Everyone knows that balance in life is key. But this gentlemen from Norway is certainly taking this verity to extremes but in a most inspiring and beautiful and very “hard to believe” way. He’s Eskil Ronningsbakken and this short movie is of Eskil riding 50mph BACKWARDS down one of the great plummeting descents in the world: The Trollstigen Road. That’s right, Eskil is tackling this downhill monster on a bicycle BACKWARDS.
Eskil’s motto is “Everything in life is a matter of balance,” and he has spent his entire life living on the edge creating art that makes a difference. The goal is not just to leave an imprint on the mind. The goal is to move boundaries, inspire and show humans all over the world that anything is possible.
The Trollstigen Road is a serpentine mountain road in Norway that is a popular tourist attraction due to its steep incline of 9% and eleven hairpin bends up a steep mountainside. The road is narrow with many sharp bends, and although several bends were widened during 2005 to 2012,vehicles over 41 feet long are prohibited from driving the road. Trollstigen was opened on 31 July 1936, by King Haakon VII after eight years of construction. Very cool!
I for one completely get it, and understand Eskil’s motto about balance. My life has only begun to make sense once the different facets of who I am as a mature man began to come together when I found my soul mate/wife and we started our family. The extremes that I was pulled in for many years began to subside. I was no longer blinded by the passions and energies of youth that could only lead me to an existential cup-de-sac.
Eskil does more than ride backwards. These photos below give a glimpse into this remarkable man’s accomplishments.
Bravo to the “Guru of Balance” Eskil Ronningsbakken!
8 Comments
Hey can you fix the title? It says 50 MPH. I think you meant 50 KM which is much much different. In the video he is NOT going 50 MPH.
The title says backwards at 80km/h which is roughly 50 mph. Amazing at any speed however.
Loren, I’m no expert on this, but according to the original post he’s going 50 MPH, but I’m in touch with Eskil so I will ask him directly next time we speak – still pretty radical, no?
I’m hard pressed on a road bike to do 40 mph in an aerodynamic (forward) position, pedaling hard on a good downhill. Any wobble, and I would lose it. Do different laws of physics apply for Eskil as well?
I guess one has to show incredible numbers to get views. The fastest I have ever gone on a bike was 85km/h on a high-end tandem in the alps. We needed to make ourselves quite small to reach this speed. The backwards position does not look it would result in such high speed. Good challenge though, even though it might be a bit dangerous. BTW, the world hour distance record for a bicycle is over 50 miles and is held by a rider lying on his back going backwards (looking at a mirror where he is going).
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this article
and the rest of the website is extremely good.
Nice video!! Most people wouldn’t even think about doing that on a bike, but you make it look easy. On the other hand, from watching the video, there is no part where it shows you going 50mph, if that was the case, then have a camera pointing at a speedometer in the vehicle behind you to add some credibility to the video!!
I reallу likе it when folks get together and share thoughts.
Great blog, stіck with it!