Hannah Otto’s Kilimanjaro Ascent. PEARL iZUMi athlete Hannah Otto is taking on one of the boldest bike‑mountain challenges imaginable: a single‑day ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.
The effort is part of Beyond the Summit: Kilimanjaro for World Bicycle Relief, a year‑long fundraising campaign launching May 14 and aiming to raise $165,000—enough to provide 1,000 life‑changing bicycles to communities where mobility means access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.
From the press release: “Attempting to summit Kilimanjaro in one day is about expanding what’s possible… for some people, the bike isn’t just a challenge, it’s a life-changing opportunity.”
A Human‑Powered Record Attempt
If successful, Otto will become the fastest—and first—known female to complete a single-day bicycle ascent of the 19,341-foot peak. Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, and the route spans everything from hot, dusty lowlands to sub-zero alpine conditions. It’s a massive physical undertaking, but also a symbolic one: using the bike to push boundaries and raise bikes for others.
PEARL iZUMi Builds a Summit‑Ready System
PEARL iZUMi isn’t just sponsoring the project—they’re engineering a full apparel system designed specifically for the attempt. From the heat at the base to the freezing summit, Otto’s kit has been developed in close collaboration with the brand. It will handle the mountain’s extreme vertical climate range.
Meanwhile, as PEARL iZUMi’s Gabe Rivera puts it
Hannah’s attempt… embodies what PEARL iZUMi stands for — pushing the limits of what’s possible on a bike, and doing it for something bigger than the podium.
Campaign Details
- Campaign: Beyond the Summit: Kilimanjaro for World Bicycle Relief
- Goal: $165,000 / 1,000 bikes
- Launch: May 14, 2025
- Attempt Window: October 24–November 3
- Fundraising site.
Lastly, Bike Hugger will follow the project as it develops—gear testing, training and the final push towards the summit. This one mixes adventure, purpose and the kind of boundarystretching ride story we love to cover.
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