Fridtjof Nansen, seen above on his polar trek on March 14, 1895, made the first crossing of Greenland on skis in 1988. A new expedition wants to do it on bikes. Photo: Creative Commons Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More
When the Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen decided to cross Greenland on skis in 1888, the idea was met with disbelief and criticism. Ultimately, he and a small team finished the crossing in 49 days, and returned to Norway as heroes.
Now, 135 years later, Norwegian organizers have devised a new expedition: cross Greenland’s icy landscape not with skis — but bicycles.
It’s called Coast to Coast , and they’re looking for someone like you to help them pull it off. Of course, that “someone” will need to withstand heavy winds, temperatures that reach -40°C, and bike for 500 kilometers over ice-choked terrain.
The expedition is slated for summer 2024, when “a group of 64 international cyclists will be the first ever to cycle across Greenland,” a news release said. Coast To Coast: Additional Details
The Greenland ice cap has been crossed many times since Nansen’s first crossing in 1988 — but only on skis. This ski tour has become popular among skiers from Norway and other nations, and typically takes 3-4 weeks.
Is it possible to do it with a bicycle? The event’s organizer thinks so, and expects the bike tour to only take seven days.“The organizer has considerable experience in crossing Greenland […]
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