If you thought the 8,848 metres of vertical ascent required by an Everesting attempt sounded like a challenge, how about 2,600,000 metres? That is the task Honister 92 cycling club have set themselves collectively, inspired by the London Marathon appeal, which is based around the numbers 26 and 2.6.
It’s an astronomical target — literally: were the club’s riders actually able to ride up a continuous vertical ascent this big, it would take them well past the International Space Station.
Honister 92’s John Rea, who has helped organise the challenge, said the club was inspired by an appeal launched by the Marathon, which has been postponed till October. “The Marathon potentially lost millions in charitable donations,” he says. Being Lakes-based “a hilly climbing challenge was always on the cards. Only…