“Haibike called me up last year and asked if I’d be interested in setting a world record.” What might sound like a strange way to start a phone call to most people is nothing unusual for Tom Öhler. After all, the Haibike rider already holds the world record for the highest wall climb and the fastest 400m hurdles on a bike. So far, so good. But for Tom, a new record had to be something special – and something that truly suited him. Even though he’s a professional cyclist, chasing pure elevation, depth, or distance just isn’t his thing – he needed a better idea.
What is Enjoyment?
When we think about “pleasure cycling,” most of us probably imagine scenic river bike paths, picnic baskets on pannier racks, and sturdy e-bikes with low step-through frames. But when trial world champion and Haibike athlete Tom Öhler says he’s “more of a pleasure rider,” those who’ve seen him in his natural alpine habitat among ibex and marmots will definitely smile.
“Sure, I love riding technically demanding trails in exposed, alpine terrain. But my favorite moment on a bike is standing at the summit, admiring the mountains, and feeling the anticipation of the next trail. That, for me, is pure pleasure! And then I started wondering: How many summit moments could I experience in one day?” That’s how the idea for the record was born: How many mountain peaks could Tom Öhler conquer in one day on his e-mountain bike?
Pretty understandable. Still, what sounds like an epic day out required meticulous planning, precision riding skills, endurance, and, above all, a serious amount of focus. Because this wasn’t just about having fun – it was about setting a new world record.
No Game Without Rules
Every record needs clear rules and an official body to monitor the whole attempt. “At the start, the question was: what even counts as a summit?” explains Tom. Your average biker might laugh at the question – surely everyone knows a summit is the top of a mountain, right? But on closer inspection, it’s a bit more complicated. “Prominence,” “dominance,” and “elevation” are technical terms used to distinguish true peaks from mere hills. If you want to dive deeper into Tom’s summit criteria, there’s a whole fascinating world of orography waiting for you.
Beyond that, the German Record Institute (RID) rules stated that all summits had to be conquered within 16 hours. The RID also required a minimum of 10 peaks. Since Tom was using an e-mountain bike, battery changes were allowed, but had to be pre-declared. For Tom personally, it was also clear: “I want to pedal up as many trails as possible, and every single descent must be rideable. Otherwise, it’s just not fun or meaningful to me.” For context: what Tom considers “rideable” terrain on his e-MTB would require most of us to put on hiking boots and grab a via ferrata kit! With the rules set, Tom just needed the perfect playground for his mission.
The Playground
Davos/Klosters was quickly chosen. As a bike ambassador for the region, Tom knows it inside out – and knew there was hardly a better place for a mission like this. “You need a dense trail network and, importantly, laws that allow mountain biking on all trails.” In Davos, that’s exactly the case: In Graubünden, you can ride any trail that isn’t explicitly closed to bikes. Still, straying from marked trails isn’t a great idea unless you’re very skilled, because they quickly become extremely exposed, technical, and steep. The official trail network itself is amazing, with berms and take-offs offering top-notch high alpine riding experiences.
“The huge, MTB-optimized trail network made it way easier to put the project together and made the whole thing even more fun,” Tom said. The rugged mountain chains around Jakobshorn, Pischahorn, and Weissfluhgipfel provided plenty of peaks within relatively short distances – another key factor for the record. Tom planned his route on Komoot, designing three loops around Davos. With the plan in hand, it was time to get started.
The Record Day
“I hardly slept the night before because there was still so much to organize, and I was a bit nervous. I knew it was doable, but something can always go wrong,” Tom recalls.At 5:30 AM, it was finally time. “At the start of the first loop towards Jakobshorn, I was so stoked and immediately found my flow.” Nearly three hours and five peaks later, Tom returned to his base camp at Seehofseeli in Davos for a quick break before starting the next loop.
Now came the hardest part: the longest climb up towards Pischahorn. “Partway up, my knee started to hurt, but I somehow managed to keep going. Luckily, it didn’t bother me on the descents or when carrying the bike.” Because while Tom rode every descent, not every summit ascent was rideable. In fact, Tom ended up carrying his Hybe for about 400 vertical meters!
After 5 hours on the trails and 6 more peaks, he returned to base to recharge both his body and bike. “During the break, I ate a bit and, after 9 hours on the bike, finally started feeling the fatigue. Combined with the knee pain, starting the third loop up to Weissfluh at 2,843 meters was definitely the hardest part,” Tom says. “But once I reached the top, flowing over the penultimate summit towards Chörbschhorn, I hit my superflow. That stretch was the coolest and most rewarding part of the whole day.” Just before 6 PM, Tom reached the 15th and final peak, Chörbschhorn, where his wife and some friends were waiting to celebrate with him. “That was such a special moment. After so many hours riding alone, with only drones for company, it was amazing to share the last descent with others.”
After 14 hours, Tom rolled back to Seehofseeli one last time – exhausted but overjoyed, with 15 peaks and one of his best bike days ever under his belt – and a brand-new world record. At the finish line, RID record judge Laura Kuchenbecker was waiting. She directly certified the new world record at the bike and presented Tom with the official certificate. Her summary: “This world record was something new for us at RID too! From an exciting idea developed an ambitious record achievement.”
Tom’s conclusion about the record: “It was an amazing day out there and seriously tough. After 14 hours in that kind of terrain, I was not just physically but mentally tired too – because you really can’t afford any mistakes! But when I look at the mountains around me and realize where I rode today, I’m just super happy and amazed at what’s possible with a bike. Despite the crazy distances, the e-bike kept me energized enough to shred every single meter of trail.” And does he think the record could be broken? “I definitely recommend giving it a try – it’s guaranteed to be an epic day!” Tom grins.
Fact Box: The World Record
3 mountain chains
15 peaks
14 hours
102 kilometers
5,550 meters climbed
3 kilowatt-hours of energy consumed
Tour on Komoot
Words: Martin Taendl Photos: Martin Bissig
