2026 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[stompandgo]

Last year, there were too many controversies because of the "racing" format. Like, a rider ignoring a red light or crossing a railway with the barriers closed (they were caught on cameras). Or, unsafe riding on the last segment of the race just to win or get a better place. There were controversial disqualifications. For those reasons, it is not a race (but a rally) anymore. (The racers gonna race anyway).

That's pro/am gravel racing. They do not want any rules, and they don't care about safety. They just want to race however they feel like and win. The organizers are all about "epic". They want their race to be the one everyone talks about on social media. Priority #1. So no police, very few marshaled intersections, no race officials, no consequences. It's a rebellion against organized racing. Talk to the pros who have done it for a few years and got out.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

That's pro/am gravel racing. They do not want any rules, and they don't care about safety. They just want to race however they feel like and win. The organizers are all about "epic". They want their race to be the one everyone talks about on social media. Priority #1. So no police, very few marshaled intersections, no race officials, no consequences. It's a rebellion against organized racing. Talk to the pros who have done it for a few years and got out.

Certainly it is. Very different in Europe. Or, the extreme Moroccan race I talked about.

 

[stompandgo]

I think it's awesome that you do these events as a rally. Yes, it's assisted, but that's a lot of miles over difficult terrain at speeds you probably don't ride every day. Stay safe out there.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Certainly it is. Very different in Europe. Or, the extreme Moroccan race I talked about.

The Moroccan Mountain Race est 2020 is organised by the company Mountain Races along with their other long range off road races; the already famous Silk Road Mountain Race (Kyrgzstan) est 2018 and the Hellenic Mountain Race in Greece est 2023, These are all self supported against the clock and because of the long length are more like time trials then mass finish races. The distances are so large it's rare you see your competitors on the road.

The original, or at least the race that propelled the popularity of these type of long range MTB bikepacking races, is the big daddio; the Tour Divide Mountain Bike race established in 2008 along the GDMBR route from Canada to Mexico.

It's been fascinating to watch this type of racing grow in popularity from underground, bunch of friends challenging each other, to now having long distance races on most continents.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I think it's awesome that you do these events as a rally. Yes, it's assisted, but that's a lot of miles over difficult terrain at speeds you probably don't ride every day. Stay safe out there.

Thank you!
Sudovia (the north-easternmost tip of Poland) is just fascinating. It is an area consisting mostly of steep sand dunes, forests, lakes and farmland. There is nothing "flat" just climb/descent, and it is mostly gravel! So far, I raced there for 50 miles twice; it was very warm and sunny in 2024 but freezing and pouring in 2025. In either case, I only had a single e-biking competitor and in both cases the other rider didn't stand the difficulty.

The organiser of these 3 races insisted an e-biker should be able to do the "race" on a single battery. I had a serious discussion with him, especially as he extended the race distance beyond 60 miles with some 2,000 m elevation gain. So the man dropped anything related to the e-bike battery from the Rules and converted the event from a "race" to "rally", which makes the ride manageable.

Sudovia on the map (Suwałki is the capital city of the region). The three races combined (1,100 km) are biannual races for the Ultramarathon elite.
"Suwałki Gap": If the war with Russia ever starts, I might be the first one to learn about it

• Varmia Gravel (June) means steep cobblestone roads
• Great Lakes Gravel (September) is sand and cobblestones, mild climbs
• Sudovia Gravel (May) is gravel and only steep climbs and descents.

While I can ride a Vado SL in Varmia and Great Lakes, Sudovia is as steep as it must be my powerful Vado 6.0 with mountain gearing!

I love riding in Sudovia just because it's not boring!

 

[Mulezen]

The Moroccan Mountain Race est 2020 is organised by the company Mountain Races along with their other long range off road races; the already famous Silk Road Mountain Race (Kyrgzstan) est 2018 and the Hellenic Mountain Race in Greece est 2023, These are all self supported against the clock and because of the long length are more like time trials then mass finish races. The distances are so large it's rare you see your competitors on the road.

The original, or at least the race that propelled the popularity of these type of long range MTB bikepacking races, is the big daddio; the Tour Divide Mountain Bike race established in 2008 along the GDMBR route from Canada to Mexico.

It's been fascinating to watch this type of racing grow in popularity from underground, bunch of friends challenging each other, to now having long distance races on most continents.

I was not aware of these type races but am not surprised. There has been a similar evolution in long distance (Ultra Marathons) in the US. writer/scientist/corvid specialist in his spare time ran these huge distances early on in dominating fashion. He did this in part to test his theory that we are man…because we can sweat. Imagining this Silk Road race…the solitude, fortitude, bush fixes etc is boggling to me…always deficient in aerobic ability.

Bernd Heinrich - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Chargeride]

The ride started in a car park next go a small river bridge, this was not the path

An incredibly steep bridleway, suffice to say it was turbo 1st gear slog

Rapid climb past 1000s of sheep.

There were four that seemed to have escaped onto the bridleway itself,so I chased them down the entire hill

Very technical washed out paths and low branches, managed to impale my helmet

Rocky descents to very farmer made bridges

Surely these houses are riddled with damp

Some look a lot smarter than others

This climb to the top is a bridleway, but very worn out and abused by motorcycles ,not a pleasant experience

The power of the bike confuses you, in no time I was at the top

Very fast descent and the Levo suspension came into its own, just soaking up the terrain

I disturbed a nice middle of the road chat with my new fangled electric penny farthing.

The bridleway disappeared, so I rode over the river and that didnt go well

I then had to ride along a riverside path that had 5000 fallen trees over it, these guys were caving.

Then descended to a Ford to reach the MTB trails

This muddy path was a delight

Reached the trail centre but it was a bit boring forest fire road

Circled back to the Ford and then climbed a stupidly steep road back to the van.
Fantastic day out, sunburnt, thirsty, muddy and windswept.

 

[RabH]

The ride started in a car park next go a small river bridge, this was not the path
View attachment 207398

An incredibly steep bridleway, suffice to say it was turbo 1st gear slog
View attachment 207399

Rapid climb past 1000s of sheep.
View attachment 207400

There were four that seemed to have escaped onto the bridleway itself,so I chased them down the entire hill
View attachment 207401

Very technical washed out paths and low branches, managed to impale my helmet
View attachment 207402

Rocky descents to very farmer made bridges
View attachment 207403

Surely these houses are riddled with damp
View attachment 207404

Some look a lot smarter than others
View attachment 207405

This climb to the top is a bridleway, but very worn out and abused by motorcycles ,not a pleasant experience
View attachment 207406

The power of the bike confuses you, in no time I was at the top
View attachment 207407

Very fast descent and the Levo suspension came into its own, just soaking up the terrain
View attachment 207408

I disturbed a nice middle of the road chat with my new fangled electric penny farthing.
View attachment 207409

The bridleway disappeared, so I rode over the river and that didnt go well
View attachment 207410

I then had to ride along a riverside path that had 5000 fallen trees over it, these guys were caving.
View attachment 207411

Then descended to a Ford to reach the MTB trails
View attachment 207412

This muddy path was a delight
View attachment 207413

Reached the trail centre but it was a bit boring forest fire road
View attachment 207414

Circled back to the Ford and then climbed a stupidly steep road back to the van.
Fantastic day out, sunburnt, thirsty, muddy and windswept.

View attachment 207415

No chain issues this time? The terrain you ride on couldn't be more different to mine, I love my smooth roads...

 

[Chargeride]

New chain and cassette.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

New chain and cassette.

I've just replaced the chain on my big Vado. Turned out, the hard use made the chain stretch well past 0.75%! And that only happened after 1,919 km ridden!
Meanwhile, the chain on Vado SL is still very good (0.25% stretch after 2,350 km). It only demonstrates how powerful the motors on "full power" e-bikes are compared to the "lightweight" ones.

 

[Chargeride]

He told me they were knackered when I bought it, so cant complain.

 

[Mulezen]

The Cardio doc had an arm in sling at my morning appointment...broken collarbone, bike accident. I told him I'd ride when I got home in his honor.

 

[RabH]

With perfect weather I just had to get a big ride in today, I didn't hold back and almost over did it... It was 5C when I set off at 7.45am with little to no wind so it didn't feel cold, I was planning to make my way down to Falkirk and head north for Airth and turn NW for Callander! I got to Falkirk and the roads were much busier than expected so I opted to use the back road to Bonnybridge which is so much quieter and when I got to Bonnybridge I turned north towards Denny and headed up the tough 3 mile climb into the Carron Valley! I then headed up the Campsie Hills at the Stirling end, its such a great road and the views aren't too shabby either with the Ochil Hills lit up by the morning sun!

A short time later I passed Loch Coulter!

The descent down into Stirling after the loch is just amazing and I was smiling all the way down, the morning rush hour had passed so I decided to brave the main A84 from Stirling to Callander! It was busy at times but the drivers seemed to be in a good mood and gave me lots of room, I'm sure the sun was a factor! The River Teith runs alongside the road and I managed to find a good spot for a photo!

I stopped for lunch in Callander with 51 miles covered and changed to my second battery and continued along the A84 to Kilmahog, where I stopped for this photo of Ben Ledi which still had some snow on its peak!

I had this view in the opposite direction!

At Kilmahog I left the A84 and joined the A821 which runs alongside Loch Venachar and Loch Achray, Venachar was looking amazing with the clouds reflecting off the water!

The western end of the loch now!

The stunning views just kept coming!

At Loch Achray the road turns 180 degrees at the end of the loch and the big climb over the Dukes Pass begins, I stopped before the climb for this photo of Loch Achray with the Tigh Mor holiday apartments in the background!

The stunning Ben A'an was looking incredible in the sun today!

Then the 3 mile climb started, the road is in great condition pretty much all the way over the pass!

Loch Drunkie to the east from near the summit!

Shame I was climbing this part today, its a blast going down it!

I then enjoyed the descent down into Aberfoyle, one of the best in the country! From Aberfoyle I turned east towards Port of Menteith, passing the Lake of Mentieth on the way!

I continued east to Thornhill where I turned south for Kippen, another tough 3 mile climb but its worth it for the views of the mountains to the north on the way up! At 82 miles I had to change to battery 3, only 31 miles from my second battery thanks to all the climbing! In my head I thought my ride was going to be about 115 miles so I was confident I had enough juice left...

The road is just amazing also!

Almost at the top of the climb now and the view is even better!

Now I had another amazing descent to look forward to down into Fintry, its every bit as good as the Dukes Pass descent into Aberfoyle! From Fintry I turned east along the foothills of the Campsies, 90 miles appeared on my gps and I knew heading up over the Campsies wouldn't be a good idea so I opted for the Carron Valley! Its also a 3 mile climb but much easier than the Campsies, the views are also pretty special!

In the morning I climbed the Carron Valley at the eastern end and now I would get to enjoy the big descent down into Denny, it was just superb! On the way down the 100 miles appeared on my gps and that's when it dawned on me that I had at least 20 miles to go oops, I had to go into battery conservation mode now! I had a lot of climbing to come and not easy climbs, at least I had a lot of descending first all the way to Bonnybridge but that's where the climbs start! I had to use level 2 assist up the climb to Falkirk, it is very steep! Then I had the climb from Falkirk to Slamannan which is also very steep in parts, I managed some of it in eco mode though!

At Slamannan I had just 33% remaining with just under 10 miles to go, the problem is when it gets to 20% the battery tends to drop like a stone! Thankfully all the big climbs were behind me and I had a tailwind all the way home so I made it up my final hill with 16% remaining! I sure cut it close on this one but what an incredible day it was! I judged my water to perfection, I ran out in my driveway... I only need 38 miles to hit 45000 now, my bike will be 8 years old on the last day of this month!

The elevation profile tells the story of my ride!

 

[DaveMatthews]

View attachment 207450

With perfect weather I just had to get a big ride in today, I didn't hold back and almost over did it... It was 5C when I set off at 7.45am with little to no wind so it didn't feel cold, I was planning to make my way down to Falkirk and head north for Airth and turn NW for Callander! I got to Falkirk and the roads were much busier than expected so I opted to use the back road to Bonnybridge which is so much quieter and when I got to Bonnybridge I turned north towards Denny and headed up the tough 3 mile climb into the Carron Valley! I then headed up the Campsie Hills at the Stirling end, its such a great road and the views aren't too shabby either with the Ochil Hills lit up by the morning sun!

View attachment 207451
A short time later I passed Loch Coulter!

View attachment 207452
The descent down into Stirling after the loch is just amazing and I was smiling all the way down, the morning rush hour had passed so I decided to brave the main A84 from Stirling to Callander! It was busy at times but the drivers seemed to be in a good mood and gave me lots of room, I'm sure the sun was a factor! The River Teith runs alongside the road and I managed to find a good spot for a photo!

View attachment 207459
I stopped for lunch in Callander with 51 miles covered and changed to my second battery and continued along the A84 to Kilmahog, where I stopped for this photo of Ben Ledi which still had some snow on its peak!

View attachment 207460
I had this view in the opposite direction!

View attachment 207461
At Kilmahog I left the A84 and joined the A821 which runs alongside Loch Venachar and Loch Achray, Venachar was looking amazing with the clouds reflecting off the water!

View attachment 207462
View attachment 207463
View attachment 207464
The western end of the loch now!

View attachment 207465
The stunning views just kept coming!

View attachment 207466
At Loch Achray the road turns 180 degrees at the end of the loch and the big climb over the Dukes Pass begins, I stopped before the climb for this photo of Loch Achray with the Tigh Mor holiday apartments in the background!

View attachment 207467
View attachment 207469
The stunning Ben A'an was looking incredible in the sun today!

View attachment 207468
Then the 3 mile climb started, the road is in great condition pretty much all the way over the pass!

View attachment 207470
Loch Drunkie to the east from near the summit!

View attachment 207471
Shame I was climbing this part today, its a blast going down it!

View attachment 207472
I then enjoyed the descent down into Aberfoyle, one of the best in the country! From Aberfoyle I turned east towards Port of Menteith, passing the Lake of Mentieth on the way!

View attachment 207473
View attachment 207474
I continued east to Thornhill where I turned south for Kippen, another tough 3 mile climb but its worth it for the views of the mountains to the north on the way up! At 82 miles I had to change to battery 3, only 31 miles from my second battery thanks to all the climbing! In my head I thought my ride was going to be about 115 miles so I was confident I had enough juice left...

View attachment 207476
View attachment 207477
View attachment 207478
View attachment 207479
View attachment 207480
The road is just amazing also!

View attachment 207481
Almost at the top of the climb now and the view is even better!

View attachment 207482
View attachment 207483
Now I had another amazing descent to look forward to down into Fintry, its every bit as good as the Dukes Pass descent into Aberfoyle! From Fintry I turned east along the foothills of the Campsies, 90 miles appeared on my gps and I knew heading up over the Campsies wouldn't be a good idea so I opted for the Carron Valley! Its also a 3 mile climb but much easier than the Campsies, the views are also pretty special!

View attachment 207486
In the morning I climbed the Carron Valley at the eastern end and now I would get to enjoy the big descent down into Denny, it was just superb! On the way down the 100 miles appeared on my gps and that's when it dawned on me that I had at least 20 miles to go oops, I had to go into battery conservation mode now! I had a lot of climbing to come and not easy climbs, at least I had a lot of descending first all the way to Bonnybridge but that's where the climbs start! I had to use level 2 assist up the climb to Falkirk, it is very steep! Then I had the climb from Falkirk to Slamannan which is also very steep in parts, I managed some of it in eco mode though!

At Slamannan I had just 33% remaining with just under 10 miles to go, the problem is when it gets to 20% the battery tends to drop like a stone! Thankfully all the big climbs were behind me and I had a tailwind all the way home so I made it up my final hill with 16% remaining! I sure cut it close on this one but what an incredible day it was! I judged my water to perfection, I ran out in my driveway... I only need 38 miles to hit 45000 now, my bike will be 8 years old on the last day of this month!

The elevation profile tells the story of my ride!

View attachment 207487
View attachment 207488

What a gorgeous day!