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.

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. Some of Skelton's claims have been challenged: "There are many examples of explorers who kited faster and longer on the polar caps".^[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 (unsupported and unassisted), surviving the last 4 days of the expedition drinking chocolate powder and sunflower oil. When it was not possible to cycle on the bike, he used skies in order to keep forward with efficiency. He became the first person to cycle to the South Pole solo, unsupported and unassisted.^[14].

Daniel Burton Burton was cycling solo to the South Pole but had four resupplies of food along the route, and another one mechanical in the middle of the route. Burton traveled the full distance pedaling or pushing his bike, but even if he was much lighter than Menendez, he spent 5 days more to cover the same distance and route than him.

References