I am gutted after finding out that the ‘Indian Pacific Wheel Race’ (Indipac) has been canceled.
After 2 stages of the application process and a 3 months’ wait, I finally got the news that I will be one of the 70 cyclists from 16 different countries to race at the Indian Pacific Wheel Race. I would have been the first Indian to toe the start line as well. A 5500km, solo, unsupported, single-stage bike race. It’s like the ‘Vol State’ of bicycling. I have been eating, breathing, sleeping ‘IPWR’ since October 2017. It was a challenge that had a possibility of failure, which made it a real challenge. I also partnered with ‘International Justice Mission Australia’ to raise funds for the anti-trafficking cause during the race.
The email from the race organizers informing us about the cancellation was an absolute shock. I had never had to deal with a race cancellation before, especially for a race that I had invested a lot of time and money in and had been training so hard for. All hopes dashed even before getting to the start line. ‘Cancellation’ isn’t a fun word.
Trying hard to silence the voice that says, “All that hard work for nothing!” and “This was a complete waste!”. ‘Cancellations’ are unavoidable. Life happens! Working out some options meanwhile:
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Get to Fremantle, Perth and ride the course ‘Freedom Seat’ style with strangers and friends. The only problem is finding a tandem bike that’s up for the adventure.
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Ride the IPWR course on a road bike solo as a bike tour.
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Pick another adventure….. Going to take a break for the next 4 days and spend time in the mountains and think about what to do next…
After a wee break to decide on what to do next, I returned home to find an email from Australian immigration granting me a two-year, multiple-entry travel visa.
I have the bike, visa, and the open road, everything I need to go on an adventure ride across Australia. I have decided to ride the IPWR course anyway (Freedom Seat Australia). I am not alone though. 37 other cyclists are going to be in Fremantle, Perth to start the event on the exact date and time as the race was scheduled (Mar 17, 6:22am).
It’s going to be the beginning of a personal challenge, a step outside of the comfort zone, pushing my physical and mental limits.
I am Perth bound on March 13th…
Usually I prefer big climbs and single track hilly trails over flat roads, but Indipac is going to be flat and hot. I decided to ride the whole Otago Central Rail Trail, one of the popular Great Rides in New Zealand.
Riding flat gravel roads is way harder than I had thought. It must be the overuse of the same muscle group, I believe. It’s also the long open road and you keep riding and riding, which makes you feel like a hamster on a wheel. More than endurance, I guess I need patience training.
Nevertheless, I completed the whole 150km in under 8 hrs and then rode back to Queenstown.
The Indian Pacific Wheel Race is going to be a huge challenge. T minus 11 days until the race start.