Correspondence with Polar Explorer and Everest veteran mountaineer - Eric Larsen // Explorers // Advice on overland expeditions // Mountain bike treks // Mongolia Solo 2500km Crossing 2012

 2012 Solo Crossing 2500km or 1553 miles and accumulated 40,000 meters altitude in Outer Mongolia. Now, I have professional explorers and world touring cyclists asking for advice. Eric Larsen contacted me a week ago to ask for logistical support for Mongolia. In 2010, Eric Larsen became the first person in history to successfully complete expeditions to South Pole, North Pole and the summit of Mount Everest in a continuous 365-day period. In 2006, Larsen completed the first ever summer expedition to the North Pole.

 2014 Cycle to the Gobi Desert in southern Mongolia

 Reaching the 5 Saints in 45 days overlanding.

 My top of the world expedition experience made public on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

100 miles a day experience in 2013 crossing North America in 30 days, 3400 kilometers, 2000 miles.

Re: Polar training courses Inbox x Brian Perich Mar 29 to Eric, Rob Hi Eric, CC: Rob Hill, IDEAS 

 I went through tough terrain to follow-through and finish my 2500km 1553 mile journey. On finishing and returning to Korea I had to get back into work but had terrible physical complications. This was my second official bike expedition after China and the Himalayas in 2011. I returned two years later, last summer, to ride directly to the Gobi and out east to Khentii. In total, I covered 3700km in 65 days, 2500km in 38 days pedaling on the first trip+7 days resting/recovering. I wore the old Pearl iZumi shoes when the Walk-n-bike shoes I ordered to replace them came sized smaller than a decent fit. As a result, with very little padding, I took a beating scaffolding the mountains north and then west to Khovsgol and Altai. I walked a great deal, sand deserts and the mountains climbing up while pushing the bike loaded. I still support Rob Hill from the IDEAS foundation of Canada, he is also a professional mountaineer. Let's include him in this conversation. I have lost touch with Antony Jinman, and failed to get sponsored. I did have one-off support from Lynskey Performance for their titanium frame, but I had to buy-in at cost, then they dropped me before I had finished my 2012 trip. I am considering a frame building course to 1.build my own frame 2.learn the trade for potential small business 3.do more expeditions with my own hand-made equipment. My website revealed my routes (MongoliaX2014), and the routes across the Gobi to share finally with others, because like you, I have been contacted for the route by quite a few professional explorers/cyclists, and nothing was ever offered in return which is the nature of of casual online connections and information gathering....meanwhile though for me, I had to bitterly try to finish my physio, chiro, and steroid treatments to recover and resume a normal life in Korea. I successfully completed the journeys, but that was the end game for me. Not much happened next for me except returning to teaching in Korea, which ended in January of this year (department closure/university takeover/school challenges for my children Korean-only environment/pollution issues affecting my training and whole family's health conditions and the consideration of potential employment and betterment for my wife to return to the workforce - much on my plate). Now, I am on a new challenge living in North America where I have no foothold at all - except family here to connect with. So, my personal survival expedition in North America has now completed it's second month. I spend 10 years in Asia (China and South Korea). I am currently in Windsor, Ontario returned to my parents home while supporting my two children and my wife whom after a 9 year hiatus raising children, started working finally after two months search. I am currently unemployed with foreign credentials from Sweden, they won't hire me in Canadian-sector education with foreign credentials and there are few jobs/if any available anyways. I am overlooked for factory or other jobs, even in temporary staffing - I am untouchable.So, I am considering frame building as my next move. If you are planning an expedition for Mongolia, in the summer or winter, I would like to join you - no holds barred. If you cannot accommodate me, I can still offer the routes (2012/2014) on my website in return for nothing. I know the Mongolian language, understand their culture and have some connections there, very kind people some whom I met that I won't even know where they have migrated to now, others are settled in the cities or train wild horses. It's an amazing place to challenge yourself, discover and explore. I would like to carry on exploring and connecting there, even guiding, but I don't have the business finesse/panache to fuel adventures they way you do. Thanks for writing, in confidence. If you have any collaborative ideas, I would definitely like to hear from you again. -- Brian (Windsor,ON)

Update from Altai Taven-Bodg National Park basecamp, thanks to my friends who came to support the expedition this year....
Posted by ONE - Arctic2Argentina - Eco-Expedition of the Americas & Asia Expeditions on Friday, September 14, 2012

 Eric Larsen on Fatbike starting the attempted first ride to the South Pole. 3 completed in 2014.

 Eric Larsen on his triple grand slam North / South Poles and Everest Expeditions called Save the Poles.

 Eric Larsen on his Surly Moonlander

Eric Larsen leading Antony Jinman on a North Pole expedition with ETE.

On Sun, Mar 29, 2015 at 12:38 AM, Eric Larsen wrote: 

Hi Brian -- I hope you are doing well. I was just doing a bit of googling and came across your video of Mongolia. I'm in the beginning stages of looking into a trip there and I'm curious to learn more about your route, etc. Do you have a web site that shows your track? Thanks! Think Snow! Eric -- 

It's Cool To Be Cold www.ericlarsenexplore.com Adventure * Achieve * Inspire Eric Larsen Explore 3840 Broadway St. #27 Boulder, CO 80304 Phone: 218.370.9137 
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/EricLarsenExplore 
Twitter: @ELExplore www.ericlarsenexplore.com 
 Begin with one step...

On Sat, Feb 1, 2014 at 9:15 AM, Brian Perich wrote: 

Hi Eric, I have wondered about taking these courses for years. Now the years of the Fat bikes in Antarctica make me want to take steps closer, although reasonably, I realize I may never have funding available to do it. I would be eligible for your course in 2015, I am still in South Korea this year and will move back to Canada next January. I know there a lot at stake and on the take for sponsored polar travel, and I have not been successful gaining support with cycles, despite my biggest effort crossing Mongolia entirely unassisted in 2012. 

I watch Antony Jinman and supported ETE in faith from the beginning, the same with Robert Hill at IDEAS Foundation of Canada, now both are professionals either semi-retired like Rob, or developing like Antony. And I watch you, and I see myself in Korean EFL classrooms and know I am in the wrong place. I budgeted XXXXX from savings to complete three treks on bicycles, western China from Urumqi, across the Tian Shan mountains and Taklamakan on the Tarim route to southern Silkroad to Yecheng into the Aksai Chin mountains and back to Kashgar for a flight to Chengdu and back across Sichuan and Yunnan Himalayas in 2011. I lost 23kg training and completing, 1/2 while in China for 60 days. 

In 2012, I trained again for 10 weeks (gym no bike) and setoff on 2500km and 40,000meters of Outer Mongolia, daily peaks 18-20% grade, no switchbacks, 2300km was offroad, 1 year of medical assisted recovery. And I took an easy 3400km 30 day trek on pavement from Grand Rapids, MI to Banff National Park in 2013. I want to do more with exploring, I know what it takes (having done it without the sponsors cash-equipment) and while supporting Rob and Antony's non-profit foundations. 

Thanks for listening, Brian -- 

Brian Perich Adventure Cyclist, Explorer, Father, University Lecturer 

Ambassador at IDEAS, Intestinal Disease Education & Awareness Society, Canada 

Korean-World Micro Blog 

A2A Expedition project 

Facebook groups, 1, 2, 3 

Facebook profile 

Twitter: Cycleagain 

Media Sample 1 Media Sample 2

Correspondence with Polar Explorer and Everest veteran mountaineer - Eric Larsen // Explorers // Advice on overland expeditions // Mountain bike treks // Mongolia Solo 2500km Crossing 2012

 2012 Solo Crossing 2500km or 1553 miles and accumulated 40,000 meters altitude in Outer Mongolia. Now, I have professional explorers and world touring cyclists asking for advice. Eric Larsen contacted me a week ago to ask for logistical support for Mongolia. In 2010, Eric Larsen became the first person in history to successfully complete expeditions to South Pole, North Pole and the summit of Mount Everest in a continuous 365-day period. In 2006, Larsen completed the first ever summer expedition to the North Pole.

 2014 Cycle to the Gobi Desert in southern Mongolia

 Reaching the 5 Saints in 45 days overlanding.

 My top of the world expedition experience made public on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

100 miles a day experience in 2013 crossing North America in 30 days, 3400 kilometers, 2000 miles.

Re: Polar training courses Inbox x Brian Perich Mar 29 to Eric, Rob Hi Eric, CC: Rob Hill, IDEAS 

 I went through tough terrain to follow-through and finish my 2500km 1553 mile journey. On finishing and returning to Korea I had to get back into work but had terrible physical complications. This was my second official bike expedition after China and the Himalayas in 2011. I returned two years later, last summer, to ride directly to the Gobi and out east to Khentii. In total, I covered 3700km in 65 days, 2500km in 38 days pedaling on the first trip+7 days resting/recovering. I wore the old Pearl iZumi shoes when the Walk-n-bike shoes I ordered to replace them came sized smaller than a decent fit. As a result, with very little padding, I took a beating scaffolding the mountains north and then west to Khovsgol and Altai. I walked a great deal, sand deserts and the mountains climbing up while pushing the bike loaded. I still support Rob Hill from the IDEAS foundation of Canada, he is also a professional mountaineer. Let's include him in this conversation. I have lost touch with Antony Jinman, and failed to get sponsored. I did have one-off support from Lynskey Performance for their titanium frame, but I had to buy-in at cost, then they dropped me before I had finished my 2012 trip. I am considering a frame building course to 1.build my own frame 2.learn the trade for potential small business 3.do more expeditions with my own hand-made equipment. My website revealed my routes (MongoliaX2014), and the routes across the Gobi to share finally with others, because like you, I have been contacted for the route by quite a few professional explorers/cyclists, and nothing was ever offered in return which is the nature of of casual online connections and information gathering....meanwhile though for me, I had to bitterly try to finish my physio, chiro, and steroid treatments to recover and resume a normal life in Korea. I successfully completed the journeys, but that was the end game for me. Not much happened next for me except returning to teaching in Korea, which ended in January of this year (department closure/university takeover/school challenges for my children Korean-only environment/pollution issues affecting my training and whole family's health conditions and the consideration of potential employment and betterment for my wife to return to the workforce - much on my plate). Now, I am on a new challenge living in North America where I have no foothold at all - except family here to connect with. So, my personal survival expedition in North America has now completed it's second month. I spend 10 years in Asia (China and South Korea). I am currently in Windsor, Ontario returned to my parents home while supporting my two children and my wife whom after a 9 year hiatus raising children, started working finally after two months search. I am currently unemployed with foreign credentials from Sweden, they won't hire me in Canadian-sector education with foreign credentials and there are few jobs/if any available anyways. I am overlooked for factory or other jobs, even in temporary staffing - I am untouchable.So, I am considering frame building as my next move. If you are planning an expedition for Mongolia, in the summer or winter, I would like to join you - no holds barred. If you cannot accommodate me, I can still offer the routes (2012/2014) on my website in return for nothing. I know the Mongolian language, understand their culture and have some connections there, very kind people some whom I met that I won't even know where they have migrated to now, others are settled in the cities or train wild horses. It's an amazing place to challenge yourself, discover and explore. I would like to carry on exploring and connecting there, even guiding, but I don't have the business finesse/panache to fuel adventures they way you do. Thanks for writing, in confidence. If you have any collaborative ideas, I would definitely like to hear from you again. -- Brian (Windsor,ON)

Update from Altai Taven-Bodg National Park basecamp, thanks to my friends who came to support the expedition this year....
Posted by ONE - Arctic2Argentina - Eco-Expedition of the Americas & Asia Expeditions on Friday, September 14, 2012

 Eric Larsen on Fatbike starting the attempted first ride to the South Pole. 3 completed in 2014.

 Eric Larsen on his triple grand slam North / South Poles and Everest Expeditions called Save the Poles.

 Eric Larsen on his Surly Moonlander

Eric Larsen leading Antony Jinman on a North Pole expedition with ETE.

On Sun, Mar 29, 2015 at 12:38 AM, Eric Larsen wrote: 

Hi Brian -- I hope you are doing well. I was just doing a bit of googling and came across your video of Mongolia. I'm in the beginning stages of looking into a trip there and I'm curious to learn more about your route, etc. Do you have a web site that shows your track? Thanks! Think Snow! Eric -- 

It's Cool To Be Cold www.ericlarsenexplore.com Adventure * Achieve * Inspire Eric Larsen Explore 3840 Broadway St. #27 Boulder, CO 80304 Phone: 218.370.9137 
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/EricLarsenExplore 
Twitter: @ELExplore www.ericlarsenexplore.com 
 Begin with one step...

On Sat, Feb 1, 2014 at 9:15 AM, Brian Perich wrote: 

Hi Eric, I have wondered about taking these courses for years. Now the years of the Fat bikes in Antarctica make me want to take steps closer, although reasonably, I realize I may never have funding available to do it. I would be eligible for your course in 2015, I am still in South Korea this year and will move back to Canada next January. I know there a lot at stake and on the take for sponsored polar travel, and I have not been successful gaining support with cycles, despite my biggest effort crossing Mongolia entirely unassisted in 2012. 

I watch Antony Jinman and supported ETE in faith from the beginning, the same with Robert Hill at IDEAS Foundation of Canada, now both are professionals either semi-retired like Rob, or developing like Antony. And I watch you, and I see myself in Korean EFL classrooms and know I am in the wrong place. I budgeted XXXXX from savings to complete three treks on bicycles, western China from Urumqi, across the Tian Shan mountains and Taklamakan on the Tarim route to southern Silkroad to Yecheng into the Aksai Chin mountains and back to Kashgar for a flight to Chengdu and back across Sichuan and Yunnan Himalayas in 2011. I lost 23kg training and completing, 1/2 while in China for 60 days. 

In 2012, I trained again for 10 weeks (gym no bike) and setoff on 2500km and 40,000meters of Outer Mongolia, daily peaks 18-20% grade, no switchbacks, 2300km was offroad, 1 year of medical assisted recovery. And I took an easy 3400km 30 day trek on pavement from Grand Rapids, MI to Banff National Park in 2013. I want to do more with exploring, I know what it takes (having done it without the sponsors cash-equipment) and while supporting Rob and Antony's non-profit foundations. 

Thanks for listening, Brian -- 

Brian Perich Adventure Cyclist, Explorer, Father, University Lecturer 

Ambassador at IDEAS, Intestinal Disease Education & Awareness Society, Canada 

Korean-World Micro Blog 

A2A Expedition project 

Facebook groups, 1, 2, 3 

Facebook profile 

Twitter: Cycleagain 

Media Sample 1 Media Sample 2

// What is Adventure? // Nanga Parbat First Solo Ascent - Reinhold Messner 1978 // In nature there is danger and that is where adventure lives // Expeditions // 7 Summits // Everest // K2 // Global Explorers //

Nanga Parbat First Solo Ascent - Reinhold Messner On Nanga Parbat Summit August 9 1978

What is adventure? 

In this short documentary interview with Reinhold Messner he explains his view on adventure, he explains - when you are exploring where you are far from human civilization or rescue support. It is less about the 7 highest summits to climb in the world, and more about remote locations where you go to self-survive the nature because in nature is danger and the art of surviving it is where adventure lives.

Reinhold Messner is a mountaineer, adventurer, explorer, and author from the Italian autonomous province of South Tyrol. [Wikipedia] He became famous as a lumberjack style mountaineer who chose to climb 14 8000 meter + peaks like Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. On December 30, 1989, Messner crossed Antarctica to the South Pole on skis with his partner Arved Fuchs. He speaks of the dangers of exploring, where nature and you meet face-to-face and surviving those conditions while exploring is the simple definition of what adventure means to him.

What is controversial about "World First Expeditions?" Even Reinhold Messner refutes the importance of completing the First/8000+ meter summits, while including the 7 Summits in his interview, lesser mountain First Ascents 6000+ meter peaks still remain - So, I ask the same question what is adventure? Messner suggests it's going places on your own remote from civilization, local support or chance of rescue and surviving all the inherent dangers that can occur in nature - alone. Nearing the human limits, this is definitely where adventure can end a journey to the soul. Few will ever risk their lives to experience this first hand.

[Authors notes] Reinhold Messner is acclaimed as one of the greatest mountaineers of all time. He was the first person to climb all 14 8,000-meter peaks—the tallest mountains in the world—and one of the first to climb Mount Everest without any supplemental oxygen. Hear Messner recount what it was like to climb Everest and what drives his passion for adventure.[National Geographic]

// What is Adventure? // Nanga Parbat First Solo Ascent - Reinhold Messner 1978 // In nature there is danger and that is where adventure lives // Expeditions // 7 Summits // Everest // K2 // Global Explorers //

Nanga Parbat First Solo Ascent - Reinhold Messner On Nanga Parbat Summit August 9 1978

What is adventure? 

In this short documentary interview with Reinhold Messner he explains his view on adventure, he explains - when you are exploring where you are far from human civilization or rescue support. It is less about the 7 highest summits to climb in the world, and more about remote locations where you go to self-survive the nature because in nature is danger and the art of surviving it is where adventure lives.

Reinhold Messner is a mountaineer, adventurer, explorer, and author from the Italian autonomous province of South Tyrol. [Wikipedia] He became famous as a lumberjack style mountaineer who chose to climb 14 8000 meter + peaks like Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. On December 30, 1989, Messner crossed Antarctica to the South Pole on skis with his partner Arved Fuchs. He speaks of the dangers of exploring, where nature and you meet face-to-face and surviving those conditions while exploring is the simple definition of what adventure means to him.

What is controversial about "World First Expeditions?" Even Reinhold Messner refutes the importance of completing the First/8000+ meter summits, while including the 7 Summits in his interview, lesser mountain First Ascents 6000+ meter peaks still remain - So, I ask the same question what is adventure? Messner suggests it's going places on your own remote from civilization, local support or chance of rescue and surviving all the inherent dangers that can occur in nature - alone. Nearing the human limits, this is definitely where adventure can end a journey to the soul. Few will ever risk their lives to experience this first hand.

[Authors notes] Reinhold Messner is acclaimed as one of the greatest mountaineers of all time. He was the first person to climb all 14 8,000-meter peaks—the tallest mountains in the world—and one of the first to climb Mount Everest without any supplemental oxygen. Hear Messner recount what it was like to climb Everest and what drives his passion for adventure.[National Geographic]

Race to Cycle to the South Pole 2013 // ICE Trikes race to the South Pole // Maria Leijerstam beats two other male contenders //

British adventurer Maria Leijerstam has braved savage conditions to become the first person to cycle to the South Pole from the edge of the Antarctic continent. Maria, aged 35 from Wales, raced two men for the title and arrived at the pole hundreds of miles ahead of her nearest rival.

After 9 days cycling Maria completed the 400 mile expedition at approximately 1am GMT on the 27th December 2013. Despite starting days later than her competitors Maria made quick progress on a recumbent trike designed specifically for the challenge by Inspired Cycle Engineering. The custom-made trike is stable and aerodynamic, which has allowed Maria to focus her energy on progressing through the gale-force winds and hazardous terrain.

The cycles design is based on a standard ICE Sprint recumbent trike with modifications to ensure it can tackle the rigorous challenge ahead. The frame is made, as standard, from aircraft-grade steel selected for its strength and fatigue resistance. It is fitted with 4.5 inch-wide snow tires for unsurpassed traction and float over snow and ice. The gears are effectively twice as easy as a standard mountain bike, which would allow Maria to climb 1-in-3 gradients.

The ability to climb hills with relative ease meant that Maria could take a shorter route to the pole than her competitors, which required scaling the formidable Transantarctic Mountains; a similar route to that of Scott and Amundsen in their legendary South Pole expeditions. On the recumbent trike Maria was able to ascend the Leverett Glacier, despite strong headwinds and deep snow, to reach the polar plateau.
"The trike is amazing. It's completely stable, even in extreme winds and I can take on long steep hills that I'd never be able to climb on a bike" said Maria.

With the mountains and glacier behind her Maria then faced over 300 miles of the polar plateau. The snow, wind and sastrugi made progress slow and arduous, but by cycling in 12 hour stints Maria continued to progress 25-35 miles (40-60km) each day.

After a well-deserved celebration, call home and rest, Maria will return to her home in Wales where she will no doubt start planning her next mammoth expedition. Huge congratulations to Maria from everyone at ICE Trikes!

Other South Pole Explorers on bikes:

The South Pole Epic, Daniel Burton

Juan Menendez Granados

Eric Larsen, Cycle South Expedition 2012

Post by Brian Perić.

Racing over 400 miles from the edge of the Antarctic continent Maria Leijerstam hopes to beat two other male contenders to claim the world record. 

Race to Cycle to the South Pole 2013 // ICE Trikes race to the South Pole // Maria Leijerstam beats two other male contenders //

British adventurer Maria Leijerstam has braved savage conditions to become the first person to cycle to the South Pole from the edge of the Antarctic continent. Maria, aged 35 from Wales, raced two men for the title and arrived at the pole hundreds of miles ahead of her nearest rival.

After 9 days cycling Maria completed the 400 mile expedition at approximately 1am GMT on the 27th December 2013. Despite starting days later than her competitors Maria made quick progress on a recumbent trike designed specifically for the challenge by Inspired Cycle Engineering. The custom-made trike is stable and aerodynamic, which has allowed Maria to focus her energy on progressing through the gale-force winds and hazardous terrain.

The cycles design is based on a standard ICE Sprint recumbent trike with modifications to ensure it can tackle the rigorous challenge ahead. The frame is made, as standard, from aircraft-grade steel selected for its strength and fatigue resistance. It is fitted with 4.5 inch-wide snow tires for unsurpassed traction and float over snow and ice. The gears are effectively twice as easy as a standard mountain bike, which would allow Maria to climb 1-in-3 gradients.

The ability to climb hills with relative ease meant that Maria could take a shorter route to the pole than her competitors, which required scaling the formidable Transantarctic Mountains; a similar route to that of Scott and Amundsen in their legendary South Pole expeditions. On the recumbent trike Maria was able to ascend the Leverett Glacier, despite strong headwinds and deep snow, to reach the polar plateau.
"The trike is amazing. It's completely stable, even in extreme winds and I can take on long steep hills that I'd never be able to climb on a bike" said Maria.

With the mountains and glacier behind her Maria then faced over 300 miles of the polar plateau. The snow, wind and sastrugi made progress slow and arduous, but by cycling in 12 hour stints Maria continued to progress 25-35 miles (40-60km) each day.

After a well-deserved celebration, call home and rest, Maria will return to her home in Wales where she will no doubt start planning her next mammoth expedition. Huge congratulations to Maria from everyone at ICE Trikes!

Other South Pole Explorers on bikes:

The South Pole Epic, Daniel Burton

Juan Menendez Granados

Eric Larsen, Cycle South Expedition 2012

Post by Brian Perić.

Racing over 400 miles from the edge of the Antarctic continent Maria Leijerstam hopes to beat two other male contenders to claim the world record. 

Race to Cycle to the South Pole 2013 // ICE Trikes race to the South Pole // Maria Leijerstam beats two other male contenders //

British adventurer Maria Leijerstam has braved savage conditions to become the first person to cycle to the South Pole from the edge of the Antarctic continent. Maria, aged 35 from Wales, raced two men for the title and arrived at the pole hundreds of miles ahead of her nearest rival.

After 9 days cycling Maria completed the 400 mile expedition at approximately 1am GMT on the 27th December 2013. Despite starting days later than her competitors Maria made quick progress on a recumbent trike designed specifically for the challenge by Inspired Cycle Engineering. The custom-made trike is stable and aerodynamic, which has allowed Maria to focus her energy on progressing through the gale-force winds and hazardous terrain.

The cycles design is based on a standard ICE Sprint recumbent trike with modifications to ensure it can tackle the rigorous challenge ahead. The frame is made, as standard, from aircraft-grade steel selected for its strength and fatigue resistance. It is fitted with 4.5 inch-wide snow tires for unsurpassed traction and float over snow and ice. The gears are effectively twice as easy as a standard mountain bike, which would allow Maria to climb 1-in-3 gradients.

The ability to climb hills with relative ease meant that Maria could take a shorter route to the pole than her competitors, which required scaling the formidable Transantarctic Mountains; a similar route to that of Scott and Amundsen in their legendary South Pole expeditions. On the recumbent trike Maria was able to ascend the Leverett Glacier, despite strong headwinds and deep snow, to reach the polar plateau.
"The trike is amazing. It's completely stable, even in extreme winds and I can take on long steep hills that I'd never be able to climb on a bike" said Maria.

With the mountains and glacier behind her Maria then faced over 300 miles of the polar plateau. The snow, wind and sastrugi made progress slow and arduous, but by cycling in 12 hour stints Maria continued to progress 25-35 miles (40-60km) each day.

After a well-deserved celebration, call home and rest, Maria will return to her home in Wales where she will no doubt start planning her next mammoth expedition. Huge congratulations to Maria from everyone at ICE Trikes!

Other South Pole Explorers on bikes:

The South Pole Epic, Daniel Burton

Juan Menendez Granados

Eric Larsen, Cycle South Expedition 2012

Post by Brian Perić.

Racing over 400 miles from the edge of the Antarctic continent Maria Leijerstam hopes to beat two other male contenders to claim the world record. 

Ben Saunders - Solo & unsupported North Pole Speed Record 2011-2013

Ben Saunders talks about weight saving techniques, his equipment design choices to launch a record-setting expeditions to the North Pole. His expedition has been delayed by ice composition changes in the Arctic. If we think about global warming or inter-glacial melts, the logistics of Arctic life for natives and explorers is fast changing and challenging the traditional ways the northern communities have lived, who visits them, and how they sustain their lives in the warming polar and arctic regions of the northern hemisphere used in this example.

Ben Saunders - Solo & unsupported North Pole Speed Record 2011-2012
www.bensaunders.com | www.twitter.com/polarben

Filmed and edited by Temujin Doran - www.studiocanoe.com
Additional footage by Andy Ward - www.flickr.com/photos/averylongwalk

Ben Saunders - Solo & unsupported North Pole Speed Record 2011-2013

Ben Saunders talks about weight saving techniques, his equipment design choices to launch a record-setting expeditions to the North Pole. His expedition has been delayed by ice composition changes in the Arctic. If we think about global warming or inter-glacial melts, the logistics of Arctic life for natives and explorers is fast changing and challenging the traditional ways the northern communities have lived, who visits them, and how they sustain their lives in the warming polar and arctic regions of the northern hemisphere used in this example.

Ben Saunders - Solo & unsupported North Pole Speed Record 2011-2012
www.bensaunders.com | www.twitter.com/polarben

Filmed and edited by Temujin Doran - www.studiocanoe.com
Additional footage by Andy Ward - www.flickr.com/photos/averylongwalk

Ben Saunders - Solo & unsupported North Pole Speed Record 2011-2013

Ben Saunders talks about weight saving techniques, his equipment design choices to launch a record-setting expeditions to the North Pole. His expedition has been delayed by ice composition changes in the Arctic. If we think about global warming or inter-glacial melts, the logistics of Arctic life for natives and explorers is fast changing and challenging the traditional ways the northern communities have lived, who visits them, and how they sustain their lives in the warming polar and arctic regions of the northern hemisphere used in this example.

Ben Saunders - Solo & unsupported North Pole Speed Record 2011-2012
www.bensaunders.com | www.twitter.com/polarben

Filmed and edited by Temujin Doran - www.studiocanoe.com
Additional footage by Andy Ward - www.flickr.com/photos/averylongwalk

Ben Saunders - Solo & unsupported North Pole Speed Record 2011-2013

Ben Saunders talks about weight saving techniques, his equipment design choices to launch a record-setting expeditions to the North Pole. His expedition has been delayed by ice composition changes in the Arctic. If we think about global warming or inter-glacial melts, the logistics of Arctic life for natives and explorers is fast changing and challenging the traditional ways the northern communities have lived, who visits them, and how they sustain their lives in the warming polar and arctic regions of the northern hemisphere used in this example.

Ben Saunders - Solo & unsupported North Pole Speed Record 2011-2012
www.bensaunders.com | www.twitter.com/polarben

Filmed and edited by Temujin Doran - www.studiocanoe.com
Additional footage by Andy Ward - www.flickr.com/photos/averylongwalk

Expeditions, Roz Savage, Global Row, TED Talks

Hi Ry,

Powerful speech, I have thought those thoughts over and over since I was in my 20's. The money is the difficulty in starting and finishing an extreme adventure. One advantage for the adventurer Roz Savage had was the high-powered job in London. Second, they are all British adventurers (historically leading the pace with expeditions)...Olly Hicks in the right lower corner of her photo set, sponsored by Virgin (Global Row). A friend of Alastair Humphreys, cycled 79,000km on his Bicycle WT (miraculously funded on rationed financial aid), and my friend Antony Jinman, just reached the North Pole, after successive arctic training missions in Canada and massive campaign work back in the UK to complete the last expedition, launched his new foundation Education Through Expeditions (ETE) and began planning for his future expeditions for the foundation's school outreach program in the UK. Antony is looking for like-minded, environmentally friendly adventurers launching expeditions to report back information about global climate changes from various parts of the world, he has contacted me about reporting back about my expedition in 2012.

The problem with expeditions and adventure travel is the financial considerations that are often overlooked. It takes a great deal of effort to either save for your expedition, or develop a unique idea/type of expedition to attract the right sponsors. As is mentioned on other sites, sponsorship hunting can be as challenging as the expedition itself. It's recommended to select a few companies (from thousands) and contact them directly and develop a personal relationship with someone on the inside. Meanwhile, you should be training and planning your route/means without sponsorship in mind. A full-time employment opportunity can produce enough income saved to launch a cycling, running, walking, skate boarding, etc means of expedition, and it can be done by anyone that is active and enthusiastic about the outdoors. In this case, the planning can take 6-12 months, by that time you will have assembled the right equipment to do the job. For extended travel (World Touring) or extreme adventures, such as Polar Exploration, you will need more than the right equipment, you'll need experience and training from experts (Google: polar exploration training) and time in the Arctic to acclimatize to the sub-zero conditions before setting foot alone on a trek into the unknown. The bicycle is less sponsored, less noticed as a means to expeditions because many people can travel there, compared to mountain summiting, polar and sea rowing expeditions where we are alone, truly alone - this is where the expeditions are going, this is where the money is for sponsors is hiding too.

Tom @ Ride Earth has the scoop on funding long-term travel (bicycle touring is the preferred example, but read more and find out...Thanks Tom, a great post!) I don't have all the answers because I am touring and cycling in Korea, however, over the past few years I have accumulated friends involved in the adventure lifestyle, I use this blog to share this information with others with similar interests. There are no secrets, however, without asking the right questions or these days, 'google'ing for the right answers, you might find yourself at a loss for the right solutions. It's important to persevere and continue your search until you have found the answers you were looking for in the first place. Many adventurers have become successful because they did their research and prepared to set off. The important part of your mission is creating a plan that works for you, and committing the time, energy, resources to reach your goal -the start! From the start, the plan begins to unfold, and you will gain more insight into something you've always had a passion for, but didn't completely understand from the inside-out. It takes initiative to be at the start. It's best to start right away, and enjoy your adventure. When you succeed, remember to report back from the expedition and help others that have similar interests, it's a way to support a community of people with like minds.

The greater your adversities, the greater the challenge, the greater the sponsorship opportunities are available to you. But sponsors generally don't just come along, you'll need to do a bit more selling, prepare your sponsorship pack. Once you secure sponsors, they will expect that you deliver on a promise, to help market their products while on your adventure. It's a business relationship because their product is being featured and marketed through your expedition. In some aspects, this is the commercialism of the adventure industry, but the equipment is essential in extreme conditions, and getting there requires a great deal of support, sometimes in the area of six figures to reach the most remote locations and receive food drops/refill stations. Bicycle touring is less extreme (depending on location), so it's also recommended to use the best equipment suitable for the conditions you will experience. If your cycling in Korea, you don't need much, a bicycle of any kind, a backpack, a rack (saving the weight), and panniers and camping equipment is an option. In this country, we have Jim-Jil-Bangs (public bathhouse/sauna/sleeping rooms) that are co-ed (after the bathing is complete) and they provide you with cotton t-shirts and shorts for the night. It's warm and generally comfortable accommodations (bring your ear plugs to be sure!). All this costs about 9,000 Won per night, camping of course on the beach or in rural countryside areas is free. Korea is surrounded by ocean, so coastal cycling and camping is preferred. Extreme adventures and long-term bicycle touring require the right combination of equipment, see Tim Travis's site Downtheroad.org for all the details on bicycle touring equipment.

Ryan, you should consider something...being young, you have many advantages (a year off work isn't a big decision, you have many years to recover for one!) and expeditions are a place to arrive at amazing destinations, that is why I am doing it.

Cheers, Brian P ^_^!

Expeditions, Roz Savage, Global Row, TED Talks

Hi Ry,

Powerful speech, I have thought those thoughts over and over since I was in my 20's. The money is the difficulty in starting and finishing an extreme adventure. One advantage for the adventurer Roz Savage had was the high-powered job in London. Second, they are all British adventurers (historically leading the pace with expeditions)...Olly Hicks in the right lower corner of her photo set, sponsored by Virgin (Global Row). A friend of Alastair Humphreys, cycled 79,000km on his Bicycle WT (miraculously funded on rationed financial aid), and my friend Antony Jinman, just reached the North Pole, after successive arctic training missions in Canada and massive campaign work back in the UK to complete the last expedition, launched his new foundation Education Through Expeditions (ETE) and began planning for his future expeditions for the foundation's school outreach program in the UK. Antony is looking for like-minded, environmentally friendly adventurers launching expeditions to report back information about global climate changes from various parts of the world, he has contacted me about reporting back about my expedition in 2012.

The problem with expeditions and adventure travel is the financial considerations that are often overlooked. It takes a great deal of effort to either save for your expedition, or develop a unique idea/type of expedition to attract the right sponsors. As is mentioned on other sites, sponsorship hunting can be as challenging as the expedition itself. It's recommended to select a few companies (from thousands) and contact them directly and develop a personal relationship with someone on the inside. Meanwhile, you should be training and planning your route/means without sponsorship in mind. A full-time employment opportunity can produce enough income saved to launch a cycling, running, walking, skate boarding, etc means of expedition, and it can be done by anyone that is active and enthusiastic about the outdoors. In this case, the planning can take 6-12 months, by that time you will have assembled the right equipment to do the job. For extended travel (World Touring) or extreme adventures, such as Polar Exploration, you will need more than the right equipment, you'll need experience and training from experts (Google: polar exploration training) and time in the Arctic to acclimatize to the sub-zero conditions before setting foot alone on a trek into the unknown. The bicycle is less sponsored, less noticed as a means to expeditions because many people can travel there, compared to mountain summiting, polar and sea rowing expeditions where we are alone, truly alone - this is where the expeditions are going, this is where the money is for sponsors is hiding too.

Tom @ Ride Earth has the scoop on funding long-term travel (bicycle touring is the preferred example, but read more and find out...Thanks Tom, a great post!) I don't have all the answers because I am touring and cycling in Korea, however, over the past few years I have accumulated friends involved in the adventure lifestyle, I use this blog to share this information with others with similar interests. There are no secrets, however, without asking the right questions or these days, 'google'ing for the right answers, you might find yourself at a loss for the right solutions. It's important to persevere and continue your search until you have found the answers you were looking for in the first place. Many adventurers have become successful because they did their research and prepared to set off. The important part of your mission is creating a plan that works for you, and committing the time, energy, resources to reach your goal -the start! From the start, the plan begins to unfold, and you will gain more insight into something you've always had a passion for, but didn't completely understand from the inside-out. It takes initiative to be at the start. It's best to start right away, and enjoy your adventure. When you succeed, remember to report back from the expedition and help others that have similar interests, it's a way to support a community of people with like minds.

The greater your adversities, the greater the challenge, the greater the sponsorship opportunities are available to you. But sponsors generally don't just come along, you'll need to do a bit more selling, prepare your sponsorship pack. Once you secure sponsors, they will expect that you deliver on a promise, to help market their products while on your adventure. It's a business relationship because their product is being featured and marketed through your expedition. In some aspects, this is the commercialism of the adventure industry, but the equipment is essential in extreme conditions, and getting there requires a great deal of support, sometimes in the area of six figures to reach the most remote locations and receive food drops/refill stations. Bicycle touring is less extreme (depending on location), so it's also recommended to use the best equipment suitable for the conditions you will experience. If your cycling in Korea, you don't need much, a bicycle of any kind, a backpack, a rack (saving the weight), and panniers and camping equipment is an option. In this country, we have Jim-Jil-Bangs (public bathhouse/sauna/sleeping rooms) that are co-ed (after the bathing is complete) and they provide you with cotton t-shirts and shorts for the night. It's warm and generally comfortable accommodations (bring your ear plugs to be sure!). All this costs about 9,000 Won per night, camping of course on the beach or in rural countryside areas is free. Korea is surrounded by ocean, so coastal cycling and camping is preferred. Extreme adventures and long-term bicycle touring require the right combination of equipment, see Tim Travis's site Downtheroad.org for all the details on bicycle touring equipment.

Ryan, you should consider something...being young, you have many advantages (a year off work isn't a big decision, you have many years to recover for one!) and expeditions are a place to arrive at amazing destinations, that is why I am doing it.

Cheers, Brian P ^_^!

Expeditions, Roz Savage, Global Row, TED Talks

Hi Ry,

Powerful speech, I have thought those thoughts over and over since I was in my 20's. The money is the difficulty in starting and finishing an extreme adventure. One advantage for the adventurer Roz Savage had was the high-powered job in London. Second, they are all British adventurers (historically leading the pace with expeditions)...Olly Hicks in the right lower corner of her photo set, sponsored by Virgin (Global Row). A friend of Alastair Humphreys, cycled 79,000km on his Bicycle WT (miraculously funded on rationed financial aid), and my friend Antony Jinman, just reached the North Pole, after successive arctic training missions in Canada and massive campaign work back in the UK to complete the last expedition, launched his new foundation Education Through Expeditions (ETE) and began planning for his future expeditions for the foundation's school outreach program in the UK. Antony is looking for like-minded, environmentally friendly adventurers launching expeditions to report back information about global climate changes from various parts of the world, he has contacted me about reporting back about my expedition in 2012.

The problem with expeditions and adventure travel is the financial considerations that are often overlooked. It takes a great deal of effort to either save for your expedition, or develop a unique idea/type of expedition to attract the right sponsors. As is mentioned on other sites, sponsorship hunting can be as challenging as the expedition itself. It's recommended to select a few companies (from thousands) and contact them directly and develop a personal relationship with someone on the inside. Meanwhile, you should be training and planning your route/means without sponsorship in mind. A full-time employment opportunity can produce enough income saved to launch a cycling, running, walking, skate boarding, etc means of expedition, and it can be done by anyone that is active and enthusiastic about the outdoors. In this case, the planning can take 6-12 months, by that time you will have assembled the right equipment to do the job. For extended travel (World Touring) or extreme adventures, such as Polar Exploration, you will need more than the right equipment, you'll need experience and training from experts (Google: polar exploration training) and time in the Arctic to acclimatize to the sub-zero conditions before setting foot alone on a trek into the unknown. The bicycle is less sponsored, less noticed as a means to expeditions because many people can travel there, compared to mountain summiting, polar and sea rowing expeditions where we are alone, truly alone - this is where the expeditions are going, this is where the money is for sponsors is hiding too.

Tom @ Ride Earth has the scoop on funding long-term travel (bicycle touring is the preferred example, but read more and find out...Thanks Tom, a great post!) I don't have all the answers because I am touring and cycling in Korea, however, over the past few years I have accumulated friends involved in the adventure lifestyle, I use this blog to share this information with others with similar interests. There are no secrets, however, without asking the right questions or these days, 'google'ing for the right answers, you might find yourself at a loss for the right solutions. It's important to persevere and continue your search until you have found the answers you were looking for in the first place. Many adventurers have become successful because they did their research and prepared to set off. The important part of your mission is creating a plan that works for you, and committing the time, energy, resources to reach your goal -the start! From the start, the plan begins to unfold, and you will gain more insight into something you've always had a passion for, but didn't completely understand from the inside-out. It takes initiative to be at the start. It's best to start right away, and enjoy your adventure. When you succeed, remember to report back from the expedition and help others that have similar interests, it's a way to support a community of people with like minds.

The greater your adversities, the greater the challenge, the greater the sponsorship opportunities are available to you. But sponsors generally don't just come along, you'll need to do a bit more selling, prepare your sponsorship pack. Once you secure sponsors, they will expect that you deliver on a promise, to help market their products while on your adventure. It's a business relationship because their product is being featured and marketed through your expedition. In some aspects, this is the commercialism of the adventure industry, but the equipment is essential in extreme conditions, and getting there requires a great deal of support, sometimes in the area of six figures to reach the most remote locations and receive food drops/refill stations. Bicycle touring is less extreme (depending on location), so it's also recommended to use the best equipment suitable for the conditions you will experience. If your cycling in Korea, you don't need much, a bicycle of any kind, a backpack, a rack (saving the weight), and panniers and camping equipment is an option. In this country, we have Jim-Jil-Bangs (public bathhouse/sauna/sleeping rooms) that are co-ed (after the bathing is complete) and they provide you with cotton t-shirts and shorts for the night. It's warm and generally comfortable accommodations (bring your ear plugs to be sure!). All this costs about 9,000 Won per night, camping of course on the beach or in rural countryside areas is free. Korea is surrounded by ocean, so coastal cycling and camping is preferred. Extreme adventures and long-term bicycle touring require the right combination of equipment, see Tim Travis's site Downtheroad.org for all the details on bicycle touring equipment.

Ryan, you should consider something...being young, you have many advantages (a year off work isn't a big decision, you have many years to recover for one!) and expeditions are a place to arrive at amazing destinations, that is why I am doing it.

Cheers, Brian P ^_^!

Expeditions, Roz Savage, Global Row, TED Talks

Hi Ry,

Powerful speech, I have thought those thoughts over and over since I was in my 20's. The money is the difficulty in starting and finishing an extreme adventure. One advantage for the adventurer Roz Savage had was the high-powered job in London. Second, they are all British adventurers (historically leading the pace with expeditions)...Olly Hicks in the right lower corner of her photo set, sponsored by Virgin (Global Row). A friend of Alastair Humphreys, cycled 79,000km on his Bicycle WT (miraculously funded on rationed financial aid), and my friend Antony Jinman, just reached the North Pole, after successive arctic training missions in Canada and massive campaign work back in the UK to complete the last expedition, launched his new foundation Education Through Expeditions (ETE) and began planning for his future expeditions for the foundation's school outreach program in the UK. Antony is looking for like-minded, environmentally friendly adventurers launching expeditions to report back information about global climate changes from various parts of the world, he has contacted me about reporting back about my expedition in 2012.

The problem with expeditions and adventure travel is the financial considerations that are often overlooked. It takes a great deal of effort to either save for your expedition, or develop a unique idea/type of expedition to attract the right sponsors. As is mentioned on other sites, sponsorship hunting can be as challenging as the expedition itself. It's recommended to select a few companies (from thousands) and contact them directly and develop a personal relationship with someone on the inside. Meanwhile, you should be training and planning your route/means without sponsorship in mind. A full-time employment opportunity can produce enough income saved to launch a cycling, running, walking, skate boarding, etc means of expedition, and it can be done by anyone that is active and enthusiastic about the outdoors. In this case, the planning can take 6-12 months, by that time you will have assembled the right equipment to do the job. For extended travel (World Touring) or extreme adventures, such as Polar Exploration, you will need more than the right equipment, you'll need experience and training from experts (Google: polar exploration training) and time in the Arctic to acclimatize to the sub-zero conditions before setting foot alone on a trek into the unknown. The bicycle is less sponsored, less noticed as a means to expeditions because many people can travel there, compared to mountain summiting, polar and sea rowing expeditions where we are alone, truly alone - this is where the expeditions are going, this is where the money is for sponsors is hiding too.

Tom @ Ride Earth has the scoop on funding long-term travel (bicycle touring is the preferred example, but read more and find out...Thanks Tom, a great post!) I don't have all the answers because I am touring and cycling in Korea, however, over the past few years I have accumulated friends involved in the adventure lifestyle, I use this blog to share this information with others with similar interests. There are no secrets, however, without asking the right questions or these days, 'google'ing for the right answers, you might find yourself at a loss for the right solutions. It's important to persevere and continue your search until you have found the answers you were looking for in the first place. Many adventurers have become successful because they did their research and prepared to set off. The important part of your mission is creating a plan that works for you, and committing the time, energy, resources to reach your goal -the start! From the start, the plan begins to unfold, and you will gain more insight into something you've always had a passion for, but didn't completely understand from the inside-out. It takes initiative to be at the start. It's best to start right away, and enjoy your adventure. When you succeed, remember to report back from the expedition and help others that have similar interests, it's a way to support a community of people with like minds.

The greater your adversities, the greater the challenge, the greater the sponsorship opportunities are available to you. But sponsors generally don't just come along, you'll need to do a bit more selling, prepare your sponsorship pack. Once you secure sponsors, they will expect that you deliver on a promise, to help market their products while on your adventure. It's a business relationship because their product is being featured and marketed through your expedition. In some aspects, this is the commercialism of the adventure industry, but the equipment is essential in extreme conditions, and getting there requires a great deal of support, sometimes in the area of six figures to reach the most remote locations and receive food drops/refill stations. Bicycle touring is less extreme (depending on location), so it's also recommended to use the best equipment suitable for the conditions you will experience. If your cycling in Korea, you don't need much, a bicycle of any kind, a backpack, a rack (saving the weight), and panniers and camping equipment is an option. In this country, we have Jim-Jil-Bangs (public bathhouse/sauna/sleeping rooms) that are co-ed (after the bathing is complete) and they provide you with cotton t-shirts and shorts for the night. It's warm and generally comfortable accommodations (bring your ear plugs to be sure!). All this costs about 9,000 Won per night, camping of course on the beach or in rural countryside areas is free. Korea is surrounded by ocean, so coastal cycling and camping is preferred. Extreme adventures and long-term bicycle touring require the right combination of equipment, see Tim Travis's site Downtheroad.org for all the details on bicycle touring equipment.

Ryan, you should consider something...being young, you have many advantages (a year off work isn't a big decision, you have many years to recover for one!) and expeditions are a place to arrive at amazing destinations, that is why I am doing it.

Cheers, Brian P ^_^!