Bike
Cycling
4 bike challenges to push the boundaries of your fitness
Steamroll through your 2018 fitness goals and aim for one of these crazy cycling competitions.
If you’re ready to start pushing the limits of your fitness, a great way to do this is by setting yourself a goal of completing a physically demanding but exciting challenge that will keep you interested. We’ve selected four of the most extreme challenges happening across the world this year, and included some advice from people who have completed the challenges in the past.
1. Transcontinental
When: July 29
Where: Starting in Belgium and finishing in Greece
This ultra-endurance race will challenge you physically and mentally, as competitors race cross Europe on a road bike with no outside support, carrying everything with them that they will need. The route varies between 3,000-4,000km and can take anything from 10 days to three weeks to complete. You can compete alone or in pairs, but being self-supported is central to the point of the race.
Wiesia Kuczaj took on the race in August 2017. With minimal training and experience of bike-packing she completed it in 17 days. This is her advice…
“I have never spent so long on my own, inside my own head before. You see the most incredible views and landscapes and it’s just you, the bike and your surroundings. I thought I would feel lonely, but I didn’t. The biggest challenge is being self-supporting, I took way too much stuff and ended up posting half of it back home on day two! You can set your own expectations and goals but if something happens outside of your control – like a heatwave – you may not be able meet them. Re-adjust your goals as you go, and just keep trying.”
2. Yak Attack
When: November 3-12 2018
Where: Nepal
The views you get from the “highest mountain bike race in the world” are worth the risk of altitude sickness. During this five-day race, you'll reach heights of 5,000 metres and cross the stunning Himalayas. Whether it’s the race results you’re chasing or the once in a lifetime experience, you can expect to dig deep inside of your mind as well as your body to push yourself through the challenges thrown at you from the extreme environment.
Experienced Enduro World Series racer for Hope Team Racing Rachael Walker put her knowledge, fitness and mental strength to the test in November 2016, this is what she had to say…
“As you pedal along, you’re surrounded in every direction by towering mountains, the kind you have to crane your neck to see the peak of. The journey takes you through some of the most remote villages and communities. The toughest element has got to be the altitude. The year I did the Yak Attack we didn’t go below 3,800m for six days. It’s difficult to imagine how tough the breathing is. The oxygen was so thin at the levels we were at, the minute you started to push your body slightly you’d be gasping for oxygen with your heart rate went through the roof! I recommend getting access to an altitude tent to sleep in during the lead up to the event."
3. Megavalanche
When: July 2-8 2018
Where: L'Alpe d'Huez (French Alps)
This is one of craziest events on the planet, and one which even attracts professional mountain bikers. It’s a mass-start, downhill mountain bike race with a bit of climbing thrown in to boot. You start on the glacier at the top of Alpe d’Huez and riders tackle snow, scree, rocks, roots, mud and heat as they race 400 other riders all the way to the bottom of the mountain. Megavalanche has a festival vibe to it, so it’s worth going for a week of practice, racing and fun with like-minded mountain bikers.
Glenroy Martin has raced the Megavalanche several times. Normally a pure downhill racer, used to racing for five minutes, this one-hour battle is a totally different kettle of fish for him. He has this to say about the event…
“It is one big adventure from the top to the bottom, due to the sheer volume of people on the course and the variety of terrain covered; you never know what's going to happen. The hardest part of the race is 100 per cent the snow, as riding down the glacier can mean speeding through hub-deep powder, or trying to maintain balance on solid ice. If you are thinking of doing the event, bring spare parts as you are bound to break something.”
4. Red Bull Timelaps
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Red Bull Timelaps: Day vs Night
Red Bull Timelaps challenges teams of cyclists in the worlds longest one day road cycling event, taking place the weekend of daylight savings, making it a gruelling 25-hour race against time.
When: October (2018 dates TBC)
Where: Windsor Park
Make the most of the extra hour you get when the clocks get turned back in October by competing in a 25-hour road race, that takes place in just a day! You will compete in teams, racing around the iconic Windsor park, with the winners completing the most laps in the 25-hour time period. At 2am, a ‘power hour’ is activated, where laps completed are counted as double points, so it’s a good opportunity to gain extra points for your team. You’ll have to battle tiredness through the night, and come prepared with the right nutrition and race strategy.
Symon Lewis from Team Tekkers, a national-level road and track racer, faced up to it with his team mates…
“The sheer size of the event [is incredible]. 25 hours is a long time to be awake, let alone alert and ready to ride your heart out. The toughest bit is pacing yourself – it's easy to try to chase the next person or go flat-out early on, but when you are 10 hours in, it’ll really hurt. Finding a group is key. And make sure you eat! It's something I didn’t do too well. You’ll be surprised how little you’ll want to eat, but you must force it down.”
