People

Lael Wilcox: Grounded in Birkenstock

Alaskan super cyclist finds refuge in the footbed.

Lael Wilcox is one of the world’s great endurance bike racers. Since the age of 20, the North American has cycled all over the world. She has broken down barriers along the way and raised the level of what’s possible for a human on a bicycle to achieve. On Lael’s bicycle, Birkenstocks are a permanent fixture.

“Riding endurance produces such a broad range of highs and lows…there’s joy and beauty, but pain too.”

Alaskan endurance athlete Lael Wilcox wasn’t particularly into bikes when she was a kid. She was far more interested in running, basketball and football. In fact, she only discovered cycling after injuring her achilles heel while working as a waitress in her home town of Anchorage. Unable to partake in the sports she loved and without a driving licence, she’d borrow her mother’s road bike in order to get around. It was a groundbreaking experience for the youngster.

“I realised that if I could get around my local area using this thing, I could go anywhere,” she says. “The bike opened up this amazing sense of freedom for me.” Two months later, she put the theory to the test by cycling 3,000km from Montreal to Florida. Covering up to 100km a day while camping overnight in public parks, bikepacking proved the perfect solution for a student keen to experience the world on a limited budget.

Alaskan endurance athlete Lael Wilcox wasn’t particularly into bikes when she was a kid. She was far more interested in running, basketball and football. In fact, she only discovered cycling after injuring her achilles heel while working as a waitress in her home town of Anchorage. Unable to partake in the sports she loved and without a driving licence, she’d borrow her mother’s road bike in order to get around. It was a groundbreaking experience for the youngster.

“I realised that if I could get around my local area using this thing, I could go anywhere,” she says. “The bike opened up this amazing sense of freedom for me.” Two months later, she put the theory to the test by cycling 3,000km from Montreal to Florida. Covering up to 100km a day while camping overnight in public parks, bikepacking proved the perfect solution for a student keen to experience the world on a limited budget.

After the trip, Lael spent the following seven years touring the world on her bike. She would work for six months in restaurants and do other seasonal positions, then spend the other half of the year riding. The endless encounters with people, places and experiences provided her with some valuable life lessons. “Cycling taught me to stay positive in the face of adversity,” she explains. “It’s taught me to accept discomfort. It has toughened me up. I crave the freedom of moving through space under my own power and I’m so grateful for all the time I get to ride.

Created and conceived by Lael, the GRIT program allows 12 and 13-year-old girls with no cycling experience from low income families in Anchorage to ride together for six weeks. The trip culminates in a 60-mile, three-day adventure ride from their school into the wilderness, carrying everything they need with them. A success right from the start, Lael has witnessed the impact the program has on the youngsters first-hand. “It’s definitely the hardest physical challenge any of them have ever completed and it’s amazing to see them gain confidence,” she explains. “The kids make lasting friendships, they have fun and they learn to believe in themselves. Girls come back year after year to help the younger group. It’s really amazing to see them become mentors.”

“There are a lot of other things I’ll sacrifice, but I make room for the sandals.”

Alongside her own undeniable grit, determination and keen sense of adventure, Lael’s BIRKENSTOCKS have remained a permanent fixture on her epic voyages. She says: “My BIRKENSTOCKS are my favourite camp shoes. After a long day on the bike or even if I stop for lunch, the first thing I do is to take off my bike shoes and get into my BIRKENSTOCKS. There are a lot of other things I’ll sacrifice, but I make room for the sandals.”

“Slipping into BIRKENSTOCKS performs a tangible function. They ground me. They make a camp something other than just a tent. When I put them on, I know all the hard effort is over and I can rest.” The sandals symbolise the joy and satisfaction she feels after completing a long ride.

Alongside her own undeniable grit, determination and keen sense of adventure, Lael’s BIRKENSTOCKS have remained a permanent fixture on her epic voyages. She says: “My BIRKENSTOCKS are my favourite camp shoes. After a long day on the bike or even if I stop for lunch, the first thing I do is to take off my bike shoes and get into my BIRKENSTOCKS. There are a lot of other things I’ll sacrifice, but I make room for the sandals.”

“Slipping into BIRKENSTOCKS performs a tangible function. They ground me. They make a camp something other than just a tent. When I put them on, I know all the hard effort is over and I can rest.” The sandals symbolise the joy and satisfaction she feels after completing a long ride.