With a name like Ben Rockett, he was never going to be anything other than a pioneering record breaker. Earlier this week, the British cyclist became the first person to cross Canada’s Baffin Island by bike.
Any part of skin that wasn’t covered was at risk of frostbite…
Buried deep within the Arctic Circle, the 28-year-old battled 115mph winds with temperatures dropping as low as -27°C as he crossed the icy island. The epic 200 mile ride took the athlete eight days to complete on his bespoke titanium bike made by Qoroz with special tungsten studded tyres by SupaTracks.
Ben told the Western Daily Press, “when I first arrived, it was nearly minus -30°C, but the wind was the most worrying thing. It was incredibly strong and made balancing on the bike extremely difficult. It also made the weather feel colder – any part of skin that wasn’t covered was at risk of frostbite.”
Ben was born with dysplasia, a condition where cells develop at abnormal rates and can lead to cancer. As a teenager, he suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car. It was after he recovered that he decided to take up cycling.
He’s no stranger to long-distance endurance tests. The intrepid Brit currently holds the world record for the fastest cyclist to ride from Lands End to John O’Groats and back in just 5 days, 21 hours and 8 minutes.
So far, Ben has raised over £1,000 for charity Action For Children from his Baffin Island expedition! You can find out more on his website: rockettrides.com