Payson McElveen (Allied Cycle Works-Red Bull) notched another off-road career achievement in New Zealand last year, completing a unique 242-mile (389km) journey with 25,000 feet (7,620m) of elevation gain in under 24 hours. He did it with 25 minutes to spare.
On Thursday, a feature film, ‘Crossings: New Zealand’, was released on Red Bull TV to detail the adventure, from pre-ride preparations to the precarious execution. The Colorado native became the first person to connect three ‘Great Tracks’ trails and finish the ride in one full day.
“The Great Tracks are New Zealand’s crown jewels, so to develop a route that could be accomplished in a single-push ride was irresistible. These trails are so well-maintained and cherished by the locals, and I wanted to honor them with something truly special,” McElveen said in a press release.
“When I realized that all three tracks were close enough to link together, I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime challenge. Becoming the first to do so in under 24 hours was the icing on top.”
Back in 2022, he and Nichole Baker used four days to traverse the Paparoa and Old Ghost tracks, and it was then he began dreaming of linking those two trails with a third Heaphy Track into one continuous endurance ride. That New Zealand trip was also momentous for the duo, as “shortly thereafter Nichole and I hopped over to Tasmania (still our favorite island), and tied the knot”.
Two years later, McElveen took on the New Zealand ride, and it became the subject of the third…
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