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Remembering Mike Hall

Indian Pacific Wheel Race·Friday, April 7, 2017
Words by Jesse Carlsson

The Indian Pacific Wheel Race showcased the extraordinary abilities of Mike
and also the individual adventurousness of all the riders. The battle between
Mike and Kristof captured enormous interest. Around the world millions of
people watched the race coverage. Thousands of messages flowed in from
people inspired by the riders’ efforts; some motivated to ride a bike for the
first time in years. Fans followed the riders online and came out of their
houses, even in the middle of the night, to line the streets to cheer them on.
In doing so, parents showed their children the importance of adventure and
living life to the fullest.

Those who didn't know Mike three weeks ago are now heartbroken having never
even met the man. They followed his adventure, tuning in each day, willing him
on and now they mourn his loss. The stories from the road from all adventures
teach us not to wait, but to live right now.

Our thoughts are with Mike's family and closest friends at this difficult time.
Our thoughts are also with all others directly affected by this tragic accident,
including the driver and those closest to the driver.

It takes a special sort of courage to start, and a rare motivation to finish,
the things that Mike did in his short life. Mike excelled in the longest and
most difficult cycling events in existence – it was not about prize money or
material winnings. He did them to see if he could. He relished the challenge
of testing his mental and physical limits. He loved the thrill of the race. His
super-human abilities made him a hero, but Mike’s humility and care for fellow
competitors made him a true champion.

Mike, through his Transcontinental Race, is largely responsible for building
the million-strong global community of endurance cyclists and race fans who
now support each other in this tough time. The nature of this community is

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