Latest / Zone2Speak Podcast / Inside VIA Race with Ian and Ingenborg: Unveiling the Ultra Cycling World

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Inside VIA Race with Ian and Ingenborg: Unveiling the Ultra Cycling World · Zone2Speak Podcast

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Now, let's get into the episode.
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Welcome to another episode of Zone to Speak. Today, I am diving into the world
3:29
of ultra-endurance cycling with two extraordinary guests, Ian and Engenborg,
3:36
the visionary founders of The Via Race.
3:39
The VIA race is a 4,000 unsupported ultra-cycling event that traverses Europe,
3:45
offering participants an adventure that combines competition and camaraderie.
3:50
Born from their own love for bikepacking and ultra-cycling racing,
3:55
Ian and Engelborg have created something truly special, a race that challenges
4:01
riders while fostering a deep sense of community.
4:04
In this episode, I will explore the inspiration behind VIA, what sets VIA apart,
4:11
behind the scenes of organizing a race, and their life as an ultra-endurance couple racing a tandem.
4:18
So, let's get into it. Welcome to Zone to Speak.
4:22
Thank you, Juliana. Thanks for having us.
4:25
Absolutely, pleasure. I always wanted to try to talk to race organizers just
4:30
to get more behind the scenes, how everything works.
4:33
I was able to talk to the race director for BikingMan Brazil,
4:37
and I think you were the second guest as race organizer's founder. So thank you so much.
4:44
It's great to be here. So let's talk about the birth of Via Race.
4:49
What inspired you to create Via Race?
4:53
I'll start. So we obviously met through ultra cycling. That's how we got to know each other.
5:01
And eventually we also became a couple.
5:04
But it's the love of the sport, which was the starting point.
5:09
And we always follow everything that's going on. And sometimes,
5:15
I guess, people who are a couple and care about the same thing to have quite
5:20
boring dinner conversations.
5:22
And one summer, we were only talking about ultra racing and what was going on in the sport.
5:29
So we were talking a lot and talking about what we think,
5:34
what we thought would be the ingredients for a good race and what we thought
5:43
could be done differently to create something that may be a bit more for ultra cyclists.
5:50
If you've been there, done a lot of races, you also bring a different experience
5:54
to it. Yeah, so you brought your own experience to shape the vision for this event.
6:03
Yes and and Ian spent most of
6:06
most of that time as as happens between
6:09
us I I spend a lot of time on
6:12
my work which isn't which isn't always via
6:15
most of the time it's actually not via but Ian.
6:19
Had the chance that summer I think to only think about
6:22
the ultra cycling and but a
6:25
lot of time actually working working on the idea awesome
6:29
and what do you think it was missing or what
6:33
what is different that you created i
6:37
think what's missing in some events is
6:40
the real sense of community a sense
6:43
of belonging where you can make friends and
6:46
we meet friends in subsequent
6:49
additions yeah relationships which
6:53
last a lifetime friendships which cross
6:56
oceans countries continent and those
7:00
lasting relationships are what's really special
7:04
in this talk that that niche interest
7:07
that you share with somebody else the values
7:10
that you share the experiences on the road that you
7:13
share with other people doing the same event and being
7:16
able to tell the stories of what you
7:19
experience and you know
7:22
remembering them forever and being able
7:25
to tell them over and over again everybody has a great
7:28
story because you know especially over 4 000 kilometers everybody has a great
7:33
adventure and something goes wrong i mean usually a lot of things a lot surviving.
7:39
Yeah surviving all those misadventures creates a lasting memory.
7:46
Yeah. I had Amy from Le Bezzi come on the podcast as well, and we talked a little
7:52
bit about VIA as well, because her sanctuary for cyclists was also one of the checkpoints, correct?
8:00
Yeah, that's right. And I think that is also one of the things we decided to
8:04
do a bit differently, you know, a checkpoint.
8:08
We call it the refuge because it's a, you know, when you come to a place that
8:12
is staffed, it's not about making your life, you know, difficult or just like,
8:18
here's the stamp, off you go.
8:20
We wanted it to actually be a highlight for the riders and one where you,
8:25
again, you actually talk to the others, more community.
8:29
And Le Bézis, Amy and James' place in the Pyrenees was just perfect.
8:35
It is. Maybe it was too nice. I mean, some of the riders didn't want to leave.
8:40
That's what I asked her, because if I go there, I don't think I would want to
8:43
leave. I think it's too nice.
8:46
Some of the riders were joking with us, probably half seriously,
8:50
that we actually tortured them by giving them a place which meant they needed
8:55
to leave, and they really didn't.
8:59
We really enjoyed it while we were there. We didn't want to leave either.
9:02
So it was a great company. It's great vibes. It's a lovely place.
9:06
It's a place for cyclists. I mean, that's what Amy and James have created.
9:09
And we really want to partner with places that care about cycling,
9:14
that understand what maybe the riders are going through.
9:18
If you arrive in just a random campsite where nobody actually understands much
9:24
about cycling, it's not the same feeling as arriving in a place that is all about cycling.
9:31
And i think we've both experienced you know
9:34
the social checkpoints in other events other
9:36
races where you turn up you get you get
9:39
your card stamped and there's nothing there there's no
9:42
water there's no food you can't even use the toilet it might be a hotel and
9:47
they don't care that you've just ridden 2 000 kilometers and you've got another
9:52
2 000 kilometers to go their kitchen is shut they're not going to open it for
9:56
you and you're just thinking is this is this place not supposed to be welcoming for me?
10:01
Can I get a bed? Can I sleep for a few hours?
10:05
No, no, you can't sleep here. So we wanted to find these places where people
10:12
really care about the sport, about cycling.
10:15
And, you know, James and Amy will have done ultra cycling events themselves.
10:21
And so they know what to offer because they know what it's like to have ridden
10:26
so far and to need these basic services, you know, water, food,
10:31
you know, a hot shower, maybe having your kit laundered.
10:38
So, it's all these things which really make our refuges a bit special,
10:42
and we have two very special places.
10:45
Yeah, I think that's really, really special.
10:50
And I think anyone who has done a ultra knows. Like you said,
10:54
a lot of times we don't even know, and we're always asking, is CP1,
10:59
is CP2, is CP3? Is that a hotel? Is that a hotel?
11:02
And even if it is a hotel, like you said, many times you get there and… And
11:07
there's nothing, there's nothing. There's nothing.
11:10
And I remember once we were in Rwanda and I was just like, I need to get breakfast
11:15
at 3am. Is that possible? Can you make me a sandwich?
11:17
And they're like, what is this person doing?
11:21
You know, and yeah, it's like, what?
11:25
So it's, it's great that, you know, you doesn't matter how many kilometers you
11:31
have done, you are going to get wherever you are tired.
11:33
So it's great that if you want to stay the entire night, or if you just want
11:37
to stay a few hours, there will be some type of support there.
11:43
That's awesome. That's really great. Water, shower.
11:46
You know, all these things are highlights to, you know, an ultra cyclist who's
11:50
seen riding so many kilometers and you're tired and you just want these things
11:55
and maybe you're fixated on them and you're so obsessed.
11:58
But you know, when you get there, you know, and our riders got there,
12:03
they also found their friends, you know, people who they'd met on the road and
12:08
being able to trade those stories.
12:10
Sometimes they're competitors as well, and it was great to capture some of that
12:14
banter between the riders.
12:16
Very cool, very cool. I've been to one race that they had a communal room,
12:22
one for men and one for women, and that was nice as well, though I was petrified
12:26
of waking up someone that was already asleep.
12:30
But at least it was nice because I was like, oh, I don't have to pay for a full
12:33
room for myself just to be here three hours.
12:36
So that was really nice. It was a small contribution and it was a shared space with several beds.
12:43
Yeah, I think that's another good point that you're making, that people do these
12:48
events on very different budgets and you don't want it to be something which
12:52
favers only those who have more money and that it becomes barriers.
12:58
So you know whereas some things
13:01
of course cost more money if you want
13:04
your own your own bed and you want the best
13:07
food then then that's it more but the basics are available that's been our principle
13:12
that the basics are available to everyone you know i think we've we've done
13:19
our best to make sure that that is something that that comes through both the
13:23
refuges as well But, you know,
13:26
I think it is something that comes up in the sport that people feel like it is an expensive sport.
13:32
I mean, it is, of course, expensive to travel around Europe or around anywhere
13:37
for two weeks and to find everything that you need.
13:43
To make it such that people can choose or find different ways that suit their
13:48
budget, I think it's important.
13:51
It is important, yeah, because, yeah, of course, it's expensive sport and it's expensive to travel.
13:58
Everything adds up. But if you're bikepacking and you pay for your stay and
14:03
you are really taking advantage of the money for the full night's sleep,
14:09
the shower, maybe included breakfast.
14:12
Fast but when you're racing you might just be
14:14
there for two three or four hours and then
14:18
you're paying a full price for almost
14:22
just to take a little nap so that's
14:25
good to know that via also caters for that if you want
14:28
you know if you want to lavish and splurge and and then
14:31
have your own room all all is well
14:33
but it's good to know that you can also cut costs here
14:37
and there yeah definitely And then last year
14:40
we also had a sports hall Which we
14:43
had commissioned from The Finnish location in
14:47
Jok Nutsok Where riders could sleep
14:50
They could shower They had the toilet bed Nice Not necessarily the most comfortable
14:54
But it was great And for some riders Especially on the first night That's all
14:58
they want to do They want to just get clean Have a sleep And then figure out
15:03
what to do next So I think We Just like you do
15:08
We know ultracyclists, what they want.
15:11
And we also offer flexibility to just take their very simple knees at any time. Wonderful.
15:20
And what does VIA stand out from other ultra-distance races like TCR?
15:27
Both are long. It's like 4,000 kilometers.
15:31
You're traversing Europe. I know you're trying to make it more...
15:37
Special from your view as also racers and writers and i already talked a little
15:45
bit that you have shared here but is there anything else that you think stands out to set via part,
15:51
you you talked about it at the beginning the
15:54
camaraderie or the community i think
15:57
we we would encourage people to
16:00
form bonds and you know
16:03
share stories along the along the
16:06
way i think our approach to maybe the
16:09
the rules are slightly different in
16:13
that in that regard we we would
16:16
want people to care about fellow riders
16:19
and yeah either share
16:22
stories or you know look out
16:25
for look out for each other be a be a human being
16:28
like when you're out with a cyclist and you meet someone you
16:32
know you you greet them you know if you cycle side by side for a little bit
16:37
that enriches the the journey it forms friendships we don't think that there's
16:43
something that people should be afraid of so we really want to make sure that
16:48
people come away with with friends and a.
16:53
Community i think also we have been very clear that it's a road event so there
16:59
is no mandatory gravel or hike a bike.
17:03
People can choose to do it if they find a shortcut where they really want to
17:07
do it, but this is not mandatory.
17:09
You don't need a gravel bike, you don't need a mountain bike.
17:12
It can all be done on the road. So that's also something that we've been,
17:19
Because you create your own route, right? You can create your own route.
17:22
You just have to pass by the refugees.
17:26
Refuge. And also the gates, which are also mandatory locations, which are not start.
17:32
So we will have a start location, a finish location, and two refugees.
17:37
This year, just like last year, there will also be gates, which help to guide
17:42
riders into most people and quiet areas through crossing from sea to sea in
17:49
the Adriatic and the North Sea.
17:51
There are plenty of busy areas which we don't want right to go.
17:55
So the very busy coastal roads, sometimes some staying in the mountains,
18:00
and that's why the gate was designed to keep you riders in those parts.
18:08
Cool. I'm terrified I'm creating my own route, but it's a challenge. One day I'll take up.
18:16
But I love the camaraderie, the less restrict rules, because I'm with you.
18:22
I think there's nothing wrong with rules if people want to race seriously.
18:28
But in my personal opinion and preference, it is the community.
18:33
It is the camaraderie. It is sharing the stories and even helping each other,
18:37
not drafting, but in the sense of, I have a flat tire.
18:41
Okay, here's the tool I have a tool I can help you or
18:44
make sure your fellow cyclist is safe yes yeah safety is absolutely number one
18:51
you know because in ultra cycling we're all amateurs or pretty much all amateurs
18:57
so nobody gains really by you know being you know.
19:03
Being bad to somebody so you know i think
19:06
unless you're really ambitious
19:09
and you absolutely must win at all costs of course there
19:12
will be some people who are like that they will
19:15
cheat and it doesn't matter what rules you have in place but
19:19
i think we haven't encountered anybody like that
19:22
and they're very few and far between not fucking
19:25
i think that's that's the appeal of the sport is there is no money there is
19:30
no no like corruption at the moment yeah i think everybody do it for the experience
19:35
yeah yeah i would definitely be kicked out if there if i go to one of those
19:40
yeah disqualified i should say because i'll definitely help anyone on the way.
19:46
And and you know we wanted to be fair and for those who i mean there are competition
19:50
is also one of the values that we have but competition can be different some
19:55
people compete to be number one.
19:57
Some people compete with themselves.
20:00
Some people compete to get there within the time limit.
20:04
And I think our approach to making sure that it is fair is to more have time adjustments.
20:13
If someone has made an honest mistake, you can adjust for that so that there is no unfair advantage.
20:19
You can make sure that those who are close in
20:23
the competition feel like the adjustments are fair
20:26
rather than someone's ride just
20:29
ending without them having had a chance
20:32
to to complete it this is people's holidays you know
20:34
they they actually think they do it as a holiday so it should be a positive
20:38
experience yeah that i think that's that's important for race organizers to
20:45
bear in mind yeah yeah i mean we've had we've had stories of people riding a
20:50
because of the qualificational penalties.
20:53
And we just don't want people to ride like that. We want people to ride fairly
20:57
and abide by the rules that we all agreed on.
21:00
But also to remember, it's just a bike ride.
21:04
We want everybody to come home safe in one piece and look out for each other
21:09
if it was difficult or dangerous conditions like we had last year,
21:13
a heat wave following riders from Spain to Italy and it was 43 plus.
21:19
And they were looking out after each other because not only did we ask them
21:23
to, but they actually cared.
21:25
And that's when we see the best in human beings where they get to show that
21:30
empathy even under extreme duress
21:33
when they're physically and mentally exhausted but they would behave.
21:38
Many of our riders would just behave as they would on any ride from their home
21:43
they see a rider in distress they ask, are you okay?
21:47
They see somebody who's maybe very thirsty or having a mechanical are you okay?
21:53
Yes I am okay, great And they might have a chat about it.
21:57
Maybe they'll stop in the same place. But it is about pouring those bonds.
22:00
And I think that's where our community is really strong.
22:04
And that's why we had almost two-thirds of our races from last year coming back this year.
22:11
And even though the fans come back because of work or other reasons,
22:16
they are looking to get involved.
22:19
We have one of our oldest riders from last year who said he realized he couldn't race anymore.
22:24
He can't do this sort of distance but he's
22:28
scratched somewhere in France and what he's going to do is he's going to complete
22:31
the journey from France to Italy and be there at the start this year to greet
22:36
the other riders of the community Amazing And we've had other riders saying
22:41
that they don't want to miss the Via family because that's how they view us and that's really.
22:48
Because we have a really diverse range of riders,
22:53
we have some the fastest in the world you know
22:55
multiple winners of big races people who
22:59
have podiumed in the biggest races as well and you
23:02
know these these uh all these people are coming
23:05
and they're contrasted to the
23:09
rookies who are doing maybe their first race ever and the mix that we have means
23:14
that we can have rookies who we buddy up with somebody else more experienced
23:21
so we select somebody who is able and willing to send us.
23:28
Music.
23:35
And that kind of the knowledge is imparted onto them to make them safe and more successful.
23:42
Yeah. And I think also it must be fun to come back because since you do your
23:47
own route, maybe you're like, okay, I'm going to go through a different path,
23:50
go through a different part of this country, this time.
23:54
So it will always be different. Right. But I read a little bit that the race,
24:01
the route follows historical paths.
24:04
How does that work if you are making your own route is that the gates the how does it work.
24:11
Yes i think that is another thing we didn't we didn't
24:13
mention it before but sort of a difference to
24:17
some other races is that there's a story to
24:19
the journey you know you're doing this journey and it
24:22
has a it has a little bit more meaning maybe than just some points on a map
24:27
so in the first chapter we followed the journey of hannibal so the a great Carthaginian
24:34
general who set out from Carthagena or Carthage in the south of Spain.
24:40
And then with his elephants, 38 of them, he traversed mountain ranges in order
24:47
to fight to conquer Rome.
24:50
Wow. His journey ended in the south of Italy, which is where we ended via.
24:56
So we followed Hannibal in the first chapter. In the second chapter,
25:01
we're following a different historical journey, but we're starting in the south of Italy.
25:08
So, where one chapter ends, the next one begins. How cool.
25:14
So, we're going back to the same town where we finished last summer,
25:19
and that's where we will start. Yeah, they were super welcoming.
25:22
It's so nice to return to Giovanazza, and a lot of riders will have fond memories
25:29
of Giovanazza. finishing there.
25:31
So this year we will follow the journey of Germanicus,
25:36
who was one of the last zeasers, and he spent much of his life trying to recapture
25:43
the three lost eagles which were taken by Germanic tribes in one of the big
25:49
battles in what is now Germany.
25:52
So we retraced some of of his steps and some of his family's footsteps back
25:59
over the Alps to North, finishing near the sea.
26:03
So we'll go to the North Sea and finish in Amalongan in the Netherlands.
26:09
Wow journey which yeah has lots of stories behind each cape that's really really
26:16
unique i love that it's another i guess motivation to keep going to do this the same.
26:24
Route that you know that is historical has
26:27
all these stories behind yeah really really
26:30
cool and how long do you have to finish this 4 000
26:33
kilometers they have uh riders have
26:37
15 and a half days to be able to complete
26:40
the roots in order to be at the triumphant celebration
26:44
which is the finishing party it's not
26:47
a party just to finishers it's a party for everybody and
26:50
uh we encourage all riders whether or not they can
26:53
repeat their journey successfully at 4 000 kilometers or
26:56
being successful in getting 3 000 kilometers but
27:00
at that party we celebrate everybody's success and
27:04
we have to have it on a certain day otherwise we'd be waiting for quite a long
27:07
time we have kids get back to job to get back to and so we we have to put a
27:13
date on that so that's 15 and a half days so that's about 200 kilometers a day that's,
27:24
160 there about okay okay yeah
27:27
that's that's doable but yeah quite a challenge say that again Ian sorry,
27:34
If it's doable. You're signing up, Juliana. Will we see you on the start line?
27:39
You're not just signing up.
27:40
Ignorate lots of things. I have been seriously thinking about it, maybe 2026.
27:46
Of course, I think like everyone, the biggest challenge is not just the obvious
27:52
of the distance and the preparations, but I think it's just the time off.
27:56
Having those two weeks off will be a challenge, but it's something that I really would love,
28:02
love to do because i would love to do the europe triverse i would love to do
28:07
that i think it's amazing and it's not as restrict as other races you know that
28:14
you cannot book in advance and or you can stay in hotels or things like that
28:18
and yeah this this sounds like an amazing adventure.
28:22
And you will discover that doing your own
28:25
route it's a free routing concept i mean we we we
28:28
like because we think it's part of any bike packer's sort of toolkit to be able
28:36
to make your route and go where you want to go and design a journey or an adventure
28:44
that suits you and your riding style.
28:47
Some people like mountains, some people like gravel, some people want it flatter.
28:52
And you can sort of make the journey more your own when you free route.
28:58
So we like that concept and we're sure you'll find your way in it quite quickly if you give it a go.
29:05
Yeah, that's true. Those are very good positives of making your own route.
29:11
Yeah, I'm just terrified because I prefer gravel and I always ended up with
29:15
some section of hike a bike or bushwhacking or something.
29:19
So I need to get better at that.
29:24
So talk to me a little bit about the behind
29:27
the scenes of organizing this race you said you
29:30
mentioned you have kids you have other jobs i'm sure
29:33
this is a big challenge but it's also a big passion how
29:36
is it to put all of this together you know it's multi-countries
29:40
checkpoints registration welcoming finish
29:44
party like there's so much that goes into it how do
29:47
you even manage all so i
29:51
think it comes down to people i mean we
29:54
we have attracted loads of great riders really lovely people but we've also
30:00
attracted a lot of help from really great people then lovely people who are
30:06
so passionate about obviously being part of something bigger who want to help
30:11
and they are very giving people and.
30:15
I think one of the lessons that we have from last year is just how many people
30:20
love ultra-cycling and want to give a great experience,
30:27
best experience to riders, just as they would experience themselves.
30:31
So it's community building in a way which is like karma.
30:39
They want to do good to other people so that they have good vibes to come back to them.
30:43
And it does. and we built a really great team from
30:47
last year and again most of the team coming back
30:51
because they show huge you
30:54
know huge initiative great skills can do
30:58
attitude really friendly and professional and
31:01
just so helpful to provide you
31:04
know the best experience as as like this
31:07
package for our riders so be they
31:10
a photographer a videographer or somebody who
31:14
runs a location somebody who volunteers to
31:17
you know do some of the administration or run social media or throw a good party
31:23
and and provide great food we've found so many good people and you know the
31:28
continuity that we have between one year and the next also really helps so jovenanzo
31:35
again And they were so welcoming.
31:37
They gave us absolutely everything. They were so friendly, and it was such a beautiful town to go to.
31:44
And, you know, the riders and the team had an amazing time.
31:48
And we're sure that it's going to be the same when we reach to the Prologue,
31:52
which is a cafe in Amarongan, because they already host ultracycline events.
31:57
And they absolutely love what we're trying to do. They've been incredibly supportive again.
32:03
So yeah i think it's really about the people i
32:06
mean we're just people trying to
32:09
do our best for other people and to put
32:12
on a great race and ian talks about this really positively
32:15
it sounded like it was so easy lots of great people
32:18
yes i was exhausted afterwards i mean we do work sort of 24 7 and it's it's
32:27
like in organizing an ultra is almost like doing one it's maybe a bit less physical
32:33
with you are on all the time you worry about all the riders and,
32:38
all the time especially the heat wave it was sort
32:41
of for for us you were you were just you know
32:44
watching i yeah last year people were suffering with the heat right yeah but
32:50
a really low rate of scratches very surprisingly and yeah we were just hoping
32:56
you know just get get into the north of spain get into the mountains come on
33:00
come on why are you waiting there come on get a move on.
33:05
I mean i i went back to i
33:08
went back to work and i felt like work was the holiday because
33:11
it was pretty intense it was pretty
33:14
intense to to organize a race but the
33:18
i think the what makes it worth it
33:22
we often talk about it ian and i wouldn't it be easier
33:25
if we just went to to do other people's races
33:28
you know we like cycling and we like doing races why
33:31
don't we just go to do other people's races instead of
33:34
going through all these efforts but the um
33:37
it's it's really the the rewarding thing about it
33:40
is to hear the stories of the people who who.
33:43
Take part and how they have grown how
33:46
they've experienced it that the stories they
33:49
have created along the way and you know
33:52
having a chance to meet with all of them i have
33:55
to say you know when i when i raised myself i
33:58
never get to see everyone because some will be
34:01
too far behind and some will be too far ahead whereas when
34:05
you organize it you do get the chance to form a
34:08
bond with everyone and it's given
34:11
us a lot from a very sort of personal and human
34:14
connection perspective yeah i mean coming back to your
34:17
question about behind the scenes it will
34:21
be a different experience experiencing as a rider than we did one of the things
34:27
that we ensured was that we met and greeted every single rider at the start
34:32
and got to know them a bit and you know putting faces to names names and voices.
34:39
This list was a lovely thing to do and to stay in touch with or not i mean we've
34:44
still got whatsapp group running where riders you know send us messages and
34:48
send each other messages.
34:50
We also had a meal, a community meal before the start, the evening before,
34:57
and at the party, we also had a community meal there because we really believe
35:01
it's one of the best ways to bring people together.
35:04
And that's one of the behind-the-scenes things, which a rider will experience in one way,
35:11
but we have this responsibility to try to bring people together and keep them
35:17
together as much as possible, and that's something that we're going to continue to do.
35:21
It's not something that every event does, and some do, some do quite well, but usually not.
35:28
And I do think there's this huge value in doing that. There is a huge value.
35:32
As a writer, I can say I really appreciate that. I love when I get to a race
35:36
and the organizers or one of the organizers greet me, maybe knows my name.
35:44
It's just a completely different, welcoming feeling. And like you said,
35:50
there's not many that do that.
35:52
And having this welcoming dinner, a meal together, I'm sure it also feels very
35:58
special because you do create that bond because you get to know the people and
36:02
you get to know their story.
36:04
And then you just get closer for when you are writing and passing each other on the way.
36:09
Indeed, makes it much more special. No wonder two thirds are going back to the race.
36:15
And and that that for us is is really the
36:18
the really uh critical success
36:21
factor for us is how many people return because if
36:25
they're returning we must have done something right um and to do a 4 000 kilometer
36:30
event which takes two weeks and a lot of money as well as efforts yeah it's
36:36
it's a it's a big deal and uh we are really touched that so many people are so.
36:43
Yeah we also try to get to know riders uh before they even arrive so we go through
36:49
every single rider's applications you know hundreds of applications,
36:54
about them where they're from sometimes what
36:59
their reason is to do this because in some cases they're complete rookies and
37:04
they don't have any results to show experience and experience counts because
37:08
we want riders to be safe so we don't want anybody to embark on a 4,000km to
37:14
race without having done some night riding,
37:18
a lot of long distance riding and lots of training to prepare themselves for
37:23
all the rigors of the road and all the hazards,
37:27
because this isn't open road events, we don't close any roads so Thank you.
37:32
We get to learn about all these different people and understand what motivates
37:37
them, what they've done before, and why they want something to be here in many ways.
37:41
Yeah, it's interesting. We had Christmas time with my family.
37:46
Ian was more busy reading up on all the applications and getting to know all
37:52
the riders who almost had a really busy time on the computer.
37:56
But it makes a difference you know at the end you know you know
37:59
what someone's experience is what background they come
38:02
they've come at it from you remember something
38:05
about them some details and it becomes more more personal yeah indeed well congratulations
38:11
you guys are doing an amazing job and i wanted to know if now we can talk a
38:15
little bit about both of you your story and your racing and i'm so so so curious
38:21
to talk about tandem bikes.
38:24
Ultra racing is already intense we all know what it's like doing it as a couple
38:31
and i have done it with my husband by the way ah not on a tandem though not on a tandem,
38:39
i think we want to make it on a tandem.
38:43
It's interesting i mean i have these the somewhat opposite view of our of our
38:49
racing together a tandem. I mean, the first.
38:54
Time Ian said to me this was you
38:57
know before we really knew each other very well
39:00
but he said you should come and do a tandem ride with
39:03
me and I thought that's probably because
39:06
he will find it too boring to ride a normal bicycle
39:10
with me because I'm too slow for him so if
39:13
if we're on a tandem then he can get his training done
39:16
he doesn't he doesn't just end up with a sort of a
39:19
really slow ride where he hasn't done
39:22
any training so that was my perception of of
39:25
the sort of the tandeming but there is some there's some truth
39:28
in it because on a tandem each person can
39:31
push as hard as they as they kind of
39:34
can and okay and you
39:37
you are never going to be dropped so you know
39:40
i i you always have your
39:43
always have your companion we your
39:46
legs your legs will be spinning at the same
39:49
cadence but you can put in you know
39:52
what you know the power that suits you so if we
39:55
are going on a long well if
39:58
we do a do a race ian typically does
40:01
twice the power as i am doing and
40:04
that's just i guess where we naturally we naturally sit
40:07
but we can do the whole ride together each one
40:10
riding within our i guess capabilities but
40:14
riding next to each other and having a having a chat you.
40:17
Know you're never more than more than a few sort of centimeters away from the.
40:24
Other person yeah okay that's good to know i didn't know i thought you would.
40:28
Have to keep up with the same power so that's really good and i guess you clip in as well on a tendon,
40:37
and you have to unclip at the same side and let the other know?
40:44
Sorry for the stupid questions. Completely ignorant on the tandem word.
40:49
These are not stupid questions. It does require some coordination and very good
40:55
communication to be on a tandem and do it successfully.
40:59
So we didn't just
41:02
sort of get on a tandem for the first time
41:06
and go and try to do it was deserters bikers which
41:09
was our first event on a tandem we
41:12
had been riding quite a lot on a tandem before that
41:15
and got our communication sort of dialed in
41:19
it took us some time to also get the
41:22
synchronization of getting out of the saddle
41:25
for example if you want to be out of the
41:28
saddle and stand up and pedal that that took
41:31
us sometimes to to learn because
41:34
that you do need to do it instinct instinctively and it sort of feels a little
41:39
bit different when the bike you're not controlling the bike the bike is sort
41:42
of the movement of the two people together so there are some things to to get
41:48
used to but you know you you become a good team out of it,
41:52
Yeah, I'm sure. You have no other choice. You have to.
41:57
There's a saying that says, whichever direction your relationship is going,
42:02
a tandem will get you there after.
42:06
Absolutely, yeah. I'm sure, yeah. And another silly question.
42:11
If you have to travel, how do you even pack a tandem bike? So difficult.
42:19
This this is actually one of the biggest pains and
42:22
why we have we have actually not done an event
42:25
in europe since desert is
42:28
like this we had to get the special case built for
42:31
traveling i built a special case actually
42:34
yes you built a special because nobody makes these sorts
42:37
of places and the airlines were it
42:40
was a big pain if you try to train they
42:43
say they don't tandem bike it's it's
42:46
very difficult so traveling by train
42:49
with a bike is difficult at the best of
42:52
time eurostar for one is that
42:55
pain but try taking a tandem on most trains
42:58
is it's absolutely impossible it's a
43:01
bit in in most countries and that's
43:04
a bummer yeah yeah it's it's horrible and
43:08
our tandem is is a proper racing tandem so
43:11
it's built for speed it's not built easier transport
43:15
unfortunately but i wish we had put some couplings in or some sort of play which
43:21
allows it to be transported more easily but but the thing i would say is actually
43:25
that trying that has given us an increased appreciation for cyclists to have special bicycles.
43:36
And and and you know to understand we
43:39
choose to ride a tandem because we enjoy that
43:42
not everyone is choosing it for some it's their only
43:45
way of being able to experience the joy
43:48
of adventure and it's a
43:51
real shame that it is so difficult and i
43:55
think that is something that we you know with via
43:58
we want to make it open for everyone
44:02
with different types of of machines
44:05
and that means that you know we need to
44:08
be maybe extra helpful or extra accommodating
44:11
when it comes to getting whether it's someone with a tandem or someone with
44:16
a hand cycle to be able to get to the start and get back from the finish it's
44:22
a much bigger effort than for someone with a single bike that can more easily be transported.
44:31
So all of our trials and tribulations, taking this tandem around has given us
44:36
an appreciation for what some people actually have to have as their way of getting around.
44:44
Yeah, that's a very good point. You know, you are doing for fun and it would
44:47
be great to be able to travel around more easily.
44:52
But that said, you brought a good point. Some people, that's their only way.
44:56
It's not a choice. How are they going to get from A to B?
45:01
It's a real shame. But we were actually talking about tandems.
45:05
And here we go, complaining about how difficult it is to get around by bicycle.
45:11
So, yeah, we've had a lot of fun. We've had a lot of fun with the tandem.
45:15
But we also were just looking. We had some people who've been doing some work
45:20
in our house today. They were asking us, what is this photo you have of the
45:24
two of you on a tandem? You know, why do you have that?
45:29
And it is from when we did the national 24-hour championship here in the UK.
45:39
Wow.
45:41
Oh, I love that. You need to share this picture so I can share with the listeners
45:46
when we release the episode.
45:48
Wow. That looks like serious racing. You're right. It's like a serious racing bike, but tendon.
45:55
Exactly. Exactly. so that was
45:58
something that we did before we started organizing
46:02
uh racist we were doing more of those sorts of things and uh in again tandems
46:09
is a teamwork on the bike but also when you do a 24-hour event it's also the
46:14
team that you that you bring with you to support you to support yeah,
46:20
and yeah we've had a lot of fun those people became much closer to us and we've
46:26
just by the the skin of our teeth we were just able to take the uk record yeah wow,
46:36
just under one mile more than
46:39
the previous longest longest distance
46:43
covered in 24 hours fire mechanism and then
46:45
and that was how cool it was so close
46:49
because uh it was the wettest 24-hour time trial since 1966 is what we were
46:56
trying to where we had 33 millimeters of rain and all our shippers broke tandem
47:02
broke repeatedly yeah won't name the group set but.
47:08
And so we spent an hour and a half off the bike so we we broke the record having
47:13
only written 22 and a half hours rather than 24 hours that's incredible imagine
47:20
what you would have done with 24 hours yeah we were aiming for the overall record.
47:28
But it just wasn't possible with the number of mechanical breakdowns that we
47:32
had. Yeah, that must have been frustrating. But you guys made it.
47:36
Incredibly frustrating. But we weren't the only ones having the same mechanical,
47:40
well, the same malfunctions with our shifters, for example, on that day.
47:46
Because, yeah, we were just getting soaked.
47:48
And it wasn't very much fun, especially in the dark.
47:52
And we did talk about coming back and doing
47:55
doing the sort of trying to go for the the men's
47:59
so for mixed we took the record but there
48:01
was a theme of sort of all all male
48:04
themes that's a longer distance of it but then we started organizing via and
48:10
now i don't think we have time for those sorts of things taking place in the
48:14
summer it's peak via time so we've put a bit on the shelf our own adventures
48:20
by tandem, I think. Oh, yeah, very much so. Yeah.
48:24
No time to do anything but the, yeah. And kids and help. And, yeah.
48:29
Yeah, yeah. It all adds up. Any misconceptions about riding a tendon bike?
48:38
Oh, yes. There is always someone, whenever you're out riding,
48:42
saying, did you know she's not pedaling after that? Yeah.
48:48
It's as if that's a new joke, but every single person says it.
48:55
Not every single person, but a lot of people who need to say something will say it.
49:01
Otherwise, people who see tandems very often smile and point out and say, it's a tandem.
49:08
Yeah, it is. I think it does make people happy to see a slightly strange bite.
49:15
To see people happy pedaling a lot.
49:19
Yeah, it makes me happy. I love seeing it. It's like a unicorn.
49:23
I'm like, oh my gosh, a tandem!
49:25
Yeah, I love seeing other tandems too. Another tandem! Yeah.
49:31
Over there! Tandem buddies!
49:35
Tandem point! Oh, go ahead.
49:39
Another misconception is that tandems are faster than solo bikes that's a misconception
49:47
I think that is a misconception especially about health,
49:52
Now, we did one ultra-race, I think it was All Points North,
49:56
where we won the pairs category,
49:59
and it was a battle for first place with another pair, and we knew we were going
50:05
to catch them after we had the mechanical issues.
50:08
We've broken pretty much everything on tandem, so it wouldn't be a tandem race without one.
50:16
But we were tracking down the leading pair at the time, and we made sure to
50:23
put a little bit of effort so we passed them like 10 miles an hour faster on the flat,
50:30
we passed them giving them no chance to catch up with us and we never saw them again.
50:37
And the other pair was not on the tandem they were just regular bikes yeah,
50:43
but they later said oh yeah the tandem just have such an advantage they're so
50:47
much faster we did that on purpose,
50:52
oh my god yeah you're just faster it's not the bike yeah yeah it was teamwork as well yeah yeah.
51:02
Any funny or super memorable moment
51:06
on the tendon that you can share oh
51:10
i think we have broken down here there
51:13
and everywhere with the tendon because and
51:17
it's never funny at the time and it no it's no just
51:20
later because it's
51:25
just you have two people putting power in so all
51:27
the components are getting a lot higher
51:31
where there is the weight of two people going through
51:34
it so we just find that it is
51:37
more likely that things break so all sorts
51:41
of things have happened maybe the most memorable one was during
51:44
deserters bikers when we
51:47
when we we were like yes we're we're going to we're
51:50
in sort of second position here and we're going to overall and we're going to
51:54
go for the we're going to catch up with the leader and you know we're going
51:59
to ride through the night and we've got a great plan and as we're sort of grinding
52:03
our way up this pretty steep gradient up to a little village in Spain,
52:08
there's these sort of crackling noises start coming out and then there's this
52:13
strange thing going on with the real world.
52:18
And we end up spending two hours with all of our lights being drained.
52:25
The battery, our phone. Oh no.
52:27
We try to, desperate to try to fix this thing.
52:31
In the middle of nowhere, with no light.
52:34
Of course. Of course.
52:38
We had been racing pretty hard and not really sleeping at that stage.
52:43
So we were at, what, 900, 1,000 kilometers without having slept.
52:48
Wow. And so we end up sort of just pushing along the tandem up the hill.
52:58
And this is when Ian started just like getting so tired that he had hallucinations, seeing all that.
53:06
He's just talking to me about all the things that are moving around,
53:09
all the trees are talking to him. And I just realized that I'm pushing the tandem.
53:16
And, you know, Ian is getting lost somewhere behind.
53:20
Oh, no. He's not keeping up with me pushing the tandem. Well,
53:24
he had to take over pushing the tandem.
53:27
And she left the rear light on that I could follow, and I couldn't. I was just like... Wow.
53:34
Oh, my gosh. We just had to bed down by the side of the road,
53:38
and we hadn't quite planned for this.
53:40
This is where we will admit that sometimes we don't get our prep right,
53:43
and we don't always test our equipment in the right conditions because we had
53:48
planned to go fast with minimal kit and just take sort of naps during the day or something.
53:55
But here we were in a pretty cold place and we had gone for a, we had down jackets,
54:03
we had a sort of kind of one and a half vivi bag, but it was so tight that we
54:08
were like sardines inside it.
54:10
And then we had a shared sort
54:13
of bottom half half sleeping bag which
54:17
probably would all have been great if it hadn't been that
54:19
we were only found rocks and it was freezing cold
54:23
oh man it was not a good sleep at all and i don't it doesn't feel like we slept
54:29
but we somehow managed to get through that shivering that shivering night and
54:35
then and also with the tiredness you probably feel even colder and not easy to recover.
54:42
It was horrible. And you missed a bit trying to fix the wheel.
54:46
We did try for hours to fix the wheel. That's when all of our ran out of power.
54:52
We tried to make some sort of spaces from a Coke can that we found on the side of the road.
55:01
All desperate measures were tried. Making these aluminium.
55:07
Washers up this coke can just cutting it up
55:10
and trying to stick it
55:12
into the rear wheel did it work no
55:16
it turned out it was something that couldn't be fixed we
55:19
had just been we had just ground through the bearings in the rear hub and i
55:24
think what we've done is we continue to ride even though one of the bearings
55:31
was totally destroyed and we ended up grinding the bearing into a silver musk,
55:38
which when we opened up the hub,
55:41
it was just this paste coating. Wow.
55:46
Yeah. But did you manage to fix it eventually somewhere and continue the race?
55:51
No, we didn't manage to. We were in the middle of nowhere, and we called up
55:55
every cycling person around, and we found a local cyclist to go to his garage.
56:02
We would have needed a new rear wheel.
56:06
I tried to buy one or another rider.
56:12
But it wasn't really easy to do. It was in the middle of nowhere.
56:20
But that was a memorable experience.
56:26
Yeah, that's going to stick in your memory for a while. Yeah, just like the WETS 24.
56:36
Yeah. It's a not-staking record. Yeah.
56:41
And how can listeners find out about VIA and register or apply? You have to apply first.
56:48
Is that the best place, the website, Instagram?
56:52
You can contact us at info at sia-race.com.
56:58
Oh, great. That's our email list where one of our team will pick it up.
57:02
Or you can contact us through social media channels if you like.
57:06
And I think contact details on our website. Okay. I'll share everything on the
57:10
episode description as well.
57:12
That is great. And also, you know, when I was doing,
57:16
when I started out in the sport, I was always sort of worried about contacting
57:21
race organizers with what might seem like you fit or dumb questions or,
57:27
you know, that it was someone that was sitting so high up on those.
57:32
Kind of pedestal that they weren't to be contacted.
57:35
That's not what we are like. We love hearing from people, and there are no stupid questions.
57:42
And I think we do a pretty good job at responding to everyone. Yeah. Wonderful.
57:48
We've had numerous conversations with some people who have unique situations
57:53
and maybe doubt their ability to do this, or they need a little bit of anxious thought.
57:58
So we should have three parasite lists on the start line. We should have some
58:03
people who have financial disadvantage situations and you need that extra support.
58:11
People who are rookies, who need buddies or even coaches.
58:16
So we have connected them to more experienced people and people with former
58:21
experience and run ultra cycling coaching in the business.
58:27
Some women, some people of color. we
58:30
really try our best to cater for
58:33
the individual who especially where they're from an underrepresented
58:36
group we spend extra time with
58:39
them talking to them directly one to one in a
58:42
video call like we're doing right now and just
58:46
try to understand their situation where they're super passionate about coming
58:49
to theatre we understand that pretty quickly we try our best to do everything
58:55
to make it happen so yeah We're very happy to talk to more passionate people about winning this.
59:03
You guys are incredible. This has been an amazing conversation.
59:09
I am truly inspired by your vision behind Via Race, and I'm sure this will be
59:15
also inspiring for anyone who listens to this episode.
59:18
I want to thank you so much for sharing your story, the story of Via,
59:23
and your time for being here on the podcast.
59:26
Thank you very much, Juliana. Thanks for having us. It's been lots of fun talking
59:30
to you. Wonderful. Likewise.
59:35
And that's all for today's episode. I want to thank the listeners for tuning in.
59:40
Your support means everything. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider
59:44
following, leaving a review, and sharing it with your friends.
59:47
Music.