List of Antarctic cycling expeditions

Antarctic cycling expeditions were made possible with the development of fatbikes: fat tired bicycles designed for riding in snow and sand.

Expeditions

Expeditions in order of miles cycled.

Burton is the first person to bike from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole. Unlike Menéndez and Skelton, Burton did not use skis to travel. Leijerstam also traveled the full distance from the coast to the South Pole on a tricycle using the compacted South Pole Traverse.

Doug Stoup Stoup was the first person to do a bike expedition in Antarctica. In January 2003^[7] Doug Stoup rode a specially designed "ice bike" 200 miles^[8] around the Patriot Hills.

Helen Skelton

In 2012, Skelton became the first person to reach the South Pole using a bicycle. The bike was custom built for her trip, with 8-inch-wide tires. She also used skis and a kite to help her pull a sled containing 82 kg of supplies.^[9] She covered 329 miles by kite ski, 103 by bike and 69 by cross-country ski. Skelton's claims have been challenged as a hoax.^[10]

Eric Larsen In December 2012 made the first attempt to do an expedition solely by bicycle to the South Pole. After covering 175 miles, one quarter of the distance to the South Pole, Larsen abandoned his attempt and biked an addition 160 miles back to Patriot Hills.^[11]

Maria Leijerstam On 27 December 2013 Leijerstam became the first person to cycle from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole.^[12] Leijerstam's achievement was criticized for excessive motorized support.^[13]

Juan Menéndez Granados Menéndez, calling himself Juan Sin Miedo, started his bicycle and ski expedition at Hercules Inlet in December 2013 and finish on January 17, 2014. Juan traveled the full distance without any resupplies. Burton claims that Juan rode his bike less than 120 of the 750 miles to the South Pole.^[14]

Daniel Burton Burton's South Pole Epic is the first full bike expedition to the South Pole. Burton was solo but had three resupplies of food along the route. Burton traveled the full distance pedaling or pushing his bike.

References