Thursday, 17 July 2014
Monday, 9 June 2014
Wiggle Dragon Ride
I managed to win the Wiggle Dragon Ride Cycletta event this weekend. I know it's not supposed to be a race but why go slowly!
Guinness Book of Records
Last week I found out that I've now officially been given the title of First person to cycle to the South pole by the Guinness Book of Records here is the e-mail.
Dear Miss Maria Leijerstam,
We are delighted to confirm that you have successfully achieved a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for ’First person to cycle to the South Pole’. We would like to congratulate you on your record-breaking achievement. You are OFFICIALLY AMAZING.
Tuesday, 4 March 2014
Meeting the Prime Minister
David Cameron seemed pleased with his collage.
I was accompanied by my local MP, Alun Cairns
...and my VERY proud mother!
Monday, 3 February 2014
Total Women's Cycling Award
I'm delighted to say that I've been chosen as a finalist for the Outstanding Achievement Award!
Thursday, 9 January 2014
No place like home!
Even though it's rained almost constantly since I landed yesterday, I always love to come home.
Hobbling through Heathrow and seeing my family for the first time in over a month was the best welcome home.
My father was quick to point out that on christmas day he'd received a nasty surprise when he got a 'Deadman alert' from my tracker, which he was obviously not too pleased with. We are still trying to figure out how that happened, besides firstly I'm definitely not dead and secondly I'm still a woman!
Today has been the first day that I've sat at my computer and am rather over-whelmed at the amazing messages I've received from all over the world - thanks to everyone for their great support.
This expedition has always been about doing things differently, in a modernised way and achieving something amazing through clever planning and expedition execution rather that doing an expedition that is longer, harder, tougher and hence a huge story about human sacrifice. In today's modern world I believe that only historical journey's can be classed as human sacrifice because we now all have the kit, equipment, clothing and more importantly a sat phone to call in help when we need it.
Having said that I've definitely sacrificed my knee as I don't believe it will ever been the same again and I can confirm that I went through the most immense pain for the last 5 days! Pain is temporary became my motto...
I am planning to write a book and have in fact already started writing and hope to have it available towards the end of the year. Details will be posted on my website.
Thanks again to everyone who has supported me and my crazy idea and to all sponsors who have provided kit and equipment, advice and support.
Thanks to my mother for being the most amazing PR Consultant in my absence, My father who helped with the initial concept for the Polar cycle and design of skis (which fortunately/unfortunately I did not need to use!), Marcus & Chris (From Qoroz Titanium Bikes) for believing in my ideas and also helping to conceptualise the polar cycle, ICE for joining the project with very little notice and building the most amazing polar cycle EVER!, my boyfriend Wayne who not only endured a month in Antarctica (he's from Africa and hates the cold!) but also 2 years of me getting up at 6.00am in the morning to train and supporting me in all ways possible and finally all of my friends who I've been practically ignoring for the last few years...please can I have you back now - I'm sorry???!
Hobbling through Heathrow and seeing my family for the first time in over a month was the best welcome home.
My father was quick to point out that on christmas day he'd received a nasty surprise when he got a 'Deadman alert' from my tracker, which he was obviously not too pleased with. We are still trying to figure out how that happened, besides firstly I'm definitely not dead and secondly I'm still a woman!
Today has been the first day that I've sat at my computer and am rather over-whelmed at the amazing messages I've received from all over the world - thanks to everyone for their great support.
This expedition has always been about doing things differently, in a modernised way and achieving something amazing through clever planning and expedition execution rather that doing an expedition that is longer, harder, tougher and hence a huge story about human sacrifice. In today's modern world I believe that only historical journey's can be classed as human sacrifice because we now all have the kit, equipment, clothing and more importantly a sat phone to call in help when we need it.
Having said that I've definitely sacrificed my knee as I don't believe it will ever been the same again and I can confirm that I went through the most immense pain for the last 5 days! Pain is temporary became my motto...
I am planning to write a book and have in fact already started writing and hope to have it available towards the end of the year. Details will be posted on my website.
Thanks again to everyone who has supported me and my crazy idea and to all sponsors who have provided kit and equipment, advice and support.
Thanks to my mother for being the most amazing PR Consultant in my absence, My father who helped with the initial concept for the Polar cycle and design of skis (which fortunately/unfortunately I did not need to use!), Marcus & Chris (From Qoroz Titanium Bikes) for believing in my ideas and also helping to conceptualise the polar cycle, ICE for joining the project with very little notice and building the most amazing polar cycle EVER!, my boyfriend Wayne who not only endured a month in Antarctica (he's from Africa and hates the cold!) but also 2 years of me getting up at 6.00am in the morning to train and supporting me in all ways possible and finally all of my friends who I've been practically ignoring for the last few years...please can I have you back now - I'm sorry???!
Thursday, 2 January 2014
Waiting to fly out of Antarctica, January 2
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It took two days of travel this time in the relative comfort of a truck for Maria to return to Union Glacier from the South Pole where she is waiting for a flight out of Antartica to Chile.
She has been plastering her swollen knee with ice and not to be daunted by injury she is hoping to do some skiing before she leaves!
She has enjoyed her first shower for a month - no more wet wipes - and she is no longer lugging a spade around in order to go to the toilet!
On the drive back from the South Pole she passed the two other cyclists who are attempting to cycle to the South Pole. The Spaniard Juan Menendez Granados was happy to give her a hug! Good sportsman!
Friday, 27 December 2013
Maria claims two world titles
I've done it I've done it, I've done it! Maria claimed two world records this morning as the first person to cycle to the South Pole from the edge of the continent in 10 days beating all other speed records.
“Her success was down to meticulous planning, super fitness both physically and mentally and pure determination,” said her mother Adrianne Leijerstam.
“From the time she was 12 years old and announced she wanted to be an astronaut, Maria has always been an adventurer. We are thrilled she has made it in such good time.”
Maria, a former management consultant, who now runs Multisport Wales describes Antartica as vicious. Her journey has not been without its problems. At one point the sweat on the inside of her boots froze making keeping her feet warm incredibly difficult.
Snow drifts, complete white outs and high winds marred her passage but even so she was able to cycle the whole distance on her three wheeled recumbent PolarCycleTM
A two year planning and development programme by the White Ice Cycle team produced the concept for this unique PolarCycleTM that was then manufactured by Inspired Cycle Engineering of Cornwall.
.
Roald Amundsen, was the first person to reach the South Pole in 1911 using 2 metre long skis which made crevasse crossing easier for him and he also had assistance from dogs. He was five weeks ahead of a British party led by Robert Falcon Scott as part of the Terra Nova Expedition. Amundsen and his team returned safely to their base, and later learned that Scott and his four companions had died on their return journey.
Thursday, 26 December 2013
13 km to go! 7pm Boxing Day, 2013
Wow! Just heard that Maria is only 13 kilometres away from claiming her world first title as the first person to cycle to the South Pole in just ten days!
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
Christmas Day in Antartica
Christmas Day for Maria means another day of hard cycling. Antartica is vicious but beautiful says Maria's as she spends Christmas Day in the coldest place on earth.
Her cycling record has been an amazing 81km per day and on a continent where it never gets dark she has spent as little time as possible sleeping and the maximum time she can cycling.
Sudden changes in weather patterns bring total white outs and fierce winds constantly blast her progress.
Undaunted, Maria is determined to reach the South Pole within the next three days.
Her cycling record has been an amazing 81km per day and on a continent where it never gets dark she has spent as little time as possible sleeping and the maximum time she can cycling.
Sudden changes in weather patterns bring total white outs and fierce winds constantly blast her progress.
Undaunted, Maria is determined to reach the South Pole within the next three days.
Monday, 23 December 2013
Well over half way
Maria completed her greatest mileage on December 22 83kms in 11 hours.
The weather was not so good the next day, as strong wind and snow drifts were slowing things down. Her knee has being giving her some problems particularly when she stops and starts again but she is managing it as well as she can with plenty of pain killers and hopefully it will hold out until she gets to the South Pole.
Maria is well over half way to the Pole which is a fantastic achievement and she has completed the most difficult sections, lets hope that heavy snow does not drift in as this would be her biggest challenge going forward.
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Top of the glacier
Amazing! Maria has just conquered the most feared part of her expedition - the Leverett Glacier!
It's only day three but this mammoth climb was the steepest part of her journey.
She set off this morning in white out conditions so bad that she could not see anything in front of her and had to navigate with her GPS.
Visibility improved later in the day and she then focused on the steepest part of the climb from 2200 metres to 2900 at the top. She has managed to cycle all of the way so far on her amazing cycle.
She now has to cycle 500k on the polar plateau to her destination.
It's only day three but this mammoth climb was the steepest part of her journey.
She set off this morning in white out conditions so bad that she could not see anything in front of her and had to navigate with her GPS.
Visibility improved later in the day and she then focused on the steepest part of the climb from 2200 metres to 2900 at the top. She has managed to cycle all of the way so far on her amazing cycle.
She now has to cycle 500k on the polar plateau to her destination.
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Just landed in Antartica
Maria has landed at the Novo Russian Airbase in Antartica. She reports that conditions are good and it was amazing landing on a sheet of ice.
The Russian airbase is basic but the people are very friendly and she is enjoying the Russian food. She is trialing her polar cycle over the next few days while she waits for her next flight that will take her to her starting point.
The Russian airbase is basic but the people are very friendly and she is enjoying the Russian food. She is trialing her polar cycle over the next few days while she waits for her next flight that will take her to her starting point.
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Flying tomorrow
Just heard that Maria is due to fly tomorrow December 11 on a Russian cargo plane from Cape Town to the Alci airbase in Antartica. She had to assemble her bike before flying. Here she is pictured at the expedition base with her bike all packed up ready to go. Don't forget to put on those ten layers of clothing before you leave Maria!
!
En route to Cape Town
Last minute packing day was hectic. Spent hours wrapping batteries, camera, GPS and all such sensitive essentials in a good layer of thinsulate. The leads had to be specially well wrapped as they can snap in extreme cold temperatures. Apart from the bike box that was packed by Friday I went through my clothes, again and again, trying to discard anything I did not really need. I will only be washing with wet wipes for 20 days!
The last mammoth effort before leaving home was loading the massive bike box on the roof of my car
for the journey to Heathrow. We made it in good time but spent two hours persuading Virgin to accept my oversized bike box. Finally with the help of Meghan, Wayne's daughter, we were off and up in the sky on the way to Cape Town. This is just the first lap of a ten day journey to the start line.
A couple more days in Cape Town for kit checking and weigh in before taking the ex-military Hercules cargo plane to Novo on the edge of Antartica.
East Antartica has just been recorded as setting the record lowest temperature on earth at minus 95C by newly analysed satellite data. What a contrast to 30 degrees plus in Cape Town.
The last mammoth effort before leaving home was loading the massive bike box on the roof of my car
for the journey to Heathrow. We made it in good time but spent two hours persuading Virgin to accept my oversized bike box. Finally with the help of Meghan, Wayne's daughter, we were off and up in the sky on the way to Cape Town. This is just the first lap of a ten day journey to the start line.
A couple more days in Cape Town for kit checking and weigh in before taking the ex-military Hercules cargo plane to Novo on the edge of Antartica.
East Antartica has just been recorded as setting the record lowest temperature on earth at minus 95C by newly analysed satellite data. What a contrast to 30 degrees plus in Cape Town.
 |
| Arriving at Heathrow with my massive check in luggage |
Saturday, 30 November 2013
Fully loaded
Another hectic day. I decided to load up my polar cycle with all of the kit I will be carrying across Antarctica (all 45kg of it), to experiment with weight distribution. Firstly, I must admit I love experimenting with new ideas. This has not been done before so it could go one of two way but that's what makes it so exciting.
The good news is that the majority of that weight loads up the rear driving wheels and in fact reduces the weight on the front two wheels meaning that I might just get some extra float out of my front two wheels. On top of this we made a custom fit pair of skis for the front two wheels that fit on with a simple brackets system for when the snow is just too deep to make any headway.
With the extra weight on the rear wheels this will increase the traction which is good news. I have had to add additional padding to the frame on the rack of the polar cycle so the bag doesn't rub on the gears. It just shows how important testing everything is!
We also added a wedge to the inside of my right peddle to support my weaker knee. Due to years of training, my left patella has been weakened but with this minor change that Phil, the Biomechanic picked up, I'm now able to peddle with no problems.
My newly fitted arm-rests provide huge assistance and now with my sleeping bag acting as a head rest my upper body is 100% rested as I peddle away. That was one of my objectives from the very beginning.
I also tested my new stove and made everyone a cup of tea at lunch time!
Only 7 days to go....
The good news is that the majority of that weight loads up the rear driving wheels and in fact reduces the weight on the front two wheels meaning that I might just get some extra float out of my front two wheels. On top of this we made a custom fit pair of skis for the front two wheels that fit on with a simple brackets system for when the snow is just too deep to make any headway.
With the extra weight on the rear wheels this will increase the traction which is good news. I have had to add additional padding to the frame on the rack of the polar cycle so the bag doesn't rub on the gears. It just shows how important testing everything is!
We also added a wedge to the inside of my right peddle to support my weaker knee. Due to years of training, my left patella has been weakened but with this minor change that Phil, the Biomechanic picked up, I'm now able to peddle with no problems.
My newly fitted arm-rests provide huge assistance and now with my sleeping bag acting as a head rest my upper body is 100% rested as I peddle away. That was one of my objectives from the very beginning.
I also tested my new stove and made everyone a cup of tea at lunch time!
Only 7 days to go....
Thursday, 28 November 2013
10 days and counting
A busy morning. Firstly a meeting with my local MP, Alun Cairnes outside the Welsh Assembly...polar cycle on display prompting lots of people to stop and ask the big question, "what is that?'
Followed by the polar cycles first trip around Cardiff City Centre. Only travelled 5km but took me 2.5hrs due to the number of people stopping me to ask "what is that?'
Took delivery of all of my delicious freeze dried food. Weighs a ton and it's the lightest weight on the market!
Collected a beautifully lightweight titanium stove and thermos flask which is going to get a thermal jacket made for it this weekend...
Lots of phone calls, e-mails and website updating and now off to host my parents for dinner this evening for being so supportive of my crazy adventures.
Followed by the polar cycles first trip around Cardiff City Centre. Only travelled 5km but took me 2.5hrs due to the number of people stopping me to ask "what is that?'
Took delivery of all of my delicious freeze dried food. Weighs a ton and it's the lightest weight on the market!
Collected a beautifully lightweight titanium stove and thermos flask which is going to get a thermal jacket made for it this weekend...
Lots of phone calls, e-mails and website updating and now off to host my parents for dinner this evening for being so supportive of my crazy adventures.
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
White Ice Cycle
Launched, live and about to happen! White Ice Cycle 2013
I'm so nervous. I have to keep telling myself to sit down, breathe and take it in my stride.
On the 8th December I'II be flying out of the UK on my way to Antarctica to begin my cycle to the South Pole.
The expedition will begin around the 18th December and I hope to arrive at the South Pole on around the 7th January.
It's the first time in my 35years that I would have missed Christmas....that's quite a big deal for me, however we have Christmas planned for the 20th January when I get home!
I'm so nervous. I have to keep telling myself to sit down, breathe and take it in my stride.
On the 8th December I'II be flying out of the UK on my way to Antarctica to begin my cycle to the South Pole.
The expedition will begin around the 18th December and I hope to arrive at the South Pole on around the 7th January.
It's the first time in my 35years that I would have missed Christmas....that's quite a big deal for me, however we have Christmas planned for the 20th January when I get home!
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Training has officially commenced - here was my kick start!
I know I'm being secretive about my next expedition but that's because this is a BIG ONE!
Last week I took a trip up to loughborough to meet with the specialists at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute.
I was tested in everything possible and here are some of the results.
I'm rather pleased that I now have 6 months to do something about it and turn my red's to green's and improve my VO2 Max.
It was a really fascinating experience and I'm looking forward to my re-test in November.
Last week I took a trip up to loughborough to meet with the specialists at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute.
I was tested in everything possible and here are some of the results.
It was a really fascinating experience and I'm looking forward to my re-test in November.
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