Mandurah women set to take on 1600km cycling challenge

Good friends Bridget Rhodes-Moore, Kimberley Ogden, Diane Humphrey and Tiani Dunn will brave the heat as they look to conquer the ride, crossing through the Midwest before travelling up the Stirling Ranges and eventually circling back to their starting point at Perth's Elizabeth Quay.

Leaving Perth on Saturday, November 23, the quartet's route will take them through several iconic WA towns, including Kellerberrin, Cunderdin, Kulin, Lake King and Albany before reaching Ongerup and eventually making their way through Katanning.

But what takes this ride from challenging to relentless is the lack of support riders are offered on their way.

Each cyclist makes the trek at their own pace, carrying everything they need on their bikes with no support cars or entourages provided to them.

It's a daunting task, but the foursome were confident they were prepared for its rigours.

"There's a few nerves but I think we're all ready for what the ride's going to throw at us," Rhodes-Moore said.

"A lot of the apprehension comes from just not having seen roads you're going to be riding on, but it's something we're really looking forward to."

The group's inspiration for taking up the challenge stems from watching the Indian Pacific Wheel Race, as they now look to forge their own sense of achievement through their upcoming test.

"We were watching the Indi-Pac and then this came up and we thought 'why not?'," Ogden said.

"It's something we're doing for ourselves. To be able to look back and say we've accomplished it at the end of the challenge will be something to be proud of."

The four ride with local Mandurah bike shop Fleet Cycles throughout the week, with each boasting between two and eight years experience.

Their progress throughout the ride can be tracked at maprogress.com

Anyone looking to learn more about challenge can search for the Facebook group Great Southern Ultra Challenge (Dot Watchers).