About Us
Two friends, one impossible dream: the first bicycle crossing of Antarctica.
Alex in the warmth with his wife Frances and their dog SydneyAlex Taheri
@polar_pedalersAlex has been a licensed airplane pilot since he was a teenager growing up in Michigan, where he was the valedictorian of his high school class. For most of his career, he's worked as a software Product Manager, on the East Coast and in Europe. With his wife Frances, he now lives in Jacksonville, FL where he founded Hive Mind, a three-year program that empowers young people from low-income families to achieve college readiness and success, in 2022. In his free time, he enjoys surfing and mountain biking.
"Despite having built a settled life with my wife Frances and our dog Sydney, something about John's Antarctica proposal resonated deeply. Together, we're not just planning to make history as the first to cycle across Antarctica - we're proving that with the right partnership and determination, even the most impossible dreams can become reality." - Alex
John enjoying his first meal after polar training in the coldJohn Nitti
@jm_nittiJohn cycled nearly 10,000 miles across the United States and back, solo and unsupported, in 2012 and wrote the book Sharing the Road, published in 2023, about the life-changing adventure. The trip was one of the longest bike rides in US history. He works in AI software sales, lives in New York City, and has been on the board of the Marty Lyons Foundation, which benefits critically ill children aged 3-17 by fulfilling their wishes, since 2021. He received the foundation's Leon Hess Award in 2024. In his free time, he enjoys beach volleyball and skiing. He plans to attempt to be the first to cross all seven continents under human power.
"There isn't a long list of physical challenges like this that have yet to be accomplished on this planet. To be the first to do it is a big motivator for both of us. We're fully aware that some very capable cyclists have tried and failed to cross Antarctica, but we feel that our iterative, multi-year approach to preparation, our coach Eric Larsen, our unique route from Leverett Glacier to Hercules Inlet via the South Pole, and how we plan to train in the weeks leading up to the attempt are all critical factors that will give us an edge, and the best possible chance to pull it off. We're expecting the endeavor to be extremely challenging, but also one of the most rewarding experiences we ever have." - John
Eric on an expedition somewhere, enjoying the coldEric Larsen
@elexploreEric Larsen is a renowned American polar explorer, speaker, and environmental advocate, known for his innovative approaches to polar travel. He has completed more North and South Pole expeditions than any American in history, and is the first and only person to reach the three "poles" (North Pole, South Pole, and the summit of Mount Everest) in one year (2010). In 2006, he completed the world's first summer expedition to the North Pole. In 2012, he attempted to be the first person to bike to the South Pole, making it 175 miles before turning around and setting the record for the most miles traveled by bicycle in Antarctica. In 2014, Eric and Ryan Waters traveled unsupported from Ellesmere Island to the Geographic North Pole in 53 days, covering nearly 500 miles across the melting Arctic Ocean – it's expected to be the last human-powered trek to the North Pole, ever, because of melting ice due to climate change.
Larsen has used his expeditions to raise awareness of the impact of climate change on the polar regions, sharing his experiences and insights through speaking engagements and educational programs. He gives motivational and educational lectures to schools, universities, non-profits, and corporations around the world. A frequent media commentator, he has been featured in the New York Times, Time magazine, Outside magazine, National Geographic, The Guardian, and Men's Journal, as well as on CNN, NBC News, CBS News, and BBC News, among other outlets. He has raced in the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, summited Mount McKinley, and biked across the United States. A filmmaker, Larsen created Melting: Last Race to the Pole, a documentary about his "Save the Poles" expedition, which premiered on Animal Planet in 2015. In 2021, Eric was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, but is currently NED (No Evidence of Disease). He lives in Colorado with his wife and children.
First call with Eric - September 2023Origin of the Polar Pedalers
On a hot summer Friday in August 2023, John texted Alex, "Hey want to bike across Antarctica?" Then, a little later, "This is not a joke."
An hour later, Alex responded, "Hmm, maybe actually?" and the idea grew from there.
The week before, upon learning that crossing Antarctica had never been done on a bike and had only been done a few times on skis, John reached out to Antarctica Logistics and Expeditions (ALE) and spoke with Steve Jones. Steve recommended attempting it with one other person instead of solo, for reasons ranging from safety to morale to "Most of all, having someone else to look back on the adventure with," as he eloquently put it. John knew Alex was the friend to ask, and Steve soon put them in touch with Eric Larsen, who would become their trusted mentor and coach.