Hire and higher: Citibike conquers Mount Washington

An intrepid British cyclist who last year rode a Boris Bike to the top of Mont Ventoux in southern France has pedalled to further extremes in America by using a New York hire bike to conquer Mount Washington.

Riding an 18 kg New York Citibike, Rob Holden took on arguably the toughest cycle hill climb in the world – 7.6 miles at inclines of up to 18% on a road with an average wind speed of 35mph (and that has been known to gust at over 200mph).

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The endeavour was in support of Macmillan Cancer and the Livestrong Foundation.

https://youtu.be/WR-VGi5WIPc

The Climb

Mount Washington stands at 6,288 ft (1,917 m) and famous for its erratic weather. Until 2010, the summit held the record for the highest wind gust at the Earth's surface, 231 mph. The indigenous people of America christened the mountain Agiocochook, or 'Home of the Great Spirit'.

The bike

Similar in appearance to a London Boris Bike, the Citibike features a unisex step-through frame, Shimano Nexus three-speed twist shifter, mudguards and heavy duty tyres - all tipping the scales at around 18 kg.

Bicycle insurance for your own adventure

Whether you use a bike to tackle the morning commute, a triathlon or even Mount Washingotn, a cycle insurance policy from ETA has you covered. We always include new-for-old replacement (we never devalue no matter the age of your bike), £5m third party, accidental damage, friends and family cover, cycle breakdown, and worldwide cover as standard - we are not beaten on price if you want fully comprehensive bicycle insurance.