Help cyclist become first to cross Antarctica - and win all-wheel-drive fat bike

An adventure cyclist who plans to cycle 1,200 miles through Antarctica via the South Pole has launched a $40,000 Kickstarter campaign to help fund the trip, and give others the chance to own a unique all-wheel drive fat bike, developed specifically for the trip.

If she succeeds in her goal, Kate Leeming, from Melbourne, Australia, will be the first person to cycle to the South Pole. She will face freezing conditions over 45 days with temperatures down to -40F.

Christini bikes, a Philadelphia based company, developed a bespoke bike with a mechanical all wheel drive system, which delivers power from the rear of the bicycle to the front wheel through a series of gears, shafts and chain. The AWD fat bike costs $4,995 and is currently only available via the Kickstarter campaign.

Woman prepares for Antarctica cycling record

Leeming wrote on her website: “In November/December/January 2017-2018 I am planning my most ambitious expedition yet – to cycle across the continent of Antarctica via the South Pole.

“As with my previous expeditions, I will be combining my passions and skills for expedition cycling, planning and presenting with philanthropy and education, though Breaking the Cycle South Pole is going to push my boundaries to a whole new level.”

Those pledging more than $4,995 will receive a Christini AWD 4” fat split frame bike. An e-bike version is also available for pledges of $6,495 or more. Delivery is estimated as March 2017. Smaller pledges will receive anything from stickers to copies of Leeming’s books from one of her previous adventures.

Australian Leeming will wear custom-designed clothing and boots which, along with the bike, are designed to withstand the extreme weather conditions, which can be seen in the blizzard she and her film makers encountered in Greenland during a trial run.

Leeming’s Breaking the Cycle Foundation will funds for community development initiatives as well as raising awareness of the poverty-related issues she learned about during previous expedition in Africa. The Foundation is expected to be running towards the end of the year. Among the causes she will support are HIV/AIDs support programmes.  As part of this, a Charity Miles app will donate 25c to The Global Fund for every miles participants cycle, walk or run.

In 2013 Great Britain’s Maria Leijerstram became the first person to cycle to the South Pole, riding a recumbent fat trike 400 miles to her destination. Like Leeming, Leijerstram’s expedition was years in the making.