I rode through all 26 cantons of Switzerland in under 2.5 during the SUCH bike race, the Swiss Ultracycling CHallenge. This post describes what routes different people chose, discusses Fiona Kolbinger’s win and I give a brief report and analysis of my own race.
Read more →Sleep deprivation is dangerous for cyclists, so the risks involved in doing ultra-distance cycling and bikepacking races are discussed in light of this.
Read more →Support teams should not be allowed in ultra-distance cycling because they increase costs, vehicles are unnecessary & riders should make their own decisions.
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Advice on what types of bags to use for bikepacking and how they can be mounted. Also, whether to use fenders/mudguards for long-distance cycling.
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Advice on how much water to carry to optimize time efficiency in bikepacking races and long-distance cycling and options of where to store water on the bike.
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The effect of increasing cycling power on average speed was investigated and finish times predicted for a longer vs a more mountainous course.
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Cyclists must find their own supplies in bikepacking races. A variety of strategies on where to find food and how to stay well-fueled are described.
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Time efficiency when off the bike is at least as important as cycling speed in bikepacking and ultra-distance cycling races in which the clock never stops.
Read more →Having a planned schedule & updating it frequently helps ultra-distance cyclists stay focused, motivated & assess their rate of progress towards the finish.
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Having comfortable clothing is essential for long-distance cylcing. Bikepackers cannot carry much extra clothing, so every item must be chosen wisely.
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