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5 Minutes With...
Learn more about the riders behind the dots. We talk to community heroes, industry insiders and champion races to find out more about bikepacking racing.
Race Reports
Follow along your old and new favourite races beyond just chasing dots. Our community of experts provide in depth commentary.
Roundtables
Prominent members of the community share their opinions on pressing issues in the sport.
Bikes of...
Ever wonder what your favourite rider takes along for the trip?
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Bikes of Gravel del Fuego 2024
What would you pack for an inaugural gravel bikepacking race at the end of the world where no race has ever gone before?
Bikes of The Unknown Race 2024
Take a look at how the riders are equipping themselves when they're not certain exactly where they will be going.
Five Minutes with Lintang Flores
With the Indonesian Audax scene growing quickly, there are a few new races popping up including Lintang Flores. Ali Macleod spoke to the organisers behind the event, and gets insights from the winners: Citra Sarawasti and Boru Mccullagh.
Bikes of Dales Divide 2024
Cast an eye over the bikes and kit lists of the riders lining up at this 400km or 600km off-road double traverse of Northern England over moor and mountain in some of the UK's most exposed riding.
Bikes of GranGuanche Audax Gravel 2024
The third edition of GranGuanche's Gravel audax takes in five of the Canary Islands with four ferry journeys. In true audax spirit, riders must be self-supported but are allowed to ride together and draft. Informed by past editions, how will the rigs fare this year?
Dales Divide Preview with Ali Macleod
Ali is a bikepacking aficionado and ultra-racing veteran. With plenty of races under his belt, he's shared his preview of the Dales Divide. After completing the treacherous 2021 Edition where a storm blew most riders off the fell, Ali definitely has some stories to share.
Roundtable: Night Starts
Starting a race in the dark is undeniably a spectacle. However, with concerns about riders' safety on the roads and the effect of a first sleepless night on a longer race, we put it to those with varying perspectives as to whether night starts have a place in our sport or not.
Roundtable: Mandatory Kit Requirements
In this roundtable we discuss the topic of mandatory kit for ultra distance races. With no governing body for the sport, race organisers have differing ideas about what kit is deemed essential for the particular conditions of their race. Read on for more on this important topic.
Five Minutes With... The Trans Pyrenees Race
Ahead of this year's fourth edition of the Trans Pyrenees Race, we sat down with the team at Lost Dot to explore how this year's TPR sticks to the Race's heritage of a double traverse of the Pyrenees but with a few twists along the way.
Five Minutes With Samuel Thompson
We sat down with Samuel Thompson, ultra-racer and coach who has founding his ultra-cycling consulting company Acier.cc. Samuel has competed in ultra-races and audaxes for almost 10 years, make sure you learn from his wisdom.
Bikes of Tour Te Waipounamu 2024
A compilation of the riders' chosen bikes and equipment for the third edition of the race. With most opting for hardtails, there are a few anomolies and a wide spectrum of the amount of equipment for this 1,330km Kiwi epic.
Bikes Of... GranGuanche Audax Road 2024
The third edition of the Granguanche Audax Road: a paved route across the Canary Islands which goes by the most iconic roads and climbs of the archipelago. Road or touring bikes with low gearing and minimum 25mm tyres will be required.
DotWatcher Dozen 2024
The DotWatcher Dozen, a 2024 race season preview including 7 established classics and 6 inaugural races with exciting new formats. Making it a baker's dozen, the thirteenth race we highlight is one that has been on hiatus, but this year we see it return to the racing calendar.
Planning an FKT Attempt
In this guide, we'll delve into the practicalities of preparing for your FKT journey using the Ride With GPS platform. It’s everything you need to know, from the initial scrutinising of trails to heading out on your attempt day.
2023 DotWatcher Awards
Our annual awards nominated by you, the bikepacking race community, to celebrate the finest achievements of 2023 in the sport. Read the feature to learn who received this year’s awards for their endeavours on and off the bike.
Winter Watching 2023
Once again, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite films from bikepacking races this year to keep those in the Northern Hemisphere entertained as we settle in for some short days and long evenings.
Five Minutes With... Kevin Francis
The Great British Divide has become an iconic off-road route, taking in 2000km across the length of the UK. Kevin Francis is the man behind the race; with a strong background in corporate and sporting events it's not hard to see why the race has received such success.
DotWatcher 2023 Roundup
A roundup of some of the most exciting races in 2023, with a spread of events across the globe. Take a look at what went down at some of the biggest races of the year.
Bikes Of... GranGuanche Audax Trail 2023
The third edition of the Granguanche Audax Trail: an unpaved route across the Canary Islands with considerable elevation gain. With a rich variety of terrain to contend with, the route calls for hardtail MTBs, or monster-cross gravel bikes with low gearing.
Bikes of Across Andes 2023
Riders will be riding further south than ever before to take in some of Chilean Patagonia’s most iconic gravel roads. A bleak forecast has forced many riders to reasses their kit lists and add extra jackets, warm layers and gloves.
Roundtable: Scratching from Ultra Distance Races Part 2
Scratching is a part of ultra distance races that most racers will have to deal with at some point. This two part roundtable aims to open up the dialogue on scratching, and debunk the negative stigma that it sometimes carries.
Lost Dot 2024: The Year of Transcontinental No10
Lost Dot, organisers of the Transcontinental Race, Trans Pyrenees Race and now the Accursed Race, have shared some insight with DotWatcher on their 2024 plans. Learn about the route for TCRNo10 and how they're tackling climate change at the Accursed.
Roundtable: Scratching from Ultra Distance Races - Part 1
Scratching is a part of ultra distance races that most racers will have to deal with at some point. This two part roundtable aims to open up the dialogue on scratching, and debunk the negative stigma that it sometimes carries.
Nerve Damage During Races: What causes it? Can it be prevented? And, what to do if it strikes.
A physical phenomenon many ultra cyclists are familiar with is mild to severe nerve damage at the contact points, but it need not be this way. We asked Gail Brown to share her knowledge on why nerve damage happens, how to prevent it and what to do if it strikes mid-race.
What is an FKT?
The highly sought after FKT, what does it mean and why is it important? What's the difference between a race win and an FKT?
Discover More
5 Minutes With...
Learn more about the riders behind the dots. We talk to community heroes, industry insiders and champion races to find out more about bikepacking racing.
Race Reports
Follow along your old and new favourite races beyond just chasing dots. Our community of experts provide in depth commentary.
Roundtables
Prominent members of the community share their opinions on pressing issues in the sport.
Bikes of...
Ever wonder what your favourite rider takes along for the trip?
View all
Discover More
5 Minutes With...
Learn more about the riders behind the dots. We talk to community heroes, industry insiders and champion races to find out more about bikepacking racing.
Race Reports
Follow along your old and new favourite races beyond just chasing dots. Our community of experts provide in depth commentary.
Roundtables
Prominent members of the community share their opinions on pressing issues in the sport.
Bikes of...
Ever wonder what your favourite rider takes along for the trip?