Cycle South Expedition - 2012

Cycle South will be a world-first bicycle journey across the Antarctic continent to the South Pole. Covering nearly 750 miles, the route will traverse from Hercules Inlet to the Geographic South Pole, and if conditions permit, 750 miles back to the coast again. In the past explorers have famously quipped, 'because it's there.' However, the goal of the Cycle South expedition is to combine adventure and advocacy to demonstrate the many ways in which people can use a bicycle to protect our environment as well as improve the quality of our lives.



Using skis and sled dogs, Roald Amundsen was the first to traverse the snow and ice of Antarctica to successfully reach the South Pole. Since that time however, only a handful of expeditions have reached the Pole. In the race to the South Pole, expeditions have employed tractors, snowmobiles, trucks and more, but never has a traverse been completed on a bicycle.





Complete the first-ever bicycle expedition to the Geographic South Pole (and return should conditions prove favorable)

Engage a global audience through daily updates, podcasts, videos, real-time tracking, and more

Produce a documentary film and book

Raise money for several bicycle-themed advocacy groups (Parkinson's Disease, Climate Change, Bicycle Accessibility and Developing Nation Bicycle Donations)

Develop a post expedition multi-media lecture series

Route:



The route will span from the edge of the Antarctic continent at Hercules Inlet to the Geographic South Pole a distance of 600 nautical miles (roughly 750 statute miles). Should conditions be favorable, I will then cycle back the entire distance to Hercules Inlet. In 2009, I completed the same traverse on skis over the course of 51 days and consequently and am very familiar with the route.



Equipment:



While bicycles have been around for nearly two centuries, the technology allowing efficient winter travel is relatively new. Therefore, cycling in Antarctica requires a wide variety of custom modifications to be able traverse such a varied terrain while carrying several weeks provisions, gear and supplies. I will pedal the Surly Moonlander which uses nearly five inch wide low-pressure tires to provide float and traction over the snow and ice. I will be carrying all my gear in specially designed panniers and food and fuel will be pared down to the bare minimum.



Obstacles:



Surprisingly, the terrain in Antarctica is relatively conducive to snow bike travel as the snow is dense and compact. That said, storms can deposit large quantities snow which can create debilitating pockets of soft powder. Crevasses, whiteouts and sastrugi also pose formidable obstacles.



Travel Schedule:



The Cycle South expedition will follow a very regimented travel schedule:



0600 - wake up, snow melt, breakfast

0730 - strike camp

0800 - first biking shift

0930 - break

0940 - second biking shift

1100 - break

1110 - third biking shift

1230 - break

1240 - fourth biking shift

1400 - lunch

1500 - fifth biking shift

1630 - break

1640 - sixth biking shift

1800 - break

1810 - seventh biking shift

1930 - camp set up

2000 - dinner snow melt, web update, gear repair, check navigation

2200 - sleep



Project timeline:



Current - Training, gear testing and general expedition preparations

12.13 Depart Colorado for Punta Arenas, Chile

12.17 Depart for Antarctica via Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions Ilyushin -- weather permitting

12.20 Depart Union Glacier Base Camp for Hercules Inlet (edge of Antarctic continent) via ALE Twin Otter

12.21-01.12.13 Bicycle 750 miles to the Geographic South Pole

01.13-01.25 weather permitting return bicycle journey to Hercules Inlet

01.27 return ALE Ilyushin flight to Punta Arenas, Chile. In my opinion, modern expeditions are less about geographic firsts and more about story telling. The Cycle South expedition will use the a bicycle expedition to the Geographic South Pole to achieve the following objectives:Route:The route will span from the edge of the Antarctic continent at Hercules Inlet to the Geographic South Pole a distance of 600 nautical miles (roughly 750 statute miles). Should conditions be favorable, I will then cycle back the entire distance to Hercules Inlet. In 2009, I completed the same traverse on skis over the course of 51 days and consequently and am very familiar with the route.Equipment:While bicycles have been around for nearly two centuries, the technology allowing efficient winter travel is relatively new. Therefore, cycling in Antarctica requires a wide variety of custom modifications to be able traverse such a varied terrain while carrying several weeks provisions, gear and supplies. I will pedal the Surly Moonlander which uses nearly five inch wide low-pressure tires to provide float and traction over the snow and ice. I will be carrying all my gear in specially designed panniers and food and fuel will be pared down to the bare minimum.Obstacles:Surprisingly, the terrain in Antarctica is relatively conducive to snow bike travel as the snow is dense and compact. That said, storms can deposit large quantities snow which can create debilitating pockets of soft powder. Crevasses, whiteouts and sastrugi also pose formidable obstacles.Travel Schedule:The Cycle South expedition will follow a very regimented travel schedule:0600 - wake up, snow melt, breakfast0730 - strike camp0800 - first biking shift0930 - break0940 - second biking shift1100 - break1110 - third biking shift1230 - break1240 - fourth biking shift1400 - lunch1500 - fifth biking shift1630 - break1640 - sixth biking shift1800 - break1810 - seventh biking shift1930 - camp set up2000 - dinner snow melt, web update, gear repair, check navigation2200 - sleepProject timeline:Current - Training, gear testing and general expedition preparations12.13 Depart Colorado for Punta Arenas, Chile12.17 Depart for Antarctica via Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions Ilyushin -- weather permitting12.20 Depart Union Glacier Base Camp for Hercules Inlet (edge of Antarctic continent) via ALE Twin Otter12.21-01.12.13 Bicycle 750 miles to the Geographic South Pole01.13-01.25 weather permitting return bicycle journey to Hercules Inlet01.27 return ALE Ilyushin flight to Punta Arenas, Chile.

Training: Churchill, Manatoba (Mar., 2012)

Training/Evaluation: Arrowhead 135 Ultra Marathon (Feb., 2011)