Hannah Otto on the ‘Hardest Climb in the World’

In this episode of Bikes & Big Ideas, host David Golay sits down with professional mountain and gravel cyclist Hannah Otto to discuss her recent achievement of setting a new FKT (Fastest Known Time) on the Mauna Kea road climb in Hawaii—a 55-mile ascent from sea level to 14,000 feet, widely regarded as the 'hardest climb in the world.' Otto, known for her mountain bike FKTs like the Whole Enchilada and Cucupelli Trail, explains her decision to step outside her comfort zone by tackling a road bike effort, driven by the challenge and the desire to push her limits. She details the immense physical and mental demands of the climb, including extreme altitude changes, unpredictable weather, a grueling gravel section, and the pressure of a single attempt window in Hawaii. Despite starting three minutes behind pace due to headwinds, Otto stayed committed to her coach’s power-based pacing strategy, ultimately overcoming the deficit in the steep final miles to beat the record by nearly 30 minutes. She also reflects on the philosophical differences between supported and unsupported FKTs, the importance of embracing uncertainty, and her mission to inspire others to attempt hard things—even if they don’t succeed.