MEDITATION
Ben Hildred isn't so different from the rest of us. Sure, his bike handling skills are on par with the upper echelon of professional riders, and his motor is arguably the most well-tuned machine in the business, but he's not interested in being the best.
He's interested in riding.
Any time, anywhere, whenever there's a chance to pedal. Ride for self-reflection, for fun, for challenges that push the limits of what's personally possible — in other words, he rides for the same reason the rest of us do.
RIDE TO SPACE
Ben is best known for his climbing goals — outlandish accomplishments that seem incomprehensible.
After conquering an Everest challenge, Ben took it to the next level, creating the Olympus Mons challenge. Olympus Mons is the tallest mountain in the solar system, standing at a monstrous 69,841 feet (21,287 meters). Ben rode its equivalent in three days.
That wasn't quite enough though. After Olympus Mons, Ben decided to ride one million vertical feet in 200 days. That's the equivalent of over three round trips from Earth to space.
WHY?
"I wish I had a definitive and inspiring answer, although I’m still searching for the reason myself, other than, I love it. Maybe it's the curiosity around what is or could be possible by myself or others. Maybe it’s the Bannister effect. You learn a lot about yourself setting hefty goals and it becomes somewhat addictive."
DOWN TO EARTH
Despite Ben's lofty accomplishments, it's a consensus opinion that he's a genuine, practical, and humble person. He runs his own wheel-building shop — Further — in Queenstown, NZ, he likes eating dark chocolate, he preaches (and practices) the benefits of bike commuting, and at the end of the day he's just a guy who likes to ride his bike.
"What really caught my interest [about Velocio] was the commitment to being environmentally responsible as a brand and being a 1% for the Planet business."
What's Next?
Velocio is joining SRAM and Santa Cruz to support Ben going forward. The commitment to sustainability, welcoming nature, and love for everything pedal-powered is a natural fit.
So what's next? Ben isn't divulging details
