Biker Stan gears up for intrepid Nordic adventure for Alex’s Wish

June 23, 2022 9:51 am

Intrepid motorcyclist Stan Hulme, also known as the ‘Inspired Rider’  is about to embark on a 6,000-mile Nordic solo expedition across the Scandinavian Arctic in aid of Alex’s Wish.

Stan, a long-time supporter of the Leicestershire-based charity, will ride through England, France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway to reach the Land of the Midnight Sun. The trip will take him to the North Cape in Norway – Europe’s most northerly point accessible by motor vehicle – where he will visit the poignant Children of the World monument atop a 1,000-foot-high cliff overlooking the Barents Sea.

Setting off on June 29 from the Fairfield Inn near Wigston, Stan will be self-sufficient throughout the journey and will be wild camping  along the entire route. He will be travelling through some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes in challenging weather and on paved and unpaved roads.

The trip’s original start has been delayed by two days as one of Stan’s sponsors, Enduristan UK, has invited him to display his bike and share his challenge at its stand at the Adventure Bike Rider festival. The event runs from June 24 to 26 at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire and is expected to be a 10,000-visitor sell-out.

Stan is undertaking the expedition on his 15-year-old BMW R1200GS motorbike, which is being prepared for the journey by Bennetts Motorcycles in Oadby.

He added: “Dan and the team at Bennetts are going above and beyond to help me along the way. They discovered a serious fault with my ‘final drive’, as the bike is shaft driven (rather than by a chain). It’s an essential part and not something you can repair without an engineering shop, specialist tools and skills. I’m so grateful to have their support, and this goes to show just how important it is to be fully prepared for a trip like this.”

Stan is also being supported by Devitt Insurance, who are providing  insurance and recovery cover, and by Keis heated clothing  whose warm gear will prove invaluable on the far north’s  high mountain passes.

Stan also learned recently that one of the bridges he has to cross – at Badderden, 350km north of the Arctic Circle, and 250km short of Nordkapp – has sustained severe storm damage and is at risk of imminent collapse.

He added: “ This bridge is currently closed with a 550km detour in place, since the only other bridge in the region was swept away last year. Work has already begun to build a temporary bridge so I’m sure it will be fine…It just goes to show that weather conditions north of the Arctic Circle are no joke!”

Stan’s challenge is expected to take three and a half weeks, and can be followed on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as he is documenting the whole journey, including preparation and training, online.

All money raised by Stan’s adventure will go to Alex’s Wish.

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