Photo: Victor Lucas via Hans Rey
Photo: Victor Lucas via Hans Rey
Photo: Victor Lucas via Hans Rey
Photo: Victor Lucas via Hans Rey
Photo: Victor Lucas via Hans Rey
Photo: Victor Lucas via Hans Rey
Photo: Victor Lucas via Hans Rey
Dawn was breaking. The wheels of the bike crunched over the shale-covered surface of the path as the wind swirled beyond the overhanging ledge. Conditions were far from ideal: damp, misty and with more than the hangover of a storm in the air, they left little margin for error – an error that equated to a sheer 600 foot drop down to the waiting rocks and waves of the Atlantic. The riders had ventured out not knowing fully what to expect, but it was too late to turn back now.
When Hans Rey embarked on a road trip with fellow mountain biking star Steve Peat, the plan, as he told Environmental Graffiti, was “to ride all the cool biking trails and spots in Ireland and to visit a few pubs along the way.” Yet the Swiss trials rider and multiple World Champion had long had his sights on the Emerald Isle’s legendary Cliffs of Moher and just knew he had to “ride that edge one day.”
The problem was that they hadn’t foreseen the Cliffs being quite such a tourist trap by day, nor that the weather would be as adverse as it was. So they postponed their plans until early the next morning, though not without misgivings. “We were well aware of stories of the dangerous upward drafts, strong winds that would sweep the cliffs, and as stories have it, pulled several people down over the years,” said Hans.
Daybreak came, and it wasn’t just the visibility that was a bit on the murky side. “Our heads were slightly foggy as well,” Hans explained, “from the Guinness the night before.” Still, they only had one shot at it, and weren't about to be put off. “As we went out there, I quickly felt comfortable and in my zone. As a trials rider you learn to focus on your line, on what you want to do, not what you don't want to do – in this case, fall to death.”
The guys’ confidence grew as they became more comfortable in their environment – and like a dog that smells no fear on you, their environment seemed to grow more accustomed to them. “Even though it was a stormy day, the winds were calm right on the edge of the cliffs. We got more and more daring. We rode ledges that were only about 4 inches wide and even jumped over 4 foot gaps.”
Yet however crazy this sounds to us, pros who are used to navigating over all kinds of obstacles – often without ever putting a foot down – know where the real perils lie. “The dangerous part riding the ledge was not to ride too close to the hillside, since we didn't want to catch a pedal on the rocks and high-side down the cliff.” Obviously it takes superlative skill to pull off a stunt like this, and the riders completed their spectacular trail without mishap.
Of course, the local authorities knew nothing about what was going down on the Cliffs of Moher that cold Irish winter morning, and apparently they were none too pleased when they later found out. But since when have extreme sports guys cared about doing things by the book? “Just for the record, there were no parachutes in our backpacks, as some had speculated,” Hans concludes. "Mind over matter and the mercy of Mother Nature.”
With special thanks to Hans Rey for contributing his thoughts to this article, and to Victor Lucas for kind permission to use his stunning shots
If you want to find out all the latest news on the environment, why not subscribe to our RSS feed?
29 comments
Tobias Young (not verified) says:
Mar 26th, 2009 at 7am
Hey Hans,
That's some great crazy riding. When Michelle and I walked that unmarked path a couple years ago she was clinging to the ground with a death grip every time a little breeze came by! Good to see you had fun. We loved Ireland ourselves. Best,
Toby (brother of Everest climber Trynt, of course)
Jack Cocker (not verified) says:
Apr 10th, 2009 at 10am
They faced Death and told her " Not now bitch " :)) Neat stuff dudes , stay safe
Conor Goulding (not verified) says:
Apr 23rd, 2009 at 11pm
They are called the Cliffes of Moher not Mohan * rolls yes* can't even get the name right. And there is allways wind but it blows upwards from wind hitting the base of the cliffs and being directed up. During some bad storms boulders weighing several tons can be thrown up by the force of the wind! so he was more in danger ofbeing thrown away from the edge :P
Content (not verified) says:
May 16th, 2009 at 9pm
Cool post but another blog has stolen it:
http://www.chilloutpoint.com/places_and_nature/the-most-dangerous-bike-ride-trail.html
Mac (not verified) says:
Jun 8th, 2009 at 5pm
Dude yeah its sliffs of Moher, and the band is Flogging Molly haha not Floggy. BUt dude that was some intense footage. those guys are some ballsy daredevils. awesome job
Nicola (not verified) says:
Jun 8th, 2009 at 9pm
Oh...My...Life! its scary just looking at the pictures! i HATE heights. i would backout of that challenge straight away!...x
J. Temperance (not verified) says:
Jun 23rd, 2009 at 9am
You got the name right at the end, but wrote "Cliffs of Mohan" at the start.
That's some breath-taking skill. I find even standing near the cliff edge quite disturbing.
Thomas (not verified) says:
Jun 26th, 2009 at 3pm
!!!?!!!
I would absolutely NOT do this. All the accolades to those that do. I do not understand how absolutely noone has fallen at least once, just from over thinking it. My bikes have thrown be curveballs while riding slow on flat pavement on WIDE city streets. What a fantastic picture of a drooling death trap.
Just as neat is the info about the wind blowing upwards,not outwards,though I seriously doubt without the hand of God,that if I fell,I'd be blown back onto the ledge.
Did I forget to mention !!!?!!!
Tomas (not verified) says:
Jul 2nd, 2009 at 11pm
Balls of steel, my friends! Thank God I don't know you or I'd fear what death defying act you had up your sleeve next!
tn (not verified) says:
Jul 30th, 2009 at 6pm
OMFG. These pics are SO BADLY shopped... first and fifth are the same.. fu´``ng boring.
Mateus Cowan (not verified) says:
Aug 26th, 2009 at 7pm
Sou do Brasil! acessem ai www.reririders.com.br
I am a guy who walks Freeride in the interior of Brazil to enter our site www.reririders.com.br ai ja ta pumping 30 thousand hits! Thanks
john (not verified) says:
Sep 11th, 2009 at 5pm
hi I have donethis ride nearly 99 times.For me it is quite easy. some of my freinds were dead in this route. I rode with an elephant.
RICART (not verified) says:
Sep 16th, 2009 at 5am
very nice video but i like the music can you tell me the name?
dmt4 (not verified) says:
Oct 7th, 2009 at 11pm
and at the base of those clips? this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4093965tUVE
DbRiders.com (not verified) says:
Oct 21st, 2009 at 9am
Amazing, i would have a rope around me though to do that.
Rob (not verified) says:
Nov 23rd, 2009 at 11pm
As I recall, there's absolutely nothing to keep you from falling over the edge. I've walked the one way path these guys are on. It's not a long path - certainly wouldn't take a bike out there. The problem I had with it is that there's a natural tendency to lean away from the edge toward the cliff face. But, the cliff face is sloped such that it's closer to your feet than your hands. If your feet catch, you'll fall against the cliff face and your feet will slide out from under you and off you'll go into the serf after a long scream.
Mark (not verified) says:
Mar 18th, 2010 at 7am
A word to travelers - if you believe "the winds blow up the cliff so you are safe", then you will die. A strong gust will lower the air pressure, pulling you over and maybe off.
Great pics though.
Jeremy (not verified) says:
Holy shit... my stomach was getting queasy just looking at the photos. Good stuff!