Queenstowner Annie Ford’s embracing that mentality as she prepares to break her own Guinness World Record at Coronet Peak next week.
Ford, an environmental activist and CEO of Tahuna Ride and Conservation, set the record for the most downhill on a bike in 24 hours in 2022 — pulling out after 19 hours after clocking up 41,900 metres, which equated to 100 laps.
At 6pm next Wednesday she’ll set off again, this time aiming to hit 50,000m of descent in the full 24 hours.
She’s starting late to get the night laps knocked off while she’s still fresh, and will have a small army of supporters with her for the duration, including official witnesses.
"It is the most heartwarming experience ... it’s overwhelming the amount to do, but in a community like Queenstown, it is easy — people rally and want to help in any way, shape and form.
"That’s what I love about these missions, they bring people together."
She admits she’s very much looking forward to her rest week — which starts today — having had an intense physical build-up, which has resulted in fitting in about five hours’ training every day, slotted around her job.
"I’m quite exhausted, to be honest.
"But I have never felt stronger, faster, more composed ... I’m riding better than I’ve ever ridden, which is so exciting."
Along with hours on her bike and in the gym, Ford’s also had to get to grips with a new Sram braking system, which she reckons is "a bit of a world-first".
After her ’22 experience, her hands were so swollen she couldn’t close them for three days, but she doesn’t anticipate that being a problem this time.
During her training she’s not ridden with gloves, "so my calluses get really big", while the new braking setup is so sensitive "I’ve been at risk of going over the bars".
"It’s [Sram’s] most intense braking system, and then on the wheels I’ve got extra-large rotors, they’re really good for heat dissipation and effectiveness, so you hardly need to tap [the brakes] for them to be full-stop, which is why people don’t usually run this setup, because it’s quite dangerous.
"But, for a world record and an ultra-endurance downhill, the benefits outweigh the potential costs, especially given I’ve had time to prepare in a place like this, where we’re surrounded by downhill."
Along with hoping to claim her second Guinness record, Ford’s also trying to raise $50,000 for Te Tapu o Tane’s ‘Project Tohu’, the largest indigenous reforestation project ever undertaken in the Whakatipu — this week she hit the half-way point, following a $10,000 donation from Santa Cruz Bikes, which is the bike she’ll be riding next week.
Anyone’s welcome to support Ford during her 24-hour mission — "we’ll be celebrating when we wrap up, that’s for sure," she laughs.
To donate, visit shorturl.at/9j2CL
