From Bike to Trail: How Endurance Fitness Powers Epic Adventures

Building endurance fitness isn’t just about racing, it’s about creating the capacity to tackle incredible adventures. Tony Taylor is a perfect example of this idea. Tony recently completed one of Europe’s most challenging hikes, the legendary GR20 trail across Corsica, France.

The GR20 is a 180km (112-mile) route that cuts north to south across Corsica, climbing over 12,000m (39,000 ft) of rugged, rocky terrain. It’s known as one of Europe’s toughest treks, demanding both physical strength and mental resilience. Most people take about 16 days to complete it, Tony and his group of 13 friends finished in just 12 days.

Each day meant up to 9 hours on the trail, moving slowly, sometimes just 25–30 minutes per kilometre over steep climbs, technical descents, and exposed alpine sections. The early days were tough: “Day 1 was good, Day 2 I was tired, Day 3 even more tired,” Tony recalls. “The body gradually adapts and you get into a rhythm. Days 6–10 felt easier until the last couple of days, which were hard again.” The attrition rate for the hike is quoted to be about 40%. We had members of our group leave the hike because of a broken wrist, injuries to knees and thighs. Tony had to leave for a couple of days because he became ill, but was able to rejoin and finish the hike.

The group stayed in a mix of small refugeos (mountain huts), tents, and hotels in tiny towns along the way. Meals were simple, bread and jam, yogurt, and small meat charcuterie for breakfast, cold rice, couscous or pasta salad for lunch — but dinners were hearty and communal, often featuring enormous trays of lasagna and lively conversation, which became one of the highlights of each day.

This trek wasn’t about speed or competition. It was about endurance, resilience, and the ability to keep moving day after day, the exact qualities built through years of consistent cycling. That fitness didn’t just make the trek possible, it made it enjoyable. It allowed him to soak in the dramatic alpine views, share an unforgettable experience with friends, and push limits in a completely new environment.

Endurance fitness is more than just preparation for a race, it’s an investment in a lifetime of adventure. Tony’s GR20 journey is proof that the work you put in on the bike can take you far beyond the finish line.