Everesting 2024

New Hope Community Bike hosts the largest one day Everesting fundraiser in Canada. Money raised in this event goes towards reducing barriers to providing equitable access to cycling related resources! Supporting this event is an opportunity to empower others in cycling while giving yourself a unique challenge.

The concept is SIMPLE: Fundraise on behalf of New Hope and then ride up and down the escarpment until you’ve reached the summit of Mount Everest or, (*new this year) a summit of your choosing:

Mount Everest (Nepal) - 8,848 m (approx 84 climbs)

Mount Logan (Yukon) - 5,250 m (approx 50 climbs)

Mount Terror (Antarctica) - 3,262 m (approx 31 climbs)

Or simply try a climb similar to that of Mount Albion (Hamilton) - approximately 76 m (one climb)

This Challenge is for everyone!

This may be the hardest thing you will attempt or accomplish, but worth the effort because you are creating a diverse cycling community by supporting New Hope Community Bikes.

The Details

• Saturday, October 5, 2024

• Fifty Road, Hamilton, ON

Why Summit a Mountain?

Creating an inclusive cycling community and breaking barriers that limit access to cycling can be hard work. Everesting is a 1-day hill climb that mirrors the hard work it takes to build an equitable community by challenging riders to reach the summit of a mountain (the highest being Everest at 8,848m). This fundraiser enables New Hope Community Bikes to break barriers by facilitating programming that includes teaching children to ride bikes, mentoring youth through skill development, supporting cycling initiatives in remote Indigenous Communities, and making cycling accessible to vulnerable people groups. 

Volunteer

We have 45 volunteer shifts to cover for our event. We need help with traffic safety, event prep, first aid, mechanics, and ride sweeps. If you’re interested in volunteering please fill out the form below. Send us a message if you have any questions!

Want to join? Here’s what to do next!

Pick your team size - We're allowing teams to sign with as few as 1 people to as many as 6 people. Choose your team size depending on how many times you want to ride the climb, or mix it up and have one member ride more than others. The goal is to complete the total elevation goal as a team, how you do that is up to you!

Pick your mountain - Do you want to challenge yourself but attempting an Everest seems too overwhelming? This year we have a number of varying heights to choose from:

• Mount Everest (Nepal) - 8,848 m (approx 84 climbs)

• Mount Logan (Yukon) - 5,250 m (approx 50 climbs)

• Mount Terror (Antarctica) - 3,262 m (approx 31 climbs)

• Or simply try a climb similar to that of Mount Albion (Hamilton) - approximately 76 m (one climb)

Sign-up - Registration fees depend on which mountain you decide to tackle: **Early bird fees are $15 off the prices below and have beenextended until May 31, 2024

• Everest - $95 per rider

• Mount Logan riders - $85 per rider

• Mount Terror riders- $75 per rider

• Try a climb (Mt. Albion) - $20 per rider (No early bird discount)

Sign yourself up first by selecting create a team and then teammates can join you later!

Start your fundraising campaign - This year’s overall fundraising goal is $30,000. In participating in this event, it is suggested that each rider fundraise the following minimum amounts in addition to paying their registration fees:

• Everest riders - $350 per rider

• Mount Logan riders - $300 per rider

• Mount Terror riders- $250 per rider

• Try a climb (Mt. Albion) - $100 per rider

Funds raised enable New Hope Community Bikes to break barriers by facilitating programming that includes teaching children to ride bikes, mentoring youth through skill development, supporting cycling initiatives in remote Indigenous Communities, and making cycling accessible to vulnerable people groups. 

Start training with some hill climbs!

Location

For the past 6 years we have used the picturesque Fifty Road for our climb. This route up the Niagara Escarpment offers 100m of elevation gain each lap with a 6% grade and is rated as a Category 4 climb. The road is closed to all non-local traffic for the duration of the event allowing for safer riding conditions and the freedom to use the whole lane up and down.

Schedule - October 5, 2024

History of Our Event

2018

Everesting as a fundraiser was piloted in 2018 to raise support for capital improvements to the building New Hope Community Bikes purchased in spring that year. In its first year, 12 riders participated on a very cold and rainy day and raised almost $10,000 for the cause. Everyone agreed that even though the effort was painful and the weather miserable, the overall experience was a fun way to raise money. The proof of concept was there and 2019 was the year to grow the event.

2019

Getting a permit to close the road was the first step towards ensuring rider safety and enjoyment. Fifty Road, at the furthest east edge of Hamilton’s boundary, was the obvious choice for its scenic views, good quality pavement and relatively low traffic volumes.

42 Riders signed up to punish themselves on the 110m climb with about 1/3 of the riders being affiliated with the newly formed New Hope Bike Club.

The format of Everesting fits well with the New Hope vision of building community through bikes, allowing riders of different skill levels and fitness to ride together and regroup regularly at the top and bottom of the course. This provided lots of opportunities to share encouragement and share the story of ‘why we do what we do’.

The weather on October 18, 2019 was perfect for riding, cool in the morning and comfortable for t-shirt riding in the afternoon. Many spectators and family members came out to cheer on the riders and one of the local radio stations did a ‘live on location’ piece from the top of the hill. Together the group climbed over 80,000m of elevation, two riders accomplished solo Everest climbs and many others completed half of the 8,848m.

Overall, Everesting 2019 raised $16,692 to support our ongoing programs and staffing! Feedback after the event was positive and we have already set the date for the next challenge:

2020

Despite Covid-19 restrictions in 2020, the event went forward with 52 riders participating and over $24,000 raised. 6 Riders completed SOLO efforts and received commemorative photos! 2020’s ride started with a brief early morning thunder storm and down pour, but by 9 am the skies had cleared and riders were starting to count their laps. The day turned into a perfect day for riding with moderate temperatures great for riding. The fastest solo rider finished in under 12 hours!

2021

With fewer Covid-19 restrictions in place, Everesting grew again for 2021. The friends and family FLAT ride was added, and a total of 92 riders signed up to participate in the days’ festivities. We brought in a catered lunch from everyone’s favourite cycling cafe Domestique! Together the riders raised over $25,000

2023 Event Sponsors