Nova Scotia cyclist @ashleigh.myles has become the first known woman to complete the Pan-American Highway by bike, riding 22,000km from Alaska to Argentina.
Ushuaia.
118 days, 2 hours, 30 minutes.
22,511 km.
187,463 m.
Record set for the fastest female to ride the Pan-American Highway.
Alaska to Argentina.
It hasn't sunk in yet, but I'm sure it will gradually and I'll find the words to describe what just happened. In the meantime, thank you to everyone who dotwatched and cheered from afar: your words of encouragement kept the pedals turning.
To the sponsors and go fund me donors: thank you for believing this was possible and helping make this record attempt a reality.
Jessie & Aryn, thank you for putting my sometimes (mostly) drawn out and emotional audio diaries into succinct, summarized blog posts for people to follow along.
@augustinehousesociety@arkelbikebags@fluent_frameworks@long_alley_bicycles@anytimefitness.halifax@acadia.sportstherapy@showerspass@night.of.adventure@ridleyscycle@faunacomponents
Mapping: @followmychallengeusa
#panamerican #record #cycling #adventure #bikepacking endurancecycling pedalforward alaskatoargentina ArkelBikeBags keepitforever
Some incredible local businesses have donated amazing raffle prizes for this event, giving YOU the chance to win!
Each event ticket purchase will come with 3 raffle tickets (be ready to show your email confirmation on arrival) that you can choose to put towards any of these three awesome prize packs!
More tickets = more chances to will! More tickets will be available for purchase at the event - $5 a ticket OR $20 for 5, $50 for 15, $75 for 25, $100 for 50. Cash or e-transfer accepted.
Tickets available through @night.of.adventure
Prize Pack 1 (Value $930)
- Custom paint job from Fluent Frameworks (one colour, all decals replaced).
- Tune-up from Long Alley Bicycles
- Set of Vittoria gravel tires from Terry Tomlin (700x38)
Prize Pack 2 (Value $390)
- Bike fit from Trailblazer physio.
- Arkel bike bags: Le Petit Handlebar Bag + 0.5L saddle bag
- Cycling Nova Scotia Jerseys (CNS + Women on Wheels)
Prize Pack 3 (Value $530)
- Gift cards:
East Coast Bakery ($25)
Morris East ($20)
3 Mile Outfitters ($100)
5k Cafe ($100)
- A pair of shoes from Aerobics First
- Books from Steeple Green: Two Wheels Good by Jody Rosen, Coffee First, then the World by Jenny Graham, Epic rides of the Americas by Lonely Planet
📅 Wednesday, July 23 @ 7pm
Back parking lot of Aerobics First + Long Alley Bicycles.
#panamerican #record #cycling #adventure #bikepacking #endurancecycling #pedalforward #alaskatoargentina #ArkelBikeBags #keepitforever
One of these golfpackers has created the checkpoints for the 5th edition of the Tip 2 Tip!
Here's a few hints:
- 3x Tip 2 Tip finisher
- Moved back to NS after a short stint in Ontario.
- Pretty fast, even on a singlespeed.
Tip 2 Tip: August 2-7.
Register through link in bio.
📸: @baderkanawati
#bikepacking #endurancecycling #t2tns #longdistancecycling #explorenovascotia #adventure #rideyourride #bikepacking.com #dotwatcher.cc #cyclingnovascotia
The best part about organizing these endurance events is the amount of people who are also stoked about riding, dotwatching, volunteering, or coming to the start/finish to see things unfold.
Although a small, niche community, it seems to have grown over the past few years. Endurance events are a unique way to challenge yourself physically and mentally. They can be whatever you want them to be, and often, each race or ride is never the same. You're always learning or refining or scrapping techniques to improve.
This year, a rather large, self-imposed ride is coming my way. It's a choice to get out and ride further, and this big ride is no different. It's a massive privilege to be able to put oneself into a position like this, where you can challenge yourself in a multitude of ways, all while knowing you have a support system and safe place to come home to at the end.
I wasn't entirely sure how the 600 would unfold for me: did I want to race? Enjoy riding along with everyone? Scratch at CP2? No clue.
It became evident a few hours in, after a brush with heat stress, that this ride will mostly just be me, in my head, battling with a million thoughts I haven't had time to sit with in a while.
Thoughts like:
- I hope everyone makes it home safe.
- Why didn't you put your sun sleeves on this morning?!
- Are the volunteers going to be OK? Is there enough food?
- Damn. I should've made an official after-party. Take note for next year!
- How the f*ck are you going to ride from Alaska to Argentina?
- I wonder if I can just take the stem off and not unplug the aerobars from the shifters when I box up the bike.
- This hose isn't working very well - make note to check the connection at next stop. (I never did).
- Reapply sunscreen.
Everyone at these rides and people I meet in this community continue to teach me to be kind to myself, and to perservere. Watching people ride their own ride settled a lot of the questions and self-doubt in my head.
Continued in comments...
A few photos from the LOCOmotion 600 last weekend.
I made a full post over on @tip2tip_ns . Check it out.
Still don't have the words to describe how wonderful last weekend was. Maybe one day they'll come to me. In the meantime, I'll say this: amazing community, incredible people. Thank you 👏
📸: @will.climbs (photo 1)
📸: @at.hfx (photos 2&3)
#bikepacking #endurancecycling #t2tns #longdistancecycling #explorenovascotia #adventure #rideyourride
Here we go!💨
On Saturday morning, the third edition of the LOCOmotion will begin, with 26 riders departing from Citadel Hill to tackle the 630km LOCOmotion 600 route.
🌏 Follow along with the live map (link in bio) by @followmychallengeusa
Anyone is welcome to cheer them on and wish them tailwinds at the grand depart and along the route. They'll need it 😉
When: Saturday, June 22.
Gathering between 5-5:50 am (grand depart @ 6am).
Where: Citadel Hill look-off.
Riders, check your inboxes for an email sent on Monday!
Huge thanks to the sponsors and supporters for these events. Couldn't pull it off without you!
@3mileoutfitters@long_alley_bicycles@sissiboocoffeeroaster@banks_bikes_inc@cycling_nova_scotia@fluentframeworks@night.of.adventure@bigsprucebrew
Have fun out there whether you're riding, dotwatching, or living vicariously through all the stories.
#bikepacking #endurancecycling #locomotion600 #t2tns #longdistancecycling #explorenovascotia #adventure #rideyourride #rideyerbike
Just got back from an amazing weekend at @grinduro . For the last two years I did the short course. This year I went for it and did the full 73 miles. Gravel, dirt, mud, and even spent some time in a stream (face first).
Feeling great! It was awesome to be riding with the Baltimore bullet himself, @bishopbikes . (Thanks for the sweet bike!)
Big shoutout to my sponsors @vicious.cycles@metalgurunation and @rabblerisebakery . And thanks to @phillybikeexpo for promoting frame builders at the event.
Always nice to catch up with @marscycles@cutlassvelo@binab85 and great to finally meet @fluent_frameworks
See you next year! #grinduropennsylvania #gravelride #steelbikes
