The Just Bikes Podcast

Hello everyone, Dawn hereToday's episode is all about the Titan World Series and more specifically, their plans to get more women on the starline, and over the finish line of the original Titan Series Race, The Skoda Titan Desert Race in Morocco. Mariona Faixat Codinach tells me all about the SheTitan program, what it aims to achieve and why it's important. Helpful Links:

Today's episode is all about the Neom Titan Desert Race Saudi Arabia, which is my next mountain bike race. The race takes place 18-22 November in Neom, KSA. In today's episode, I chat with Manuel Tajada Vitales, the manager of the Titan World Series to chat the origins of the race, this year's edition, the camp and some of his favorite memories of the race This is part 1 of 2 parts so stay tuned for episode 19.2 going live on Wednesday 31, July, the second of which focuses on Titan's efforts to get more women on the startline, things we love to hear!

Hi All In April, I finished Sani2C, a three day, point to point stage mountain bike race in KZN, South Africa. The race was 272 km with 4000m of elevation gain on some of the most beautiful mountain bike trails in the world with various terrains including single track through farmlands, nature reserves, sugar cane fields, forests, down the infamous Umko drop and along the stunning uMkhomazi River. This is the long-awaited race report, in which guest host and race partner, Annie Baillie joins me for Day 1and 2, thank you Annie for your voice and being my partner. A special thank you also to Darren, Jared and Gerard who were kind enough to speak with me pre-race. And thank you to Samantha and Kelly for allowing me to be third wheel on Day 3. Some useful links:

Hi all, In April, I finished Sani2C, a three day, point to point stage mountain bike race in KZN, South Africa. The race was 272 km with 4000m of elevation gain on some of the most beautiful mountain bike trails in the world with various terrains including single track through farmlands, nature reserves, sugar cane fields, forests, down the infamous Umko drop and along the stunning uMkhomazi River. My race report, much of which recorded day by day on the race, will go live later this week but today, I'm sharing a chat I had with the brains & heart behind Sani2C Farmer Glenn Haw, who along with his family and wider community, have been hosting this event for 20 years now. In this Episode, Farmer Glen and I chat about: His experience at Comrades - a 90km ultra-marathon that he just returned from at the time of recording in early June Farmer Glen's philosophy on life & adventure and how the race is a family affair The Format of the race including an e-bike category and a non-stop category - which has since taken place since we recorded this The impact of the race on the communities it travels through What funny things have happened on the race, including what happened to me What advice her would give to any aspiring race organizers Registration is now open for the 2025 edition: https://sani2c.co.za **Reminder, if you're a big group, Farmer Glen did mention that there are special rates available so do email the team. All the contact details are available on their website. Find Farmer Glen on IG: @farmer_glen Find Sani2C on IG: @_sani2c My race report will follow this week and I'll also include some useful info and tips for travel logistics as well based on my experience. If you liked this episode, please tap subscribe wherever you are listening. Please also leave a review - 5 ⭐ only. Check out The Mettleset Podcast and follow @JustBikesThePodcast and @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. x Dawn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is a little Bonus update from me on what's been happening in my world and what's coming up. Maybe you can relate, maybe you can't, but I hope some people will find it helpful. And my next race - as noted - is:

Happy World Bicycle Day! Earlier this year, I spent a week chasing - and sharing the stories of the cyclists competing in the Race Around Rwanda, a 1000km self-supported bikepacking race with 18,000m of elevation and 40% offroad. I detailed the stories from the road of beautiful and brutal race this year in episodes 6 through 10 as well as episode 14 so go back and check those episodes out. This is a story from Rwanda but it's not just about the race. This is about the impact of one woman, Violette Neza, a champion Rwandan ultra-cyclist and coach and I couldn't think of anyone more worthy to feature - and spotlight on World Bicycle Day. In this episode, you'll hear Violette's own story of learning to ride a bike. What cycling means to her and why she wants to share the joy of cycling with other girls and young women, who otherwise may never have the opportunity to experience what we all do regularly, how wonderful and freeing it is to ride your bike. I recorded this back in February in Kigali so to get up to date with Viollete and her team, please follow: Komera Cycling Team: @komeranewct Violette: @nezavioletteI hope you enjoy the episode! Dawn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you've been following The Just BIkes Podcast for a while, you'd know that earlier this year, I spent a week chasing the cyclists competing in the Race Around Rwanda, a 1000km self-supported bikepacking race that took place in February. With about 18,000m of climbing and 40% offroad with some VERY wild weather patterns, this race is tough. It's one I did myself in 2023 but that is a story for another day - or today, if you want to hear it, I did do two episodes based on my own experience below: Dawn's DNF Race Report Part 1Dawn's DNF Race Report Part 2Also please feel free to scroll back to episodes 6 through 10 to get a flavor of this year's race. We're revisiting Race Around Rwanda today with my last episode detailing some of experiences of those who took on the race this year, sharing a interview I did on the ground in Kigali with the Lanterne Rouge(s) Christine & Roland Bartmus Caps 55… who timed it perfectly by rolling into the finisher's party to a hero's welcome. You may also be interested to know that registrations are now open for the 2025 edition of the race: https://racearoundrwanda.com I hope you enjoy the episode! Dawn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moroj Adil is Saudi Arabia's first pro cyclist and you'd be forgiven for not knowing her name yet as she only started cycling two years ago. Yes, that is right, from not knowing how to ride a bike, to being on the Liv Alula Jayco Continental team, her story is one that needs to be heard and what's most exciting is that it's just getting started. In this episode, we chat through:

Today's episode features a member of a very elite club with member numbers totalling around 50 worldwide at the time of recording. This club is the Triple Everest Hall of Fame. Not just any old member of this club, Dubai-based Nick Glover is a unique one as he is also believed to be the first type one diabetic to ever Triple Everest, and the first in the UAE to do so. Nick is exceptional in every sense of the word. He is also a two time cancer survivor and someone who's not just satisfied with a personal accomplishment, but wants to take others along with him for the ride. This episode is a rich episode, full of learnings and inspiration. In my chat with Nick Glover, we go into: ⚽ The role of sport in Nick's childhood ⚕️His type-one diabetes diagnosis

This is part two of our two part episode on VIA Race, a new 4000 km self-supported bikepacking race set to kick- off this July from Southern Spain. If you haven't listened to part one yet, I do suggest you do that as this is a continuation of our chat with Ingeborg and Ian, the organizers of VIA Race. Check it out HERE. In part two we discuss the evolution of ultra-cycling, the role of technology, the rules, and linked to the rules, the importance of transparency when it comes to a fair & safe adventure. We also chat about who has signed up for Chapter 1 of the race and in addition to Niel sharing his prep and routing choices, Part also feature the voices of some of those participating. Thank you to Saz, Olly & Ben:

We know that bikepacking and ultra-cycling is about testing your limits - physical and mental, it's about adventure, camaraderie. It is about eating. It's also about storytelling and this is the story of one of the newest self-supported ultra-cycling races on the calendar, VIA Race.Ingeborg Oie and Ian To, the team behind this upcoming race, agreed to speak with me and Niel Copeland about the first Chapter of this 4000km adventure which sets off from Southern Spain on 20 July, 2024. This is an ultra-cycling race for ultra-cyclists, by ultra-cyclists and there was so much to cover that we've split the episode into two parts. Part 1 covers the origins of the race, Ian and Ingeborg's own cycling journeys & world record, the route, the thinking behind various race elements, the importance of story-telling, the dotwatching experience, safety, different race categories, support for new riders and how the race aims to welcome a more diverse line-up of cyclists. We also discuss the role of the race partners (linked below). Part 2 will be live by the 27th of March and will discuss teh evolution of ultra-cycling, the role of technology and also the importance of transparency when it comes to a fair & safe adventure. In addition to Niel sharing his prep, Part 2 will feature the voices of some of those participating. For more info on what was discussed in the episode:

The Race Around Rwanda is a 1000km self-supported cycling race that takes place annually every February in Rwanda. This year, The Just Bikes Podcast was on the ground and aimed to give you a daily update of what was happening, the highs, lows, weather and emotions and all the people questioning, ‘can that really be considered gravel?'Due to tech problems and a lack of wifi for the remainder of the race, we had to bank our stories but we're back today with just some of the rest of the best stories at the finish line of the race. In today's episode you'll hear from Jenny Tough, an accomplished endurance athlete and author. For more info on Jenny:

The Race Around Rwanda is a 1000km self-supported cycling race that takes place annually every February in Rwanda. This year, The Just Bikes Podcast was on the ground and aimed to give you a daily update of what was happening, the highs, lows, weather and emotions and all the people questioning, ‘can that really be considered gravel?'Due to tech problems and a lack of wifi for the remainder of the race, we had to bank our stories but we're back today with just some of the rest of the best stories at the finish line of the race. In Today's Episode you'll hear from:

The Race Around Rwanda is a 1000km self-supported cycling race that takes place annually every February in Rwanda. This year, The Just Bikes Podcast was on the ground and aimed to give you a daily update of what was happening, the highs, lows, weather and emotions and all the people questioning, ‘can that really be considered gravel?'Due to tech problems and a lack of wifi for the remainder of the race, we had to bank our stories but we're back with EP 8 on Day 3 and 4 (6th/7th Feb) of the Race with a view and some voices from CP3.Earlier Episodes of The Race Around Rwanda series can be found here:

The Race Around Rwanda is a 1000km self-supported cycling race that takes place annually every February in Rwanda. This year, The Just Bikes Podcast is on the ground and aiming to give you a daily update of what's happening, the highs, lows, weather and emotions and all the people questioning, ‘can that really be considered gravel?'February 6th is Day 3 of the race and Dawn is on the ground to share stories from the road, or gravel as it were. Mark and Oliver arrived at CP3 late on the night of the 6th and kindly agreed to chat with Dawn about their day and their elite level coordination.

The Race Around Rwanda is a 1000km self-supported cycling race that takes place annually every February in Rwanda. This year, The Just Bikes Podcast is on the ground and aiming to give you a daily update of what's happening, the highs, lows, weather and emotions and all the people questioning, ‘can that really be considered gravel?'. February 5th is Day 2 of the race and Dawn is on the ground to share stories from the road, or gravel as it were.

The Race Around Rwanda is a 1000km self-supported cycling race that takes place annually every February in Rwanda. This year, The Just Bikes Podcast is on the ground and aiming to give you a daily update of what's happening, the highs, lows, weather and emotions and all the people questioning, ‘can that really be considered gravel?' February 4th is Day 1 of the race and friend of the pod, Ultra-Cycling Coach Niel Copeland is back to chat with Dawn about what went down.

This is Episode 4! Today's episode gives a glimpse into the history of cycling in Dubai as I speak to the Race Director of the oldest mass participation cycling race in the United Arab Emirates, The Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge. I owe a lot to Dubai when it comes to cycling and this race was actually my very first ever. A race I did a week after buying my first bike, without a bike computer, clipped into for the second time ever! Now in its 14th year, I had the opportunity to speak with Stewart Howison, who has been there from the start. This year, race activities take place over 2 days. 24-25 February 2024 with the 92 km race - a UCI Gran Fondo World Series Qualifying Race- taking place on the Sunday, all starting and finishing at Expo City Dubai. In this episode we chat through:

This is Part 2 of a 2 Part series and If you missed the first part, you may want to go check it out. I chatted with my coach Niel Copeland about all things ultra-cycling - Ultra Cycling 101 - but we saved perhaps the best, for this episode and that is ultra-eating or how to eat and fuel when riding your bike for a very very long time. As I mentioned in the intro to Part 1, this episode was released just about a year ago on my first podcast, The Mettleset. That means that some of the events that Niel and I have chatted about have passed, and spoiler alert, I did not finish last year's Race Around Rwanda. It wasn't fueling behind my decision to scratch in that race and if you're curious as to why I did, check out my DNF race report:

EP 3.1 is actually a rewind from The Mettleset, and if you haven't checked that out, you really should. Released a year ago, this EP is still very relevant for anyone who has ultra-cycling on the

This is Part 2 of my chat with Cycling Storyteller, Juliet Elliott. Juliet Elliott is a friend of mine and also a widely followed cycling storyteller who shares adventures and advice on two wheels in a series of fun, accessible videos on her YouTube and Instagram account, with a combined audience of over 225,000 followers. She's gained such a following through sharing adventures and advice that is fun, accessible and with a dose of good humour. In this Episode, we talk through how Juliet came to be a cycling content creator which is really a story of how she came to be a cyclist. We chat through what she would be doing if she weren't sharing stories about bikes with the masses, how she deals with trolls (E-bike haters i'm looking at you) and what her followers may not know about her. Juliet also offers advice for anyone considering putting their story out there to the world, for fun or as a potential career choice. We finally talk through what's she's learned in 2023, New Year's resolutions and what destinations for cycling are on her wishlist. More info:

Today's guest is Juliet Elliott, the queen of storytelling on two wheels. Between her YouTube and Instagram, Juliet has a combined audience of over 225,000 followers, gained through sharing adventures and advice that is fun, accessible and with a dose of good humor. Juliet and I love a chat so I've actually divided this episode into two parts - both of which can be listened to as standalone episodes. In this, Part 1, we go into Julliet's year in review, we chat through setbacks, ultra cycling solo and in a pair and what's so special about bikepacking and ultracycling. We also chat through many of her adventures in 2023 including:

The Transcontinental (TCR) is an annual, self-supported ultra-cycling race that, as the name suggests, spans almost across the entire European continent. It is widely considered one of the toughest on the planet, testing rider's fitness, mental strength, planning, problem solving and ability to endure as they ride 4000km with approx 40,000m of climbing. So what type of person decides that they're going to take on the TCR without being a cyclist? Well, meet our guest for EP 1, Dr Sarah Ruggins who took part in the last edition. In our chat we learn that her story goes way beyond the TCR and way back into childhood when she was an elite runner with a bright athletic future ahead of her. Listen and you'll learn more about Sarah's strength - and ability to endure - and how it didn't start with the TCR. More Info

The Just Bikes Podcast is a new podcast from The Mettleset, hosted by me, (slow) ultra-cyclist Dawn Barnable and friends.As the name suggests, the podcast is all about bikes! From ultra to adventure, the pain cave to the peloton and lots of type-two fun, I'm going to be speaking to. feature a host of guests - new and old friends - from all over the world to talk about all things cycling and cycling culture. In this trailer, preview, whatever you'd like to call it, we go through the why and who behind the podcast. Our first episode goes live on 8 December, so don't forget to subscribe, like and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Five stars only... as if it needs to be said. You can find the podcast on IG at @justbikesthepodcast and just like on Strava, feel free to slide into our DMs with questions, comments, guest suggestions and love. The complaint department however is permanently closed. Don't forget to check out The Mettleset as well on IG at @themettleset, or if you want to keep it professional, on LinkedIn @themettleset. We regularly feature a host of impressive women - and men - in all sorts of sports across MENA region and beyond. As little sister to The Mettleset, expect some cool crossover on occasion. Lastly but importantly, we are super excited to kick off this podcast with launch sponsor, the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge, a cycle challenge for everyone, including Dawn as it was her very first race back in December 2018. Set for 24-25th February, 2024 and starting & ending at Expo City Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the Cycle Challenge comprises three races, the Junior Rides, the 35 km TotalEnergies Outride, and the 92 km Main Event, Hop on over to @spinneysdubai92 or visit cyclechallenge.ae for more info and to sign up. Support for those who make our work possible, is greatly appreciated and extremely good karma. I hope you enjoy the podcast! Dawn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.