The Story Behind ELEV8 Maps: Celebrating Endurance Adventures

Every line on a map has a story. Every twist, every climb, every finish line—it’s all part of something bigger. That’s why we started ELEV8 Maps: to celebrate the grit and triumph of endurance athletes everywhere. It wasn’t about the medals or the stats. It was about the journey, the memories, and the stories worth telling. We wanted to create something that lives on long after the cheering stops—something you can look at and say, "I did that." Today, we’re turning your adventures into art. Because every accomplishment deserves to be seen, shared, and remembered.

Before launching ELEV8 Maps, our founder Taylor Vandiver spent 12 years at Hincapie—a family of brands that represented a diverse intersection of interests in the cycling world. Included in this family was a cycling event called Gran Fondo Hincapie. It was a first-of-its-kind cycling experience that elevated the average cycling event with free food and beer after the ride, fully stocked rest stops with live musicians, complete SAG support, and a fleet of EMS to handle any emergency.

Taylor had the privilege of being Creative Director when Rich and George Hincapie launched “The Ultimate Cycling Experience,” allowing him to put his design and branding skills to work as he created the branding, collateral, and yes, the maps. "I remember spending countless hours perfecting every detail of those maps," Taylor recalls. "It wasn't just about showing the route—it was about making the participants feel like they were part of something truly special."

The process of creating detailed and engaging maps for the event was both a creative and technical challenge that was central to each event. Once the routes were defined, Taylor figured out ways to overlay the information onto marketing materials that integrated seamlessly with the branding for the entire event. From route maps to elevation top tube profile stickers to expo logistics, there was a wide range of maps and data to be designed.

Over the years, the maps grew into something bigger—literally. They became part of the participant experience at the event itself. The maps were enlarged and printed on 8-foot-tall boards, displayed for participants on the expo grounds to view as they prepared for their ride. Taylor found that people were very interested in their journey and bonded over discussing the different parts of the route that were challenging or memorable from years past. One participant shared, "The map helped me visualize the entire ride and made me feel more prepared. It was also amazing to look back and see everything I had accomplished."

Seeing this interaction made Taylor realize that the map was a part of the experience that helped tell the story of what participants accomplished. But when the event was over, there wasn’t a way for people to tell their story in the same way.

With the launch of ELEV8 Maps, we want to give people the opportunity to hang their journey on the wall at home or in the office, allowing them to celebrate their accomplishments and share their stories with others as they relive their adventure. Our goal is simple: to create something that lasts—a tribute to the miles you've conquered, the challenges you've faced, and the memories you've made. ELEV8 Maps is here to make sure your adventure lives on, long after the ride is over.