Payson McElveen unveils film about ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ ride, finishing 242 miles of New Zealand trails with 25,000 feet of climbing in 24 hours

“What if I said, ‘enough’. But what if I don’t stop?”

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Those were the thoughts McElveen said out loud when doubt crept in during the ride on New Zealand’s South Island. Two of the three trails did not allow night riding to protect nocturnal wildlife, so “not only was riding fast a good idea, it would be a requirement to completing the route in one go”, McElveen said in the film.

There are three major trails, of 10 total, on the South Island of New Zealand that permit use by cyclists in addition to hikers – the 35-mile Paparoa Track, 53-mile Old Ghost Road, and 49-mile Heaphy Track. The three trails are clustered on the northern section of the island, but are not connected, so McElveen created routes with 113 miles/182km of transfers for a full route.

“The Great Tracks are New Zealand’s crown jewels, so to develop a route that could be accomplished in a single-push ride was irresistible. These trails are so well-maintained and cherished by the locals, and I wanted to honor them with something truly special,” McElveen said in a press release.

“When I realized that all three tracks were close enough to link together, I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime challenge. Becoming the first to do so in under 24 hours was the icing on top.”

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Payson McElveen makes a water crossing during Great Tracks ride (Image credit: Callum Wood / Red Bull)

Back in 2022, he and Nichole Baker used four days to traverse the Paparoa and Old Ghost tracks, and it was then he began dreaming of linking those two trails with a third Heaphy Track into one continuous endurance ride. That New Zealand trip was also momentous for the duo, as “shortly thereafter Nichole and I hopped over to Tasmania (still our favorite island), and tied the knot”.

Two years later, McElveen took on the New Zealand ride, and it became the subject of the third installment of his “Crossings” series, the others featuring long-distance rides across Iceland and Tasmania.

“After Tasmania, I knew I wanted to do something again that pushed me, something with more athletic ambition behind it,” he said. “[2024] was a year of consistency, of everything clicking. I really felt like I was racing at a new level.”

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McElveen’s 2024 season saw him complete a second season in the Life Time Grand Prix series, and he finished third overall. He was in top form and good health, and took on the three Great Tracks that fall.