lochie kavanagh's Trans Am fund
Donation protected
Hi guys, my name’s Lochie Kavanagh, I’m an 18 year old cyclist, I only started riding after I left school last year. I thought I’d give the 5500km Indian Pacific wheel race a shot. I finished it, which I’m told shocked and inspired many people (including myself). After completing the IPWR (well about a week into it to be honest) I realised this is the sport for me. I love it, I seem to be pretty good at it, and have become a passionate ultra-endurance cyclist. Last week I went on a 500km training ride - from my family home in Sydney down to Golbourn and back. It was an epic ride and reminded me of the freedom and love of the outdoors as well as the adventure of self-supported long distance cycling. My next goal is the 7000km Trans Am bike race - an unsupported race across America starting in just 3 weeks time on June 3rd.
I applied, they accepted my entry, and I can’t believe I’ll be racing across America next month! I’m working and saving every spare cent to achieve my dream. Family and friends have assisted and I’m hoping you guys may be able to help support my adventure as well.
Thanks so much for the support you’ve given already - my interview on the Bicycling Australia website and YouTube channel went viral and so many have wished me well and been inspired by my story.
You can follow my training and race progress on Instagram, on my YouTube channel and of course on the TransAm website and social channels.
Australia - done, next stop America!
Lochie
PS this is the first article Bicycling Australia wrote about me.
He signed up for the 5500km Indian Pacific Wheel Race late last year … and wasn’t even a cyclist at the time.
Meet Lochie Kavanagh, at 18yo he is the youngest rider in the Indian Pacific Wheel Race, a gruelling cross-continent, totally unsupported, two-wheeled adventure.
After days of trying to get in touch with Lochie, we finally spoke with the inspirational young rider late on Saturday night. He’d just pulled in to a remote roadhouse on the WA / SA border and had spent the previous 12 hours battling nasty headwinds that, at times, reduced his speed to single-digit figures.
Despite struggling on Saturday, Lochie was positive, upbeat and incredibly determined as we had our first-ever conversation with the Sydney-based teen.
Completely oblivious to the fact that Lochie is as new to ultra-endurance cycling to he is to cycling itself, we were totally gobsmacked when he casually told us the following.
Riding 'A Couple Of Months'
Lochie: “When I turned up on that first day and told them I’d only been riding a couple of months they all laughed at me.”
Bicycling Australia: “Sorry Lochie, how many months have you been riding?” “Just a few,” he continued. “Actually - I started riding after I signed up for the race. I’d never even ridden - I didn't know how to clip my cleats in, I didn't even have cycling shoes at the time,” he said with a laugh.
We asked Lochie a little about what he's riding. In typical honesty he said he didn't know too much about bikes. It looks to be a Cannondale CAADX Tiagra cyclocross fitted out with Apidura frame and saddle packs.
Having finished his high school certificate last year, Lochie heard about the Indian Pacific Wheel Race via an Instagram post and quickly decided it was something he wanted to do.
Signs Up, Needs To Buy A Bike ...
“So a few weeks after I signed up I thought I’d better train,” he told us. “My uncle gave me a bike - I started training and putting in a few kilometres on that.” Shock, utter shock. As a new rider, we asked how he was coping - one week into one of the most gruelling cycling races on the planet. “It’s mostly mental,” he said.
“It’s all about mental gains. Obviously you've got to train your body for this but a lot of it is mind power. For me it’s a matter of taking the race one step at a time - one town at a time - that’s what I’ve been doing.” “Anything is possible,” he added. “Anything.”
Total Determination
Now enveloped in the 24/7 lifestyle of ultra-endurance cycling, Lochie’s had limited communication with the outside world since the start of the race. He broke his mobile phone on Day 1, and said he’d been trying to buy another phone and activate a new sim card at various roadhouses along the way. Eager for race information, he asked if "many more have dropped out?".
After telling him of the numerous unfortunate abandonments, he had this to say. “The more people who drop out, the more motivated I am to keep going,” he said. “Unless I have some sort of frame collapse or something - I don’t think anything else could make me drop out,” he added. “Unless something like I was bitten by a poisonous snake, and was taken to hospital … but I’d probably get the ambulance to drop me back to my bike and keep riding.”
Finishing the conversation to allow the young rider to get some much-needed rest, we told Lochie just how big the IPWR had become, and how numerous people have been wanting to know more about him, and were wishing him well. “Well that’s interesting,” he said down the crackly line. “I didn't realise it was such a big thing. I knew there is a tracker, but I thought the tracking would be for nerds. I did see IPWR written on the road, it’s good to know so many are watching.” "OK I've got to get some rest now," he said. " "I should have tailwinds tomorrow and want to put in a 400km day - my biggest effort so far."
As of Sunday night Lochie Kavanagh had covered an impressive 1700km and was located approximately 200km into South Australia on the Nullarbor Plain. At 9pm he was still riding. Holding his own against riders with decades of experience, Lochie was just 125km behind competitors such as Rupert Guiness and Cycling Maven.
Read more at http://www.bicyclingaustralia.com.au/news/lochie-kavanagh-the-youngest-indian-pacific-wheel-race-rider-and-completely-new-to-cycling
I applied, they accepted my entry, and I can’t believe I’ll be racing across America next month! I’m working and saving every spare cent to achieve my dream. Family and friends have assisted and I’m hoping you guys may be able to help support my adventure as well.
Thanks so much for the support you’ve given already - my interview on the Bicycling Australia website and YouTube channel went viral and so many have wished me well and been inspired by my story.
You can follow my training and race progress on Instagram, on my YouTube channel and of course on the TransAm website and social channels.
Australia - done, next stop America!
Lochie
PS this is the first article Bicycling Australia wrote about me.
He signed up for the 5500km Indian Pacific Wheel Race late last year … and wasn’t even a cyclist at the time.
Meet Lochie Kavanagh, at 18yo he is the youngest rider in the Indian Pacific Wheel Race, a gruelling cross-continent, totally unsupported, two-wheeled adventure.
After days of trying to get in touch with Lochie, we finally spoke with the inspirational young rider late on Saturday night. He’d just pulled in to a remote roadhouse on the WA / SA border and had spent the previous 12 hours battling nasty headwinds that, at times, reduced his speed to single-digit figures.
Despite struggling on Saturday, Lochie was positive, upbeat and incredibly determined as we had our first-ever conversation with the Sydney-based teen.
Completely oblivious to the fact that Lochie is as new to ultra-endurance cycling to he is to cycling itself, we were totally gobsmacked when he casually told us the following.
Riding 'A Couple Of Months'
Lochie: “When I turned up on that first day and told them I’d only been riding a couple of months they all laughed at me.”
Bicycling Australia: “Sorry Lochie, how many months have you been riding?” “Just a few,” he continued. “Actually - I started riding after I signed up for the race. I’d never even ridden - I didn't know how to clip my cleats in, I didn't even have cycling shoes at the time,” he said with a laugh.
We asked Lochie a little about what he's riding. In typical honesty he said he didn't know too much about bikes. It looks to be a Cannondale CAADX Tiagra cyclocross fitted out with Apidura frame and saddle packs.
Having finished his high school certificate last year, Lochie heard about the Indian Pacific Wheel Race via an Instagram post and quickly decided it was something he wanted to do.
Signs Up, Needs To Buy A Bike ...
“So a few weeks after I signed up I thought I’d better train,” he told us. “My uncle gave me a bike - I started training and putting in a few kilometres on that.” Shock, utter shock. As a new rider, we asked how he was coping - one week into one of the most gruelling cycling races on the planet. “It’s mostly mental,” he said.
“It’s all about mental gains. Obviously you've got to train your body for this but a lot of it is mind power. For me it’s a matter of taking the race one step at a time - one town at a time - that’s what I’ve been doing.” “Anything is possible,” he added. “Anything.”
Total Determination
Now enveloped in the 24/7 lifestyle of ultra-endurance cycling, Lochie’s had limited communication with the outside world since the start of the race. He broke his mobile phone on Day 1, and said he’d been trying to buy another phone and activate a new sim card at various roadhouses along the way. Eager for race information, he asked if "many more have dropped out?".
After telling him of the numerous unfortunate abandonments, he had this to say. “The more people who drop out, the more motivated I am to keep going,” he said. “Unless I have some sort of frame collapse or something - I don’t think anything else could make me drop out,” he added. “Unless something like I was bitten by a poisonous snake, and was taken to hospital … but I’d probably get the ambulance to drop me back to my bike and keep riding.”
Finishing the conversation to allow the young rider to get some much-needed rest, we told Lochie just how big the IPWR had become, and how numerous people have been wanting to know more about him, and were wishing him well. “Well that’s interesting,” he said down the crackly line. “I didn't realise it was such a big thing. I knew there is a tracker, but I thought the tracking would be for nerds. I did see IPWR written on the road, it’s good to know so many are watching.” "OK I've got to get some rest now," he said. " "I should have tailwinds tomorrow and want to put in a 400km day - my biggest effort so far."
As of Sunday night Lochie Kavanagh had covered an impressive 1700km and was located approximately 200km into South Australia on the Nullarbor Plain. At 9pm he was still riding. Holding his own against riders with decades of experience, Lochie was just 125km behind competitors such as Rupert Guiness and Cycling Maven.
Read more at http://www.bicyclingaustralia.com.au/news/lochie-kavanagh-the-youngest-indian-pacific-wheel-race-rider-and-completely-new-to-cycling
Organizer
Lochie Kavanagh
Organizer
North Willoughby NSW
