Kilimanjaro in a Day by Bike: FKT Preparation Blueprint

This guide is for endurance cyclists, gravel and MTB racers, and adventure athletes who are staring at a huge objective, such as a fastest known time, a big mountain day or a one-day push up a major climb. They have the fitness for long rides. What they lack is a plan for the parts that don't fit a normal training block: thin air, temperatures that drop from 70°F to 0°F, gradients over 40%, long stretches of hike-a-bike, and gear that has to work for both riding and walking. Inside, you'll find the planning framework Hannah Rae Otto used to prepare for a single-day ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro by bike. The effort covered 36 miles, about 15,000 feet of climbing, and a start near 5,000 feet that ended above 19,000. You'll learn how to break an objective into its real demands, build a training block that fits those demands, and test "jack of all trades" gear such as shoes, harnesses and layers. You'll also learn how to set pacing numbers, make decisions at altitude, and handle the moment when you aren't sure you can finish. Each section ends with steps you can apply to your own project, along with the mistakes to avoid. Hannah is a professional MTB and gravel racer for SCOTT, the 2025 XCM National Champion, and the 2022 Leadville winner. She is also a certified athletic trainer and coach. She has set FKTs on Hole Enchilada, Cocodeli and Monokey, and she has worked through the Mauna Kea and Kilimanjaro projects with her husband and mechanic, Clayton. This guide draws on what she tested, changed and learned along the way. It is a practical blueprint, not a promise of a summit.