There aren't many challenges Jack Thompson will turn down, and riding 2,800km across the Nullarbor in Australia is definitely not one to scare him away. Ultra-endurance adventure cyclist and friend of Steadyrack, Jack Thompson (Jack Cycles Far), set off on his guided tour on January 1st, 2018 and is now journeying across the dry plains of Western and Southern Australia. Jack has been riding for 4 days and has updated us about his progress so far, including a couple of 'bumps' he's encountered along the way.

What is the 'Nullarbor Epic' Adventure? (Jan 1 - 15)

The 'Nullarbor Epic' is a 14-day guided cycling adventure that departs from Perth in Western Australia, crosses the Nullarbor Plain, and finally finishes in Adelaide in South Australia. With the world's largest single exposure of limestone bedrock and an area spanning about 200,000 square kilometres, we think this arid land can definitely claim its 'epic' title. For many Australians and tourists, 'crossing the Nullarbor' is a big ticket bucket list item, posing nothing short of a challenge by car, and even more so by bike. Run annually, the six lucky cyclists who join Jack on this adventure will challenge themselves by traversing one of the most remote landscapes on earth, cycling between 120km and 250km a day. In 2017, Jack trialled the 'Nullarbor Epic' and completed the journey in just 7 days (rather than 14), distancing a massive 400km a day. The 2018 adventure has already begun, as Jack and his team of riders set off on January 1. If all goes to plan, the trip will line up perfectly with Stage 1 of the Santos Tour Down Under, a UCI World Tour cycling event held in Adelaide in South Australia.

About Jack Thompson

In 2015, Jack Thompson decided to make a drastic lifestyle change, bidding farewell to his 9 to 5 job and life behind a computer screen in order to pursue his passion for ultra-distance cycling and adventuring. Originally from Perth in Western Australia, Jack now shares his experiences with other like-minded people from around the world who are determined to challenge themselves on the bike and explore some pretty spectacular cycling locations. In addition to the 'Nullarbor Epic', Jack also offers guided cycling adventures in Japan and other Western Australian regions.

'This is an adventure, not a five-star tour, and as such, participating riders will need to be comfortable with the fact that things can and do go wrong. All riders must acknowledge this and take full responsibility for their own safety whilst out on the road.'

Although the risk of venturing out into the unknown can sometimes be daunting, Jack emphasises the fact that these risks are exactly what make his cycling adventures so exciting.

Jack's Progress So Far: Days 1 - 4

Day 1 was off to a rocky start with Jack's father, who is a type 1 diabetic, experiencing some issues with his sugar levels. Thankfully, a couple came to their aid and the team were back on the road again in no time. If you're missing the warmer weather in the Northern hemisphere then you should head down under to Australia because Jack had all his Summers come at once. Day 2 was warming up at 42 degrees celsius but it was day 3 that saw some scorcher weather, topping at 48.8 degrees celsius (119.8°F)! It's now day 4 and Jack really has cycled far - he's already reached his 4th checkpoint at a rural Western Australian town called Norseman.

Just Keep Pedalling...

Although it's still early days (11 more days of cycling to go) we'll be following Jack's adventures and will keep you all updated with his progress. We bet he can't wait to take off his shoes, crack open a cold one, and finally store his bike away... on a Steadyrack of course! Want to follow Jack's adventure? Click this link for live tracking updates. We're all routing for you Jack, just keep on pedalling!