Pro mountain biker Rebecca Rusch has just come back this spring from a pretty unique trip to raise money and awareness for World Bicycle Relief. Together with adventurer Patrick Sweeney, Rusch packed her bike up on her back to make the pre-dawn start of the last ascent to the 5895m/19,341ft summit of Africa’s highest peak. Then they rode back down the technical terrain, raising a dollar for every foot of elevation, coming out to 131 new bikes for students in Africa with WBR. Rusch has worked with the charity since 2013 to provide bikes as a means of access to resources like education, healthcare and economic opportunities. Find out more about her adventure and bike, and check out the footage they shot on the way…
The trip took the pair 6 days roundtrip alongside a local team to get up to and over the one of the worlds Seven Summits. Even from the base of the climb at 4035m/13,238ft they had to pace themselves to acclimatize to the altitude. Just 45% of the hikers who attempt to summit Kilimanjaro each year, and only a handful have ever gone up and back lugging a bike.
Rusch rode a Niner JET 9 RDO specially built-up to both withstand the harsh riding on Kilimanjaro, but to be light enough to pack to the top. That meant a 130mm Pike fork, SRAM Rise 60 wheels and High Roller tires, plus an X01 1x and Guide Ultimate brakes.
That same bike that she used on this adventure is now available for auction on eBay, with all proceeds going to benefit World Bicycle Relief, so you too can help get more bikes to those in need.
Check out the whole sotry of the adventure at: RedBull.com
