Top 4 upcoming mountain bike stage races in the Asia-Pacific region

If you are searching for something epic that involves cycling, competition, awesome nature and adventure, you might want to consider these four races:

1.Crocodile Trophy

It is probably the most famous Mountain bike stage race in Australia.
When: 17.-25.10.2015
Where: Cairns, Australia
Stages: 9 over 770km, 17,000m of elevation
Costs: Entry: USD 3,183 (entry fee, accommodation, luggage support, food)

Pros: Organized by Germans so it only can be very organized, timely and structured, good prize money, terrain looks amazing and adventurous
Cons: Very expensive

 2. Mongolia Bike Challenge

 

When: 21.08-30.08.2015
Where: Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia
Stages: 7 over 856km, 12,346m of elevation
Costs: USD 1964.00 (entry fee, accommodation, luggage support, food)

Pros: Looks like the toughest of all four races with the most spectacular scenery

Cons: Very expensive and a lot of logistics involved

3. Tour de Timor

When: 13.09-17.09.2015
Where: Timor de Leste
Stages: 5 over 395km, 8272m of elevation
Costs: USD 600 (entry fee, accommodation, luggage transport, food)

Pros: reasonably priced, discounted airfare tickets, beautiful, hilly terrain, good cause
Cons: None really

4. Simpson Desert Challenge
 

When: 29.09-03.10.2015
Where: Purni Bore, Australia
Stages: 10 over 570km
Costs: USD 473 (entry fee, accommodation, luggage transport, food)

Pros:truly an adventurous experience in the desert
Cons: Need fatbike, takes a day or two to get to start of race, tough to train for (sandy conditions, heat), need support crew (which can be arranged by race director)

Top 4 to succeed in the male-dominated cycling scene

Whenever you see a group of cyclists, look closer, the majority will be male. There might a “tough” female cyclist in there. However, cycling, especially competitive cycling is a male-dominated sport.

Here are the top 4 to get out of the token-female role:

1. Don’t be weak. Females tend to automatically subordinate themselves to their male counterpart. Yes, they might have evolutionary physical disadvantages, but that does not mean they are a lesser human being. Be yourself and let your strengths shine. That being said, that does not mean you have to try to fluff yourself up. That usually comes across the wrong way.

2. Don’t sell your body. And I do not mean the extreme of going to bed with everyone. This could be also considered in the professional context. Looking attractive is not a bad thing but let others judge you according to your personality, not your appearance.

3. Empathize. Having cycled with men coming from different stages of their lives – starting a family, getting divorced, entering mid-life crisis, etc) it has become very insightful to see the other side of gender-shared problems. If you show interest in the thought processes of men and do not use this opportunity to force your feminist approach onto them, men will open up and you will learn a lot what they really think.

4. Speak with your actions. Although this should be exercised by the entire human race, when you are the underdog as the female minority, proving yourself by being a great cyclist is the best way to establish yourself in a group. The trash talk can follow, but the hard work has to come first.

Now get out and ride your bike!