Another plundered story from BikeBiz will be of interest to those riders whose riding plans normally find their mates suddenly running for cover.

US fleece-maker Malden Mills – they of the lovely fluffy Polartec fabric – launched the ‘Polartec Challenge’ ten years ago to offer clothing and funds to sponsor epic adventurers.

Stephen Venables, British mountaineer and chairman of the Polartec Advisory Board, who provides guidance for would-be adventurers, said:

“We look for true adventure, a proposal which stretches our imaginations. For example, we’ve supported a trio who will attempt to climb the gigantic south wall of Mount. Nuptse, non-stop. They expect to take around three days so they’ll need to stop for a brew but sleeping’s out – they’re travelling so light they won’t even be carrying sleeping bags.

Other exciting ventures include a desert traverse using camels and two kayakers who paddled the 1000 kilometres along the Antarctic Peninsula – a daunting feat, bearing in mind they had to battle through Antarctic ice for a month without any outside support.”

“We like to make a difference to individuals and small groups who plan to tackle something very ambitious. We’ve also awarded grants twice where we think they have a deserving cause. Alun Hubbard, a British Glaciologist, is now on his second grant which is funding his forthcoming trip to circumnavigate Antarctica, by yacht, with impromptu climbs up remote mountains while at the same time conducting scientific research!”

Polartec are now looking at adventures planned for 2003 so once you’ve go your plans sorted head for the warm and cosy Polartec website for an application form. If you need more time to convince your mates that they really, really do want to come with you, don’t worry you’ve still got a year to the deadline.