Emma Flukes experienced a suspected case of Shermer’s neck on her all-terrain ride. Emma Flukes knew that cycling 1,796 kilometres across Tasmania would be difficult, but an earlier immune disorder diagnosis and losing control of her neck halfway through made it near impossible.
Using roadside rubbish and travel items for neck support, Ms Flukes navigated river crossings, flood damaged dirt tracks and remote terrain over eight days to place first among 22 other cyclists on the route.
Known as the Tassie Gift, the route was created by Ms Flukes in 2019 and often sees a group of cyclists head off together while carrying their own food, water and overnight gear.
Ms Flukes described it as a "scenic trip to hell" because of the gruelling nature of the track, which passes through beautiful and diverse Tasmanian landscapes.
Of the 22 cyclists who joined her on the Tassie Gift this month, 10 completed the full course. Emma navigated river crossings and damaged dirt roads to ride nearly 1,800km across Tasmania. A love letter to Tasmania
Cycling became an obsession for Ms Flukes after she completed the Race to the Rock event in 2018.
In 18 days, she cycled 3,602 kilometres from Cockle Creek in Tasmania to Uluru in the Northern Territory."I hadn’t done any multi-day, self-sufficient riding ever, but it seemed like a cool adventure," Ms Flukes said."I learned so much and got the taste for the idea that you can go anywhere, as long as you have a route to follow."Her growing interest in all […]
Continue reading the original article at: www.abc.net.au