For ten weeks, cyclists all over the country have been locked down as restrictions stopped them from cycling any further than 2km - and later 5km - from their homes.
With the weather so good for the time of year, the restrictions made it very difficult for cyclists used to logging daily spins inexcess of 100km.
The Mayo cycling league - with the help of the on-line app “Zwift” - stepped in by setting up a weekly virtual league consisting of eight rounds. Some evenings there were over 60 riders racing each other virtually.
A select group of hardened cyclists dreamed up a unique challenge for themselves, to virtually climb Mount Everest from their own homes.
A spokesperson said: "It may sound crazy, but with a bit of planning and a lot of suffering, the 13 Mayo riders will have raised a lot of funds for Croí Heart and Stroke - come tomorrow Saturday, May 30.
"The 13 riders scattered around Mayo are attempting to ride the same amount of vertical meters as climbing Mount Everest - using the on line app Zwift, connected to a direct drive turbo trainer, to simulate the real thing virtually.
"It will take 14 hours of nonstop hell, glued to a saddle in their own homes climbing away for hours looking at their laptop screens, it’s nine times up and down Alpe du Zwift."
The team consists of Belmullet CC's Alan Concannon; Annagh Wheelers' members Darragh Delaney and Eoin Waldron; Westport Covey Wheelers' cyclists Aidan Gill, Keith Mulroy, Rob Flynn, Bryan Hyland, Tom Bourke and Aidan Campbell; Western Lakes CC's riders Colin Loughney, Janis Blinovs, Kieran Heneghan and Pádraig Marrey.
"These are the riders and are the biggest known group from the one area to attempt such a feat virtually, getting underway tomorrow morning starting at 5am. Anyone who would like to support them on their own bike can simply join one of the participants virtually for one or more of the climbs to see what its like."
To donate log on to https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/vEveresting.
