE
I like the title.
Well Done, I like this stuff, pure original thinking.
Fantastic, I'm so impressed! Well done. Apart from all the obvious challenges you overcame, you also put up with the dreadful saddle those bikes have!
Seems there is now justification for a bike dock on top of the mountain.. haha
You sir, are a god damned hero! I had chills watching you summit the mountain. Amazing.
Despite positive adjectives are falling short, you guys are simply impressive. Bravissimi!
Bob you are a hero ! Great video, we should get you over here to do the North Sea Run in Norway. BP are mad for their bikes !
Very Inspiring, well done chaps - especially Rob of course!!
Chapeau..
Very well done!
Obviously not time to test it, but I wonder if the brakes would have taken the descent.
Absolutely brilliant work, chaps. Well done!
Gentlemen I salute you. Well Done! A mighty mighty achievement. Seeds Planted!!!
Chapeau to you guys. Great achievement.
Tommy would be having a laugh as you rode by. He enjoyed a good joke.
Well done guys - huge respect. A very worthy cause.
Thanks Andy
Genius! Fantastic effort - well done guys.
Amazing job guys, massive respect!
I thought Boris bikes self destruct if you take them outside the city limits?
I love this video - I wish you do more videos as a group!
What a great ride - well done!
Been up there a couple of times, the last time when I was 70, but never from Bedouin. It's not really that steep in Peak District terms, but it's relentless and very, very hard. Plus there's a reason it called the Ventoux - it can be very windy at the top.
Absolutely awesome - great effort
Donation on the way!
Great video. Epic performance. Well done lads.
This is great -- Ken Burns meets Richard Attenborough meets Phil Liggett. If only you could split it into a multi-day affair, with interviews while you're getting post-ride massages, ducking questions about doping, and adding a few awkward Q&A with Lemond and Merckx.
Amazing effort! Just donated (taking your total number of donors to 500!) Well done from Canada!
Awsome job guys, full respect.
The most impressive thing is that this is the most epic and dramatic video of something that was neither dramatic nor epic.
"Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out in the Midday Sun" and ride up to the top of Mont Ventoux.
Congratulations !!!
You should print the journey record and keep it as a trophy...congrats I would not believe it ....
AWESOME achievement! Congratulations.
Challenge accepted, challenge COMPLETE! Amazing effort guys!
Great video guys, love it, and I live just of east street and its about 2 minutes down the road from where you got the bike.
Excellent work!
well done. fabulous work
What a great story!
Geez everything against them, well done. 2 hours up hill!!!! Ppfffff
This is epic, well done guys!
Nice work Rob!!
Chapeau guys - amazing stuff!
Only a Brit would think of this. Ride a Boris Bike (a Citi bike in London) up Mt Ventoux.
Big Kudos!
Epic video, well done lads!
Still love this
Fantastic, well done guys
I have a bike just like the one they used to conquer Ventoux, except it is a full suspension heavy duty steel Jeep Comanche Classic Mountain bike that weighs like 40 plus pounds. These men ought to be commended for their accomplishment. It is not the bike but the man that makes the Bike.
I bloody love this...you're a bunch of nutters. Well done you beat the Ventoux (&Jeremy Clarkson-all by Boris Bike) 22sec spare...cutting a bit fine lads, eh? (KIDDING!)
Happy new year Debby. Stay well:o)
Thanks Lidia Simango, the same to you too :-)
Total respect
Fantastic. Well done fellas.
I suspect this won't be the last 24 hour Boris Bike challenge.... Well done lads.
Top chops, boys. Well done.
Awesome job guys
Take a bow.... well done guys!
Brilliant. Well done guys.
A long way from Woodbank Park Schoolboy Criteriums, Rob! Great story. Donation on its way to Macmillan.
Congrats Rob - you crazy fool!
Nothing. But. Respect.
Inspiring, Quixotian, mad. Great story
What a fantastic achievement, well done
Fantastic effort, and a fantastic challenge! Even if you hadn't pulled it off, it was still good crack! Don't know if u used our blog at all in the Ventoux research? We did the Cingles in 2010 and that last 500m is a killer! Well done
What a amazing ride, guys!
Félicitations à vous!
Thanks Rodrigo!
This is awesome!! Well done chaps!
brilliant and well done...
Thank god you got back to the docking station to find a free dock.
Excellent.....Bravo
Averaging about 80mph back up France - good going! :D
Bloody brilliant! Well done Rob, and the guys. What next year?
Top Work !
Well done!
This is just great.
Yes very good. Great Respect
If anyone is wondering, the Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising page is still taking donations. If you enjoyed this film, please give something at www.justgiving.com/rob-holden1 . Thank you. Rob Holden (Boris Bike Pilot)
Supreme effort, aside from the cycle up a legendary mountain on bicycle that really is not intended for that cycle. They had to drive from and back to central London all within 24hours! #borisbikes Chapeau.
Well done brother!
great effort!
Good job! I once did a 7km climb on a road bike and that damn well killed me.
Brilliant!
Huge respect. What a great challenge and all for a really good cause. £10 from me! ;-)
Chapeau!
LOVE THIS!
Well done everyone.
kudos
Respect!
Brilliant.