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British woman breaks Everesting world record – and gets mansplained over saddle height

Hannah Rhodes is also the fastest British rider, male or female, to achieve the feat

A cyclist who this weekend broke the women’s world record for Everesting – and in the process became the fastest British rider, male or female, to climb the height of the world’s biggest mountain – has been ‘mansplained’ over the height of her saddle.

Hannah Rhodes took 9 hours 8 minutes and 31 seconds to achieve the height gain of 8,848 metres required to complete the challenge – almost 50 minutes faster than ex-pro cyclist Lauren De Crescenzo’s former women’s world record of 9 hours 57 minutes 29 seconds.

She rode the Kirkstone Pass, which has an average gradient of 10.9 per cent, 27.5 times to set what is not only a new women’s world record, but also the fastest completion of an Everest by any British cyclist.

Rhodes, who was raising money on GoFundMe for the Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent Citizen’s Advice Bureau, averaged 18.2kph during her ride, which you can find here on Strava.

But the first comment (which now seems to have been deleted) to a CyclingTips Facebook post on the new British record and women’s world record questioned her saddle height and riding position.

Of course, there’s been no shortage of examples of women cyclists being offered unsolicited advice by men, and even the world’s top female riders are not immune from it.

After Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten crashed while leading the Olympic road race at Rio four years ago, suffering concussion and three fractures to her spine,Twitter user Marin Betancourt replied to one of her tweets with the words: “First rule of bicycling, keep your bike steady … whether fast or slow.”

Not that van Vleuten needed that ‘helpful’ advice – she already had impressive palmares and since the disappointment of Rio has added a string of stunning victories, including coming from nowhere to win La Course by Le Tour de France ij 2017 and, last year, the world road championship in Yorkshire with a solo break of more than 100 kilometres.

And last week, former world and Olympic champion track sprinter Victoria Pendleton recounted how, when she overtakes men while out riding her bike

> Victoria Pendleton says she often hears "rapid crunching gears" behind her when she overtakes men

She wrote: “If I’m out about on my road bike and I overtake a man for example ... I will hear a rapid crunching gears as they try to ‘make amends for it’ occasionally combined with a mumbling of ‘I must of been daydreaming ... like they need an excuse!’ Usually followed with a pedal mashing (usually short lived) stomp back past me.

“It doesn’t bother me I think it’s funny. I’ve always been underestimated because of the way I look ... one day I want to be intimidating ... but for now this is what I look like, a self-portrait."

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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38 comments

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Wookster | 3 years ago
0 likes

Ok....Three things....

1) Everesting is awesome crazy hard to do, let alone that fast what a rider to do that....However I think a lot are missing the point....KIRSTONE PASS 10.5 times!!!!!!!! Wow!!! That is just nails!!!! Once would kill most of us!!!  
 

2) if I got passed by Victoria Pendleton Id try to keep up not because she's a woman, Because it's Victoria Pendleton!!!!! one of the greatest cycilists ever!! Staying in her wheel for a minute would be an amazing achievement!!!!  You'd be tempted to try with any pro surely!! Just to get destroyed and enjoy how awesome they are and  how mortal you are!! 😂😂 

3) why, why would you comment on a pros set up!! It's a position gained through hours and years of training, core work, stretching!  Smh. 
 

 

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Awavey replied to Wookster | 3 years ago
2 likes

on point 2, Vicky P isnt as instantly recognisable as a former pro Team GB multiple olympic,world,european,commonwealth champion cyclist anymore, she looks like any other woman just out riding her bike,, so no one is dropping a gear just to ride or keep up with her because of who she is.

Shes talking about the thing that nearly every woman riding a bike has experienced, at least once, if theyve overtaken a man riding a bike, the man instantly speeds up to try to retake the road position ahead of you for no other reason than their competitive male egos cant accept being bested by a woman.

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Rich_cb replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
0 likes

Surely everyone, regardless of gender, has had that experience?

It's happened to me multiple times, some people just don't like being overtaken.

I'm not particularly fast so I don't overtake many people, I imagine Pendleton probably does!

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Dhill | 3 years ago
0 likes

Don’t really think saddle height is an issue, if she can do what she has just done. Just some male egos dented, but not my ego as I console my self with being so much older and less accomplished. Remember to always have an excuse to hand, you learn that when trying to time time.

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Colin Peyresourde | 3 years ago
2 likes

Not saying the comment was the right one to make, but from the angle she looks stretched out and it doesn't look like a comfortable position for her. I'm not surprised such a comment came forth, but the evidence is that it seems to work for her.

Just the other day I was remarking on the fact that Ilnur Zahkarin seems to leak power in his cycling stroke because of his knee flaring (both knees) during the 2019 TdF. But I don't think I'd tweet him to tell him so....

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Sriracha replied to Colin Peyresourde | 3 years ago
0 likes

I think she is out of the saddle.

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StephMc replied to Colin Peyresourde | 3 years ago
1 like

Really? You're doubling down on this? Did you read the article? 

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Derk Davies | 3 years ago
1 like

I very much doubt she could do a ride like that if her seat was too badly out. She probably has quite a good idea what she's doing. Everesting reaches parts of the body other rides don't and you wouldn't get away with it. 

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Border Fox | 3 years ago
0 likes

That should read 37.5 times not 27.5..

 

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Rich_cb | 3 years ago
4 likes

I'm enjoying all the unsolicited definitions, explanations and even origin stories under this article.

Great ride by Hannah, absolutely smashed that record.

It's been fun to see so many people having a crack at everesting recently.

Next time I've got 2 or 3 days spare might even have a go myself.

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HarryTrauts | 3 years ago
5 likes

That's a stunning ride!  Knocking 50 minutes off the record is amazing!

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caw35ride | 3 years ago
5 likes

Excuse me for butting in but, congratulations Hannah, what an incredible performance!

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pauld replied to caw35ride | 3 years ago
1 like
caw35ride wrote:

Excuse me for butting in but, congratulations Hannah, what an incredible performance!

I was about to say the same, amazing performance however she was riding, I know I wouldn't be able to do that..

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Master Bean | 3 years ago
0 likes

Simon MacMichael. Woman/women, learn the difference.

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Balthazar | 3 years ago
3 likes

I remember when years ago I first heard the brilliant portmanteau "mansplaining", because I thought -hang, on, that's "male answer syndrome":

https://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_mas

Which brings it back to bikes: Male Answer Syndrome was defined by Jobst Brandt. After finding in his discussions about bikes that only men must always have the answer to everything, actual knowledge be damned. I laughed, and then saw it everywhere: I particularly used to notice MAS at art galleries, where I'd struggle to look at artworks undistracted over of the noise of men explaining the art to their wives.

I'm aware of the irony of this comment. 

I'm also aware that somebody might be along soon to mansplain irony to me

 

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hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
10 likes

.

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Jimmy Ray Will replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
1 like

The take away from this chart is never offer to help a woman... she'll ask if she wants any help.

That's fair enough, and having read a few of these threads over the years this is exactly what I do... doesn't matter how bad, dangerous or stupid the activity / situation in question, I just let it go. Learn your own lessons no matter how hard.

I do however think this is a real shame and hope one day that a male could offer genuine insight without automatically being considered a mysognist and wanting to assert their male dominance. 

Sad times

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hawkinspeter replied to Jimmy Ray Will | 3 years ago
1 like

There's a difference between offering help and just launching into an unwanted explanation. You can also consider whether you'd offer the same help/advice if the person was male.

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StephMc replied to Jimmy Ray Will | 3 years ago
0 likes

I'm sure you can work out when it's a good time to offer a woman advice / help. In the case of Hannah Rhodes, (an incredibly accomplished cyclist), unless you're some world class professional saddle fitter, best leave it. It's quite simple really. When in doubt, just ask if they need a hand, rather than launching in and assuming ignorance. 

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Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
4 likes

What a bait of a story. Woman gets comment from man ......well the chances are sort of 50/50 it's going to be a man or woman. Unsolicited advice from someone who happens to be a man must be some sort of male dominance thing? Can't it just be the 'person' is an idiot?

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Simon E replied to Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
12 likes
Rick_Rude wrote:

Woman gets comment from man ......well the chances are sort of 50/50 it's going to be a man or woman.

The term "mansplaining" exists for a very good reason. Have you only just joined the internet and perhaps not understood?

I just think this is an incredible achievement and wouldn't dare to pass judgement in some snide fashion (not even if I was someone who could do it faster).

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TheBillder replied to Simon E | 3 years ago
3 likes

Exactly, what next?

Excuse me, Mr Froome, that arm position isn't very aero. That upright running style will never get you anywhere, Mr Johnson. Oh, and Herr Mozart, your tunes are a bit samey. Oi Einstein, get a haircut! How many women said this in public forums? That's why there's not a concept of womansplaining.

It pains me, but this kind of idiocy is 99% male. The only time I've ever experienced it not being so is when a young woman approached me to give unsolicited tips on child care in a museum. And I do think she was sincerely trying to help.

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Paul__M replied to TheBillder | 3 years ago
0 likes

It's an interesting point, but I have heard a commentator ask Johnson about his style, to which the reply was "works for me" (sounding bored of the question). I also hear a lot of comments that Mr Froome's style on a bike 'is not pretty' (in a slightly disparaging way), leading to discussion of high cadence. Paula Radcliff was another example.

To me we've missed the fascinating question - why has this non conventional position worked so well for her ? (though, of course, there's a lot more bedsides to such an amazing feat). It almost looks as if the setting is designed for a 'standing style' of climbing without leaving the saddle. Maybe it utilises the calves better? I can't see it working on the flat, but who knows? And with some gravelers using dropper posts it would be possible to vary across a ride. I think I'll raise my saddle a touch and try a known climb, good for a laugh if nothing else.

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Rick_Rude replied to Simon E | 3 years ago
0 likes

Completely missing the point. Why is mansplaining even a thing. It's the assumption of sexism when maybe it was shit advice that happened to be given by a man with no sexism implied. Did the person specifically say 'being a woman youve done xyz wrong'? Or it the assumption of sexism coming from others, in fact actually reinforcing problems that arent there?

 

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Rick_Rude replied to Simon E | 3 years ago
0 likes

Completely missing the point. Why is mansplaining even a thing. It's the assumption of sexism when maybe it was shit advice that happened to be given by a man with no sexism implied. Did the person specifically say 'being a woman youve done xyz wrong'? Or it the assumption of sexism coming from others, in fact actually reinforcing problems that arent there?

 

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Rick_Rude replied to Simon E | 3 years ago
1 like

Completely missing the point. Why is mansplaining even a thing. It's the assumption of sexism when maybe it was shit advice that happened to be given by a man with no sexism implied. Did the person specifically say 'being a woman youve done xyz wrong'? Or it the assumption of sexism coming from others, in fact actually reinforcing problems that arent there?

 

Avatar
Rick_Rude replied to Simon E | 3 years ago
1 like

Completely missing the point. Why is mansplaining even a thing. It's the assumption of sexism when maybe it was shit advice that happened to be given by a man with no sexism implied. Did the person specifically say 'being a woman youve done xyz wrong'? Or it the assumption of sexism coming from others, in fact actually reinforcing problems that arent there?

 

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Rick_Rude replied to Simon E | 3 years ago
0 likes

 

 

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DoctorFish replied to Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
8 likes

You seem to have posted the same thing several times.  Do you need someone, preferably male, to explain how to not do that?

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RobD replied to Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
1 like

The point is, would the commenter have so freely posted a comment on trivial issues such as saddle height if it was a male rider having achieved this? knowing what some cyclists are like, maybe, but most of the time it's the unsolicited 'advice' that men give to women that they likely wouldn't have offered to a man in the same situation.

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