{"id":19440,"date":"2017-03-15T15:12:10","date_gmt":"2017-03-15T15:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/?p=19440"},"modified":"2017-03-15T15:12:10","modified_gmt":"2017-03-15T15:12:10","slug":"indipac-are-we-there-yet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/indipac-are-we-there-yet\/","title":{"rendered":"Indipac. Are we there yet?"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE hardest race you\u2019ve probably never heard of, the Indian Pacific Wheel Race, starts this weekend.<\/p>\n

On 18 march 2017, at 6AM around 70 riders head out on a 5500 kilometres race, unsupported from Fremantle to Sydney, across Australia, yep it\u2019s across Australia, unsupported so riders need to be self-sufficient. The race is one single stage, rest when you want, ride when you want. There is no prize money and the clock doesn\u2019t stop until you reach the Sydney Opera House. At 40 AU Dollars (\u00a325) the Indipac must also be the cheapest race to enter, per kilometer.<\/p>\n

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End to End<\/h2>\n

The route across is not the most direct or fastest route either, it detours to take in the Australian Alps and the Great Ocean Road as well as state capital cities along the way. Just in case you think it\u2019s not that hard because Australia is all flat and beeches, the 5500 kilometres includes 33\u2019543 Metres (110\u2019000 ft) of climbing, most of which is in the last 1000 kilometres through mountainous and stunning Australian Alps. As well as the distance, the weather too could play a major role in the event. March is late summer in Australia but can still provide 40 degree days crossing the Nullabor Desert. Nullabor meens no trees – ie no shade & not much to look at – except for road kill, and the big horizon. Near zero degree nights are also possible so riders will need to be prepared for all eventualities.<\/p>\n