Ultra-endurance cyclist inspires adventure in others
Traveling through unknown wilderness terrain may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But for ultra-endurance cyclist Lael Wilcox, a bike-packing trip through the high sierras that most would call insane was just another adventure.
The short film “The Long Way Around,” which premiered in January, follows her travels alongside friends and a team of filmmakers to endure the ultimate journey into the unknown.
Growing up in Anchorage, Alaska, Wilcox was in a place with endless adventure and beauty. Her passion for cycling started in 2008, where she balanced being a pizza server and trying to pursue her passion. Taking it further, she began competing in races and setting records. Winning the 2016 Trans Am Bike Race, a 4,300-mile race from the west to the east coast, is no easy feat and continues her love of cycling with endless adventures. Her recent trip took her through the Sierras, a beautiful yet exhausting challenge, with nothing but her bike, her backpack, and her buddies.
“I never say no to anything, but I knew it was just going to be a total beast,”Wilcox said. The plan was simple: ride through the foothills, ascend 30 miles, and ride down for an epic, freeing descent. But the original plan for Wilcox and the crew was unfortunately set back, due to the smoky fires happening at the time.
Wilcox and the crew continued through the burned terrain, in which most would not want to be in the center of.
“(The film) tells a story of what the reality is there right now, and it’s cool to see that even if it’s not ideal,” Wilcox said.
Hiking and cycling through such an intense journey means traveling light is crucial. With special backpacks made specifically for hiking with your bike on your back, all that Wilcox and the crew carried was a bit of food, a sleeping bag and pad, and some other small essentials. No need for a tent, as the weather looked promising and there was always the bonus of viewing the stars at nighttime, she said.
Daytime, however, posed different challenges for Wilcox and her team. Finding water, especially in the dry heat of the Sierras, was one of them. Wilcox admitted she found herself rationing water due to not knowing when she would see it again on the trails.
“That day we found water and we climbed around 7,000 feet. That was tough, but it was fine. That also makes these moments special and totally makes us appreciate these things,” Wilcox said.
The ascent itself was rigorous. The backpacks came into use during this time, and “hike-a-bike,” walking miles upon miles with your bicycle weight on your back, was born.
“I think we hiked around 18 miles with the bikes on our backs. After half a mile you start thinking, ‘when can I take this off?’” Wilcox said.
Finally, after miles of hiking and sweat, a real treat awaited them. The descent to Sequoia National Park was one filled with quick speeds and air brushing the face as the cyclists whizzed through the trails downward. For Wilcox, the Sierras was mile for mile, one of the most visually stunning trips she has ever been on.
Wilcox said her motivation for cycling starts with looking at maps and dreaming of going to all the places she can. “It’s this big idea that so much is unknown,” she explains.
Her way is simple; make a plan, get out there, and just enjoy the time. She believes riding through the days and the nights will show her beautiful things and give her unforgettable experiences. For Wilcox, it’s seeing the beauty of the place she is in, seeing the animals, meeting new people, and having time to take a step back and just think. With the endless amount of places in the world to travel, she often finds herself asking, “ What’s it like over there?” Most of the time, she doesn’t have to wonder for very long, as her travels have taken her to over 35 countries, cycling more than 100,000 miles in these new places.
Adventure drives Wilcox to new heights, and she recalls having countless sleepless nights and days where she is pushing all of her limits. Yet again, through the challenges and difficulties, her curiosity of outcome and the journey itself fuel her as she asks herself, “How will this race go? Am I going to win?” She says she cannot guarantee that she will win, but she will try, and that along the way it will be a huge adventure either way.
The inspiration Wilcox gives to others when you hear her stories can strike anyone to be the best they can be. She focuses much of her time on women’s scholarships and mentor programs and inspires local women to get on their bikes and try something new to them.
“I think I love the idea of that spark when women realize, ‘ this is something that I could do.’ And then they make it their own, create their own challenge, and then they do it,” she said. “We’re all so different but I think with being a woman, you are told that you’re not capable of all this stuff, or that it’s dangerous. There are all these doubts kind of planted, and the more women that do this stuff, the more positive examples are set that it’s possible. Then they’ll share their stories and other women are like, ‘well she did it, I can do it,’ or something similar.”
Wilcox is currently in the last stages of an Alaskan scholarship for women, receiving phone calls of all the dreams and trips these women have encountered/want to encounter. Hearing these stories are what inspires her, and fuels her motivation. Hearing how so many women have overcome challenges and did what they wanted to do keeps her passion for what she does.
Having been through some insane adventures, and hearing about others’ quite frequently, it is no surprise Wilcox has made it to where she is today. Her love of cycling has opened up so much opportunity for herself and now so many women, and she hopes to keep things fresh and not to plan too much ahead, but rather live for what lies directly in front of her, and appreciate the beauty in all that surrounds her.
