Louise Minchin is currently taking on the formidable Inuvik Weekend Warrior Fat Bike Race – a gruelling 300-mile course through the Arctic Circle in Canada’s Northwest Territories.
Over the weekend of 21-22 March, the 57-year-old will be cycling through some of the coldest and most remote terrain on Earth – including frozen rivers and snow-covered wilderness – where temperatures may reach as low as -40 degrees over three days.
The accomplished triathlete and fitness author is accompanied by decorated endurance athlete and multiple Guinness World Record holder Mimi Anderson. Louise is raising funds for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and Mimi for Marie Curie.
Louise Minchin//Instagram
Louise’s endurance training
Since September, Louise has been training intensely for the challenge, sharing some of her recent rides on social media. ‘I have been out and about on my bike in the snow and ice in the Highlands – perfect training conditions,’ she wrote in early January.
Logging miles throughout the month, the presenter and journalist shared another course in Wales a few weeks later: ‘What an epic bike ride… in snow and ice in Llandegla. Had a beautiful ride along the canal towards Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – hit some big hills, one of which took an hour and a half to get up.’
Despite the scenery, the trail was unexpectedly difficult. ‘I am not choosing the route again! Way harder than I had thought and not great if you were on a gravel bike like me,’ she reflected. An accompanying map revealed the demanding terrain: ‘Red is downhill and blue is my up!’ Louise explained.
A long outing in Cornwall in February laid further groundwork for the expedition. ‘Another big bike ride under my belt with Mimi… five and a half hours, mostly on a deserted but beautiful Camel Trail,’ she said. ‘The hardest part was getting back on after warming up in the pub in Blisland,’ she added wryly.
Joint rides with Mimi became a regular part of her routine. ‘I have just finished a couple of days of tough bike riding in rain and wind round Môn/Anglesey training with Mimi,’ she told followers earlier that month.
Louise’s commitment even extended to seeking out patches of ice to practise riding on after a period of adverse weather. ‘Thanks to Storm Gerrit for providing some [ice]… I learned a LOT today about how to ride in slippery conditions and how not to ride in a bog!’ she noted in January.
Final preparations
Louise and Mimi arrived in Inuvik at the beginning of the week and put in a couple of practice rides to acclimatise to the -30-degree weather. ‘Our first test run – we did around 8k up and down the ice road, which is actually a frozen river (with ships frozen in it!),’ she said. ‘Surprisingly, we stayed relatively warm. We will be heading out for another ride today,’ she added.
After assembling the fat bike herself – including the ‘logistical conundrums’ of fitting its ‘studded tyres’ – she attached her essentials. These included pogies that were ‘really, really warm [when you] put your hands in’, hand warmers, snack pouches filled with ‘cashews, Maltesers, walnuts and cranberries’, a thermometer, a mat to kneel on when changing tyres in the snow, two emergency expedition jackets for extra warmth, and plenty of tools and extra kit such as a pump, a sleeping bag and spare glasses.
‘This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime. It has been 40 years since I went on my first expedition as part of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award,’ said Louise. ‘I am hoping that I can help raise funds for young people who might not be able to afford to take part in expeditions and… build confidence [and] resilience,’ she continued.
You can track Louise’s progress here or donate to The Duke of Edinburgh Award here.
After years living with endometriosis and undergoing seven rounds of IVF, Radio 4 presenter Emma Barnett turned to training with PT Frankie Holah to rebuild strength and a more positive relationship with her body. Download the Women’s Health UK app to access Frankie’s full training plan.
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