February 03, 2024

What's it like to take on an Ultra Cycling Event as a Beginner? The Fledglings

1 hour 44 minutes

I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Berenice, Rosie and Tam - three women who were keen to test themselves in the sport of ultra distance cycling . Often these events can feel intimidating and just getting to the start line is a big deal. So to try and break down those barriers, a group was created called the Fledglings.

Previous guest of the showApril Drage, teamed up with Alice Marsh and Carly Williams to mentor the Fledglings group, sharing the skills they would need to participate in an ultra-cycling event. From learning how to use navigation equipment, attending crash courses in bush mechanic skills, as well as figuring out how to find the best bivvy spot; this group methodically went through each topic together - and also had a lot of fun along the way.

The Mallee Blast was their chosen event, which was designed to be beginner friendly. There were two distance options - 500km and 1000kms and the course was put together with the view that participants would never be too far from services and towns for resupply and accommodation.

Of course no-one could have predicted the weather event which hit just at the start, and the Fleglings would have to deal with heavy rain, flooded roads, and peanut butter mud!

So what was it like to join the Fledglings, learn the ropes of ultra distance cycling and turn up to the start line of that first event? Berenice, Rosie and Tam chatted with me to give me the low down on their experiences.

Click below to follow along with their future adventures:

Tam - instagram - @kidneying_around
Rosie - @rosiegl0w
Berenice - @bereniceheuberger

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