Tour de Big Bear, August 2nd, 2025
United States | Midwest | Ohio >> VIDEO: Phil Gaimon's Worst Retirement Ever Episode 1: Mount Palomar

VIDEO: Phil Gaimon's Worst Retirement Ever Episode 1: Mount Palomar

Former pro cyclist Phil Gaimon shares adventures from his "Worst Retirement Ever" hillclimb series. Brought to you by Cannondale, Mavic, Castelli, Chamois Buttr, Velofix, Clif, ISM, Arundel, New Balance, Oakley, and Orucase

Ex-Professional Cannondale-Drapac cyclist, Phil Gaimon has just launched episode 1 of his series, aptly named "The Worst Retirement" ever. Phil retired from professional cycling last year and is known to hundreds of fans throughout California and the U.S. and here on Gran Fondo Guide.

Having retired, his passion and enthusiasm for riding hasn't diminished and nor has his form. Gaimon is still one of the best climbers in the world and recently is took the Mount Badly Strava section from Team Sky's Ian Boswell.

He also set new a Strava KOM on Hawaii's 62 mile, 14,000 feet Mauna Kea last New Year's Eve.

Gaimon has also held the record for the Mount Washington hill climb previously.

Gaimon works full-time for talent agency Wasserman,and continues to train with the mission of claiming Strava KOMs throughout the state of California and beyond.

He has built a super-light Cannondale bike and taken off the front brake and cut pieces off the bike in order to make it light as possible for his record attempts. 

In episode one, Phil sets to work trying to grab the Mount Palomar South Grade KOM. The climb is 11.6 miles at an average of 7% and contains 4,236 feet of climbing.

The current record holder is Chris Horner who set a time of 51m 15s in June 2012.

Other notable riders on the leader board are Taylor Phinney, Robin Carpenter and Neil Shirley.

VIDEO: Phil attempts Mount Palomar KOM

VIDEO: Phil's KOM Killer Cannondale

VIDEO: Phil attempts Torrey Pines KOM

 
Tag: malibugrancookiedough
 
Mar 21 2020 - NEWS: Phil Gaimon launches series Empty Toilet Paper Roll Chats to help beat quarantine together
Feb 27 2020 - NEWS: 11 Broken Bones, Collapsed Lung and $250,000 in Debt, Phil Gaimon Fights On!
Jan 18 2020 - NEWS: Phil Gaimon reaches goal of raising $100,000 for No Kid Hungry!
Oct 30 2019 - NEWS: 5th Edition of Phil's Cookie Fondo another Big Success in Malibu
Oct 28 2019 - NEWS: Another Great Weekend of Cycling with Phil Gaimon at the the Hillclimb Worlds!
Jun 18 2019 - NEWS: Make Sure You Don't Run Out of Cookies! Register for Phil’s Fondo Now!
Sep 22 2019 - NEWS: Test your mettle at the Hillclimb World Championships presented by Mavic
Jun 16 2019 - NEWS: Register now for the World Championships Hillclimb and Gran Fondo!
Aug 28 2019 - NEWS: Phil Gaimon explains his Horrendous Track Crash and Recovery
Aug 06 2019 - NEWS: Watch Out Utah! Cookie Corner is Coming!
Jul 26 2019 - NEWS: Vanlife: Phil Gaimon visits Austin, Texas for Beers, Tacos and a KOM
Jul 04 2019 - NEWS: Generous Fans help raise $70,000 dollars for No Kid Hungry after Phil Gaimon’s Horror Track Crash
Mar 03 2019 - NEWS: Down Under: Gaimon tackles Mundaring Weir Road KOM in Perth
Jan 13 2019 - NEWS: Gibraltar Road Hillclimb World Championships Video Released
Dec 30 2018 - NEWS: Watch Phil Gaimon destroy South LA's Switchback KOM with 500 Watts
Oct 25 2025 - EVENT: Phil's Cookie Fondo
 
Tag: strava
 
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