Bikester Magazine EN Winter 2021

FALL / WINTER 2021

OUTERWEAR
To not deter us from getting on our bikes in wet or
windy weather, it is a simple matter of aligning our
apparel to the elements. This range of offerings is
steeped in experience and has been implemented with
the latest innovations, so there’s a right product for
every type of budget and any sort of condition. From
trendy contemporary outfits to high-performance
breathable rainwear and classic rain suits, every cyclist
will find something that fits their specific needs.

DEAR READER,
Who would have thought the cycling boom that began in 2020 would
still be going? More and more people are still discovering the bicycle as
a great alternative to cars, buses and trains – for commuting, weekend
rides and even longer excursions. This development is also more visible
on the roads: cycle lanes protected with bollards are no longer a rarity
and more and more are being built. Fittingly, nowadays, with trail
centers and events like Gravel Fondo, there are many more ways to
have fun on the bike without racing.
How sad would it be to lose all that momentum now, just because the
sun isn’t shining as much? As you’ll read in the first story, you don’t need
expensive equipment or inhuman determination to get on your bike in
colder weather. ‘Just keep cycling’ is our motto – maybe you’ll need a
slightly thicker jacket, but you’ll be healthier, happier and more flexible
than with any other means of transport.
© VAUDE, CHRISTOPH LAUE
Your Bikester Team
3

CONTENT
05
GALLERY
Enjoy the view
10
JUST KEEP GOING
Warmly recommended: Cycling in cold weather
20
STOCKHOLM MTB PRIDE
Endless single tracks in every direction
26
EASY MOUNTAIN BIKING FOR EVERYONE
Scottish trail centres show how easy it is
34
N + 1?
How many bikes do you really need?
36
FIVE YEARS OF GRAVEL FONDO
The best ideas are born at the coffee machine
44
RANDONNEUR REVIVAL
Of brevets, dynamos and desserts
COVER PHOTO: © GORE® WEAR
BIKESTER

© FIXIE INC., CARLOS MEYER
5MORE FUN TOGETHER

© PATAGONIA, RYAN CREARY
BIKESTER

7BLURRING BOUNDARIES

© GORE® WEAR
BIKESTER

NOTHING WILL KEEP US
FROM A BIKE RIDE
9

© PROTECTIVE
Text: Felix Böhlken
JUST KEEP GOING
WARMLY RECOMMENDED: CYCLING IN COLD WEATHER
For lots of cyclists, the rainy grey days of autumn mean the cycling season is over. But you don’t have
to stop riding just because the temperature drops a few degrees. Join as we talk to three cyclists who
just keep on riding.
BIKESTER

11

Summer is the cyclist’s friend. The bike
paths are full of people on day trips or
commuting. In the city centres, people are
cycling to the shops, to school and to their
next appointment. There are mountain
bikes, racing bikes and hybrids everywhere.
But when the days get shorter and cooler,
peoples’ enthusiasm for cycling wanes and
the bike lanes empty out. Darkness, damp
and plunging temperatures are the natural
enemies of the cyclist. But does it have to be
like this?
© BJÖRN HÄNSSLER
We met three people who cycle through
autumn and winter, no matter how cold it
gets – out of conviction, pragmatism, and
the sheer joy of cycling. For them, the bike
is a tool, a means of transport that gets them
to work and helps them run errands around
town with the kids. We met them to hear
about their drive and motivation, their tricks
for safer cycling through autumn and winter,
and how they have fun despite the rain!
Listening to them, you quickly start to
wonder if all the typical reasons people give
for putting the bike away at the end of August
are just feeble excuses. ‘Too cold’, ‘too wet’
and ‘too dark’ are three notions these cyclists
won’t entertain, and the question of whether
to take the bike or the car does not trouble
these riders.
In fact, it all seems to be a question of
attitude and depends on whether one sees the
bicycle as one option among many or the first
choice – or in fact the only one. You also start
to wonder if you might even be missing out by
leaving your bike in the shed all winter. Maybe
it could be a good idea just to keep on riding!
STEFFEN’S BAD-WEATHER
HACKS:
Stay dry: A rain poncho does not only stop you from
getting wet but also protects you against icy winds.
Versatility is crucial: Waterproof trainers and warm
socks – this combo is great on and off the bike.
Let there be light: One, or better still, two very bright
lights on the handlebars help you see and be seen.
BIKESTER

STEFFEN –
COMMUTING AS LEISURE
“I don’t ride all year round,” says Steffen. “If
it’s slippery, I don’t get on my bike!” Apart
from those rare days when frost, or fallen
leaves make it dangerous to ride, Steffen
rides his bike all the time. He feels that he’s
missing out on something if he can’t do his
daily commute, a total of around thirty miles,
by bike. Why? Because the bicycle turns these
journeys into leisure time: “When I used to
drive to work, being in the car felt like being
at work, and after a stressful day, a traffic
jam on the way home didn’t make things any
better,” he recalls. Thankfully, Steffen makes
this sound like some long-forgotten memory
from a past life.
Sometime in the summer of 2014, Steffen
cycled to work on his new e-bike and had
a revelation: “Time on the bike didn’t feel
stressful, instead if felt like free time; I could
clear my mind and arrived home relaxed.”
This experience quickly settled the matter for
him: He’s been commuting by e-bike instead
of driving for six years. But is it still as fun in
bad weather?
“Of course. I didn’t want to miss out on
that good feeling I get after commuting on
my bike!” And so, he just kept getting on
the bike when autumn came and gradually
gained experience of riding in the wet and
cold. “It’s very simple: When it’s wet, I wear
my waterproofs, and when it gets cold, I
wear something warm underneath. Then I’m
absolutely fine.” He makes it sound simple.
So, was there anything that put him off, any
bad experiences? “The weather was never an
issue for me, but I have to admit, the first time
I rode through the forest in the dark, it was
a bit spooky. You get the impression eyes are
staring at you from everywhere,” he recalls.
Steffen’s solution for this spooky problem: “I
bought two bright lights that I mounted on
my handlebars. That took care of that issue.”
And so, with a pragmatic approach, nearly
every ‘problem’ is easily overcome. The one
thing Steffen hasn’t figured out is what to
do when it’s slippery – his daily free time is
dramatically reduced when he has to drive to
work; luckily for him, these days are few and
far between.
13

SVENJA – FROM PRO
TO PRACTICAL
“I always cycled to school when I was a
teenager so I could keep my bus ticket
money.” For Svenja, the bicycle has always
been her number one means of transport.
Later, it also became her number one piece
of sports equipment. As a triathlete, Svenja
competed at the Olympic Games in London
and has finished in the top 10 at Ironman
competitions – that means rides of 180 km in
competition and countless more in training.
Since having her three children, Svenja uses
the road like many other parents: riding an
e-bike with a child trailer and child seat. Her
three children, Joah, Maila and Nelio are
always with her when Svenja is out and about.
Sure, the children love racing around in the
trailer or child seat when the weather’s nice,
but don’t they protest when it gets wet and
cold? Svenja casually dismisses the question:
“My children don’t know any different, so it’s
not an issue at all! We’re an outdoor family,
the kids go to a forest kindergarten, so they
don’t even think about it when it gets dirty
or wet.”
Is it really as simple as that – just not thinking
about it? Of course, the right clothes are
essential to keep the kids warm and dry: “We
already had rain gear and a warm snowsuit, so
the kids can wear that on the bike”. Svenja
also has a few little tricks up her sleeve to
make the cold weather less uncomfortable for
her little passengers: “We have a rain cover
for the trailer, so the wind doesn’t get in and
it’s nicer inside. And when it’s really cold, a
blanket and a hot water bottle make it cosy in
the trailer or on the child seat.”
So, do you ever consider taking the car
instead? “We only have one car, which my
husband often uses, and I simply don’t want
to be dependent on it,” Svenja says, waving it
off. The only reason not to put the children
on the bike is “if it gets slippery in winter; I
think it’s too risky on a bike with the kids.”
And where does Svenja find the motivation
to always take the bike? The ecological aspect
is important to her, and that she always gets
exercise on the bike. Switching to an e-bike
was a huge success for Svenja: “This way, I can
always bring the kids with me, no matter what
the weather is like.”
BIKESTER

SVENJA’S BAD-WEATHER
HACKS
© BJÖRN HÄNSSLER
Make it tight: with a rain cover for the children’s
trailer, the kids stay dry and are completely
protected from the cold wind.
Wrap up: with a blanket and a hot water bottle,
it’ll be cosy in the trailer even in winter.
Well packed: with good rainwear and a dry, warm
head, even bad weather is bearable.
15

DONATO –
THE DAILY DRIVER
“Cold?! I don’t mind at all!” Donato – known
to his friends as Don – has cycled consistently
since buying a mountain bike in 2014. “I
wanted to do something for my figure,” he
recalls – I’m not getting any younger!” But
instead of just doing a few relaxed miles at the
weekend, Don’s relationship with cycling got
pretty serious pretty quickly: “A good friend
of mine took me on some challenging rides
right away, and it quickly became clear that
I was going to have to do it properly or not
at all.” Don has been ‘doing it properly’ ever
since, and gravel has become his favourite
discipline in the past few years. For him,
10,000 km (over 6200 miles) a year is the
minimum; anything less would be a personal
disappointment. To achieve this goal, he has
to be ready to ride in any weather.
Don’s penchant for challenges helps him
stay motivated: “Last year, for example, I set
a goal with a mate to achieve a temperature
delta of 50 degrees, that’s at least 50 degrees
difference between our coldest and hottest
days on the bike. He set the lowest point in
winter at -13 degrees. How on earth does he
manage to overcome this kind of cold and get
on the bike?
“For me, it’s not about overcoming anything.
A freezing cold day with crisp, clean air – what
could be better?!” Bad weather is no excuse
for Don: “With the right clothes, it’s not a
problem! I have warm trousers and a jacket
which are so warm, when I put them on in the
flat, I have about thirty seconds to get out the
door before I start sweating!”
Does he have an insider tip? “A sip from your
thermos bottle is great on freezing days!”
Focusing on the essentials and finding joy in
simple things is Don’s source of motivation.
Don’t be put off by things beyond your
control, and tackle challenges pragmatically
is his advice. However, he has one issue that
‘dampens’ his motivation: “When it rains, the
only thing that annoys me is that my glasses
fog up all the time! But that’s just another
challenge to be overcome.”
© BJÖRN HÄNSSLER
BIKESTER

DON’S BAD-WEATHER
HACKS
Hot-water bottle: Bring a thermos bottle with
warm tea – it’ll stay nice and warm for a while,
even in the depths of winter.
Well invested: Winter shoes aren’t cheap but are
an essential investment when the mercury dips
below zero.
Be seen: On grey days, make sure your rear light is
always on – it never hurts to make sure you can be
seen on the road.
17

Fixie Inc. Backspin
Urban E-Bike
HERE IS
MY BIKE
© CARLOS MEYER
LISA — FIXIE INC. BACKSPIN
Who are you and what do you do at
Bikester?
I’m Lisa, I’m 33, and I come from Münsterland.
I’ve worked in the bike industry for about
five years, so I’ve had the opportunity to ride
quite a few road bikes in this time. I never
really got into long-distance riding, though;
I mostly ride my bike to unwind or spend
time in nature (including stopping for the odd
ice cream or cappuccino!). In the city, I ride
everywhere: to the shops, to work, wherever!
In February 2021, I started working as Brand
Manager for Fixie Inc, Vermont, Ortler and
Serious. I take care of the brands – essentially,
how they look and feel on our channels.
Very specifically, I organise photo and video
production and design sales campaigns for
our bikes.
Why do you ride a Fixie Inc. Backspin?
During a photo and video shoot, I had the
honour of riding a bike from one of ‘my’
brands for the first time: the Backspin. I’d
prepared the shoot, but the model dropped
out; since I cycle a lot and the bike was in
my size, I stepped in and did it instead! The
weather was great, and we cruised from one
location to the next through the city. I was
able to really put the bike through its paces. It
lets you get from A to B quickly, and the motor
is super quiet. The bike also has only one gear;
it’s a Fixie Inc, after all, but when the motor
kicks in, it’s easy to keep up with traffic. For
me, that was the first time I’d ever ridden an
e-bike, but I was completely hooked and the
Backspin came straight home with me.
BIKESTER

COMMUTING IN THE BIG CITY
G E T T H E R E
SAFELY
Discover real city life in style, on two wheels.
abus.com
19

© RICKARD CROY
BIKESTER

Text: Kalle Bern
STOCKHOLM
MTB PRIDE
ENDLESS SINGLE TRACKS IN EVERY DIRECTION
The scent of pine trees and summer fills the air as I speed towards the next turn on this dusty trail.
Just past the trees people are swimming in a lake, cooling off in the summer heat. It’s tempting to join
them, but right now the ride is too good. Later, when my legs are pumped out, I’ll find a nice spot to
jump in and cool down. It’s this kind of scenario that makes me love MTB riding around Stockholm.
We have world class MTB trails here that are easy to access and suitable for all levels. To make it
easy for you to explore let me share some local knowledge and riding spots.
© TIMOTHY LATTE
21

STOCKHOLM ARCHIPELAGO
More than a city, Stockholm is an archipelago
of more than 30,000 islands, islets and rocks
with a mix of characters, from wooded
islands, sandy beaches, countless lakes, lush
green forests, and mile after mile of tracks
to ride. The conditions could not be better.
There are few other cities in the world, even
close to Stockholm, when it comes to the
number of miles of tracks directly connected
to the city. If you love MTB, make Stockholm
your next adventure holiday.
BETWEEN FOREST AND SEA
Stockholm city, the capital of Sweden, is
positioned between Mälaren Lake and the
archipelago. Like any capital city, Stockholm
is all concrete and buildings, but 40 % is
parks and green space. There are 240 nature
reserves and two national parks directly
connected to the city. Apart from Mälaren
Lake, there are another 1,240 lakes in the
region, and around these lakes are often
sweet trails. These make Stockholm so good
for mountain biking.
Thanks to a Swedish law permitting right
to public access and our culture of outdoor
recreation, many paths have formed around
the Stockholm area. Some have become
hiking and running tracks, but many exist
in the forest, unmarked and without names,
ready to be discovered by adventurous
mountain bikers. If you continue out into
the archipelago, there are 30,000 islands to
explore. Take the bike on one of the ferries
and you will ride with a sea view. Even if you
spent the rest of your life in Stockholm, it
would be hard to ride it all.
TO THE NORTH
In Stockholm, there’s always good cycling just
around the corner. There is even good riding
just minutes from the inner city. Fiskartorpet,
for example, has tracks especially for
mountain biking. “Torpet” as the locals call
it, is located five minutes from Sveavägen – a
major street in the city – and is perfect for
beginners or easy rides.
Just north of the city lies Hagaparken, a
popular MTB spot. From there you can cruise
along the tracks and find your way north to
Järvafältet where there are many natural trails
and nice roads. Look at a map of Stockholm
and it’s easy to see the different green paths
leading out from the city to green areas and
MTB spots.
TO THE WEST
Go west, and you’ll find Mälaröarna with
its beautiful hiking paths and newly created
mountain biking tracks at Lovön. If you want
more adventure, put bags on your bike and
stay there outdoors overnight. It’s close to
civilization, but with a sense of wilderness.
There are lots of swimming spots and cosy
cafes for a classic Swedish fika (coffee and
cake break).
BIKESTER

© EMRIK JANSSON
23

TO THE SOUTH
© TIMOTHY LATTE
South of Stockholm you can find Södertörn
and the big Tyresta National Park. It has
specific rules for cycling, but if you understand
them it’s worth exploring the many beautiful
areas to bike there. For the gravel enthusiast,
there are many great paths to discover in
Södertörn. If you don’t want to bike the
whole way, you can take the commuter train
from the city and start close by.
TO THE EAST
Go east of Stockholm and you’ll find Nacka
Nature Reserve. This is the most popular
area for mountain biking. It’s hard to ride
the trails on a bike, but fortunately there
are many gravel roads. The biking in Nacka
begins where the city ends and continues out
into the archipelago. Many coastal tracks
and gravel roads pass by bays and beautiful
beaches. The forest is mostly pine, and below
a thin layer of soil you can see the bedrock
underneath. Tree roots and exposed rock
make for technical riding and slow the riding
down. But then you find the flow again on the
smooth bedrock and the trail is awesome. You
can pump and the tires stick like glue.
BIKESTER

© RICKARD CROY
FOR BIKEPACKERS
If you want to explore greater Stockholm on
your bike and sleep out in the forest, there
are tons of possibilities. Find your way out
of town on gravel roads, and in combination
with catching one of the ferries you will be
able to find a great spot. Thanks to the right of
public access, you can set up your tent almost
anywhere, just avoid trespassing on private
property. If you want to be extra adventurous,
spend the night in a hammock. That way you
don’t have to worry about finding flat ground.
Don’t forget to bring good food and drink!
CATCH THE LIFT
Biking the ski hills around Stockholm can
be a blast. There are a couple of the small
ski resorts located near Stockholm that have
opened ski lifts for downhill over summer.
Flottsbro bike park, south of the city, has
something for everyone. There are easy tracks
for beginners, and more advanced tracks with
drops and kickers that take courage and skills
to attempt.
Then there’s Saltisbacken in Nacka which,
with the help of the local bike club, has
created excellent MTB tracks. This is a great
place to get started as a mountain biker.
Some bike parks have coaches that can help
beginners. Many beginners tend to avoid
parks, but being able to practice on relatively
easy tracks is a great way to build confidence
and skills.
HELLAS
To write about biking in Stockholm without
mentioning Hellasgården and Nacka Nature
Reserve would be doing a disservice to
anyone who reads this. This vast green area
starts at Hammarbybacken and is a protected
area. The name Hellas comes from the
exercise centre Hellasgården which is a good
starting point. There, you can buy maps and
see information boards that point in the right
direction. Some of the marked tracks can be
crowded and popular on Saturdays, but when
you are acquainted with the place you can find
less frequented trails. There is a spectacular
number of tracks in the 10 million square
meters that makes up the reserve.
The MTB community in Stockholm is big
and almost everyone bikes in Hellas. There
are local guiding firms that support firsttimers
to explore the area. Sweden’s biggest
bike forum www.happyride.se is also a great
resource to learn about the possibilities.
To summarise, what makes Stockholm so
good is the huge number of tracks crisscrossing
vast green landscapes. Almost every
part of Sweden is covered by forest, but
further away from the city there are less
people and less tracks. With mountain biking
being so popular here, it’s easy to find likeminded
people to bike with. And once you
start exploring the forests, it will feel like
every track leads to another and to another,
and so on. Fine, I’ll admit it, I’m damn proud
of the Stockholm MTB scene. Once you visit
and see it yourself, you’ll understand why.
25

© FINLAY ANDERSON
BIKESTER

Text: Bastian Steinecker
EASY
MOUNTAIN
BIKING
FOR
EVERYONE
SCOTTISH TRAIL CENTRES SHOW HOW EASY IT IS
Our colleague Bastian has been mountain biking since he was young, so he’s
used to the trials and tribulations of trail riding. People that come to the sport later
in life have often told him how many small logistical and even social obstacles
get in the way if you just want to go riding. That includes choosing where to go,
understanding route difficulty levels regarding technique or fitness and finding
people to ride with. His look at the Scottish 7stanes trail centres shows how
inviting ‘low-threshold’ mountain biking can be. Bastian asked Graeme McLean,
project manager of Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, how they keep the
barriers to entry low and why that matters.
27

© FROG BIKES
It was raining when we arrived at the
Glentress trail centre. By now we knew it
would be worth it, but it always seemed to
be raining when we pulled the bikes out of
the packed little car. Some clichés about
Scotland are obviously true. Fortunately,
those clichés now include top-notch bike
trails. We had long since left the jagged
mountains of the Highlands behind us. The
Tweed Valley looked positively cosy with its
rolling, hilly landscape, yet the largest of the
7stanes trail centres, about an hour’s drive
south of Glasgow, turned out to be the real
highlight of our Scotland trip. We had never
experienced off-road fun like this that was so
well organised and so accessible. We simply
turned up and had a blast, so I had to ask, how
did they do it?
Before we started riding, we took a seat in the
Glentress Peel Café, an airy building made of
local wood and lots of glass that would be just
as home in the big city as it was in the middle
of a bike park. Over coffee and scrambled
eggs, we studied the trail map, difficulty
levels and ride times. We had no idea that the
excellent signage along the trails would make
a map completely unnecessary.
We were rewarded for our leisurely (read:
slow!) start. Slowly, the sun broke through
and filled the café with light. With the sun,
more and more people appeared. There was a
remarkable array of colourful riders – stylish
enduro specialists, retro bike fans, groups
on e-bikes and cross-country athletes –
every mountain bike genre was represented,
including a noticeable number of women and
loads of children.
Graeme McLean, project manager of
Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland,
reinforced our impression with both concrete
figures and personal observations. The office
of this government initiative to coordinate
and promote mountain biking in Scotland
is less than 200 metres from the café. In
the course of a year, Glentress hosts around
310,000 riders, and the numbers are going
up year by year. This makes it the bestvisited
trails centre in Scotland and probably
throughout Great Britain. The success is no
coincidence, but part of a complex strategy,
as Graeme explains: “The whole trail centre
model is based on breaking down the barriers
that people have to access mountain biking.
Don’t have a bike – rent one at the centre;
can’t read a map – all the trails are signposted;
worried the trails are going to be too hard/
technical – all the trails are graded.”
BIKESTER

FIRST-CLASS TRAILS WITH EASY ACCESS
Part of the success is the location of the 7stanes
trail centres in the more densely populated
south of Scotland. He says that offering
many people in big cities an attractive range
of trails within easy reach for a day trip can
be a decisive factor – especially for families.
But, Graeme says, “Without a doubt the most
important aspect is the trails! If there isn’t the
variety, the quality and the distance of trails,
then it’s more challenging to reach the critical
mass of riders to create the scene at the
centre.” He adds, “sites where we explicitly
target beginners and families are nowhere
near as well attended as trail centres where
we have red and black options for advanced
riders in addition to easy trails. I think you
need the ambitious riders to add credibility
to a trail centre.” If nothing else, that variety
invites riders to come back and grow from
the challenges. Regardless of the difficulty
level, however, it’s the quality of the trails that
mountain bikers are raving about. In Scotland,
this includes not only reliable signage, but
also trails that are mostly weatherproof and
promise a good day’s riding when other trails
would have turned into bogs.
Freshly invigorated by our coffee and
motivated by the better weather, we set off
on the red loop: 19 km with 75 % singletrack
awaited us. According to the map, this should
take between 1.5 and 3 hrs. We started slowly.
Normally, you have to keep your eyes peeled
for markers and signs but we soon realised
the signs were clear and the routes just made
sense. We wound up and down, around
countless curves, following the flow of the
narrow singletrack; the need to look out for
markers was almost completely eliminated by
the intuitive trail design. Without disturbing
the flow of the trail, stone or wooden
obstacles on the edges invited us to make the
trail a little trickier. This contradicts accepted
trail building wisdom, where the obstacle is
normally placed in the middle of the trail, and
therefore beginner riders are forced to ride
around it. Attention to details like this is what
makes 7stanes different. On trail sections
with names like Spooky Woods, Super-G
or Britney Spears, it became clear: We were
on a meticulously maintained adventure
playground, with carefully curated elements
for children and big kids alike. These trails will
make novices grin and ambitious riders sweat
in equal measure. A few shorter trails later
and we were happy, completely exhausted and
dirty from head to toe. Before moving on, it
was time to test the showers.
© FROG BIKES
29

CREATURE COMFORTS
Hot showers?! You bet! Great trails may
be the main reason to visit 7stanes for
ambitious mountain bikers, newcomers
or entire families. But the day out is made
extra special by the comfortable conditions
and welcoming atmosphere. This starts with
the official ‘entrance fee’ that is limited to a
parking ticket. A bike store with a workshop,
spare parts and rental of bike, helmet & pads
is supplemented with a washing area for the
bikes – all pretty normal, but heated changing
rooms with lockers for valuables and a change
of clothes, hot showers, and the large café
and information centre take the park to
luxurious new levels. “A lot of ambitious
bikers may not care that much about the
comforts provided; they’d probably be just
as happy with van parking,” Graeme admits,
but he points out, “Improved facilities at trail
centres (including toilets, changing rooms), a
friendly atmosphere, bike shops and cafes are
great at attracting new people to the sport,
including women and families. All of those
supporting pieces really do help create the
right environment for new and returning
riders to enjoy mountain biking and provide
an excellent experience that they will keep
returning to.”
Regarding the capricious Scottish weather,
changing rooms, showers and bike washing
facilities massively reduce potential
frustration – visitors want a one-stop-shop
where they can turn up, ride, then leave
without any extra fuss. After all, people have
lives in which bikes aren’t the only focus, and
they don’t want cars stuffed with wet clothes
and muddy bikes come Monday morning.
MAKING BIKE BUDDIES
Mountain biking may be an individual
sport, but riding with others really increases
the fun levels and spurs you on to go a bit
faster, try new routes or just squeeze in one
more run at the end of the day. Developing
Mountain Biking in Scotland see trail centres
as a meeting place for bike communities.
Since the beginning of 7stanes, the café has
been an essential ingredient for its success
and, according to Graeme, incredibly
important as a social catalyst “where public
biking culture was created in the first place.
Quite a few regional bike clubs also got
their start there.” Far away from traditional
club foundations, almost everyone can
be sure to meet like-minded people in a
relaxed atmosphere with good coffee and
homemade cakes. It’s a place to chat, swap
tips or make plans for your next visit. It’s not
hard to imagine how friendships are forged
here across generations and geographically
separated communities, friendships that
might begin while fixing a puncture together
and are nurtured on the trail.
A FOCUS ON
THE GRASSROOTS
Naturally, ambitious and experienced
mountain bikers are often the best at getting
their opinions heard. However, this doesn’t
mean that this demographic should always be
first in line for attention and support.
For the government body Developing
Mountain Biking in Scotland, the role of trail
centres points in a different, more inclusive
direction. “Trail centres help us get more
people interested in biking, provide us with
venues and attractions to boost bike tourism
for Scotland, and our athletes (including
reigning downhill world champion Reece
Wilson) all started in our trail centres”,
Graeme elaborates.
As an important part of a coordinated
mountain bike master plan for Scotland, the
7stanes focus on a diverse biking base. Some
of these riders are still in the very early stages
of their development and not in a position
to make any concrete claims. However, with
the right support and infrastructure, we can
expect some of the stars of tomorrow to
emerge from these centres.
BIKESTER

© ROSS BELL PHOTOGRAPHY
31

Haibike SDURO Fullnine 8.0
E-MTB
HERE IS
MY BIKE
© HOLGER ROTHE
HOLGER — HAIBIKE SDURO FULLNINE 8.0
Who are you and what do you do at
Bikester?
I’m Holger; I’ve been with Bikester for five
years and work in the Product Content
Management department. As Product
Content Manager, my team and I ensure
that our online product range is attractively
presented for our customers. This includes
making sure that suppliers provide us with all
the product information needed in the form
of text and images. I’ve always loved being out
in nature, especially while hiking. At Bikester,
I discovered e-biking and bought a hybrid
e-bike to enjoy longer rides away from busy
cycle paths. Soon, this bike did no longer fit my
needs, and for more demanding rides that took
me offroad, I had to get an e-mountain bike!
What do you like about this bike?
My e-mountain bike is a 2020 SDURO
FullNine 8.0 from Haibike, a full-suspension
bike that’s perfect for long rides thanks to its
large, integrated battery, stable 29" wheels
and powerful Bosch mid-mounted motor. The
bike is comfortable and safe on rough terrain
thanks to the suspension. Both the e-MTB
and e-hybrid allow me to explore nature in a
sporty, energetic way, even if I’m not feeling
quite so full of beans myself! In the past, I
often had to cut short or miss out entirely on
fun rides because I was on a non-motorised
bike – I don’t have that excuse anymore!
BIKESTER

The landscape zooms past and you don‘t have a worry in the
world. Ride gravel all the way, take a detour on some smooth
single track or hit turbo on the asphalt.
Whatever you do, just ride. Ride like the wind – with the new
VOTEC VRX

HOW MANY BIKES
JANA
© SEBASTIAN BEILMANN
MORE BIKES THAN MY WALLET AND GARAGE ALLOW
I keep a mental list of all the things I own
because I like to keep track of them. But I
still keep one significant written list: bikes
I want to have. Why is this list special?
Because when it comes to bikes, any selfrestraint
I have goes out the window. To be
completely honest, there are actually two
lists: one’s realistic and full of bikes I’d love
to have, the second is crazy, full of dream
bikes that I’d buy if I won the lottery. I
could probably fill the rest of this page with
the lottery list. That’s the beauty of bikes:
There are so many different ones; they’re all
fun in different ways and inspire you to ride
differently. There’s a bike for everybody and
every taste. Even though I love riding fast,
I still can’t quite get my head around racing
bikes, so I went the gravel route instead. My
gravel bike gives me the speed of a road bike
and the option to ride forest trails instead
of asphalt. However, if I followed my list, I
would also have (in addition to my freeride,
dirt and e-mtb bikes): a touring bike, city
bike and fancy road bike, just in case I finally
work out how to enjoy the smooth stuff. The
more popular bikes get, the more specific
the models become, which feeds right into
my passion for collecting. The minimalist,
environmentally-conscious side of me cringes
every time I add another bike to my list, but
I think we need to be kind to ourselves and
not feel bad for indulging our vices. And mine
is that I want to have more bikes than my
wallet and garage will ever allow.
BIKESTER

DO YOU REALLY NEED?
AMELIE
© JANA ZORICIC
A QUESTION OF FRUGALITY
What the bike industry advertises is what
people buy; supply determines demand. Or
maybe it’s the other way round? Nowadays,
there’s a bike for every niche, designed and
marketed to provide the greatest possible
enjoyment without compromise. There are
feather-light bikes with front suspension for
long cross-country rides and uphill efficiency,
enduro bikes for adventures on Europe’s
most famous trails and, of course, bombproof
downhill machines for gnarly days at the
bike park. So which bike should I ride today?
Well, I never have to ask myself this question
because I only have one bike – and I love it!
Owning a quality enduro bike has a lot of
advantages. For one thing, it’s very versatile.
It feels just as comfortable on my flowy local
trails in Freiburg as it does in the bike park
trails or on alpine terrain. And longer rides
are (now!) no problem because if you ride a 15
kg bike every day, you get pretty fit! 180 mm
of travel front and back seems pretty spot
on to me – not too much, not too little. In
addition, I don’t have to adjust to a different
bike every time; I’m completely at home with
the set-up and feel. Another crucial point is
maintenance: I only have one bike to repair
and one set of components to replace or
upgrade. Bicycles are also pretty expensive
these days: A tricked-out mountain bike
can cost as much as a small car. These are
not insignificant purchases and need to be
considered carefully from a financial point of
view. Last but not least, it’s also a question of
frugality. I’m delighted and grateful to be able
to afford such a great hobby; in this respect,
I want to stay modest and enjoy my one great
bike every day.
35

Text: Martin Ohliger
FIVE YEARS OF
GRAVEL FONDO
THE BEST IDEAS ARE BORN AT THE COFFEE MACHINE
BIKESTER

© STEFAN HAEHNEL
When the idea of Gravel Fondo first came up at the end of 2015, gravel bikes
were still virtually unheard of in Europe. Even insiders and industry media knew
little about them, so rare were these road bikes with fat tyres. We were still a
long way from a boom in this genre – yet, there was already a notion that what
we could do with a road bike was about to change dramatically.
37

© FALK WENZEL
It was with this notion that Stephan Geiß,
who was working for VOTEC at the time and
who can confidently be called the father of
Gravel Fondo, met with his colleague Basti
Steinecker at the office’s coffee machine.
Basti had already organised the Critical
Dirt in 2011, the first long-distance race on
German gravel roads. Stephan came away
from the conversation, which lasted only
a few minutes, with a concept for an event:
“To challenge oneself on a long route, like
in a competition, but also be able to take it
easy, drink a coffee and eat a sandwich; you
go all out until the segment is over and then
two corners down there’s a coffee truck with
deck chairs and an epic view over the Black
Forest.” The two also came up with the name
“Gravel Fondo” before their coffee even had a
chance to get cold.
PREMIERE AT
THE BLACK FOREST
Stephan soon found himself immersed in the
hustle and bustle of preparation. He spent
several weekends exploring gravel roads in
the Black Forest before putting together the
perfect gravel route on a specially purchased
27-inch screen. On an October weekend in
2016, the time had come. Around 100 people
met at the Sportkaserne in Freiburg for the
very first Gravel Fondo. Even the weather
smiled on us and rewarded the participants
for their efforts on climbing up the Feldberg
with some welcome sunshine. The meticulous
preparation had more than paid off for
Stephan: “Sunday afternoon went better
than I could’ve ever imagined. Everyone was
chilling, sitting with a beer or coffee in their
hand and a piece of cake in front of them, and
many even asked if they could stay an extra
day. That’s genuinely the best compliment
because at quite a few other events, people do
their race, shower as soon as possible and go
home.”
BIKESTER

© DAVID SCHULTHEISS
39

© FALK WENZEL
BIKESTER

CAMP VIBES FOREVER
Thanks to its initial success, it quickly
became apparent this wouldn’t be the last
Gravel Fondo. The following two years,
Stephan scouted new locations in the Black
Forest before heading to the Palatinate Forest
in 2019. There, the event reached its capacity
– but Gravel Fondo was never meant to be
a mass event anyway: “We’re not a machine
that just wants to bring in loads of people;
we want to provide a great experience for
everyone. That includes the location, the
accommodation, the food and how we treat
the nature around us. The more people you
want to accommodate, the less interesting
and exciting the locations can be, and we
really wanted to retain the summer camp
vibe. The first event had around 100 people;
in 2019 at the Palatinate Forest there were
around 270 people. We can’t handle more
than that if we want to ensure quality and
attention to detail.”
VIRTUAL GRAVEL
Too many registrations were, unfortunately,
the least of the worries in the last two
years: Covid-19 made everything extremely
difficult, and an event for 250 people with an
overnight stay became practically impossible.
Still, smaller Gravel Fondo rides took place
to celebrate the gravel at least a little bit.
This format had existed since 2017 to build
anticipation before the main event in the
autumn and bring the spirit of gravel a little
closer to the cities. There, participants met
in the morning to drink a coffee, then rode
the route in smaller groups before heading
back to eat together in the evening. Given
the restrictions, this was the only semiplannable,
feasible format, though it did
provided at least some of the charm of
the full-sized Gravel Fondo. Alex Bethge,
who had organised the event together with
Stephan in the last years, was nonetheless
grateful for every kilometre: “Of course,
it was a shame to have to cancel the main
event, but the smaller rides and digital events
were still great fun. We discovered areas that
would otherwise never have been on our
radar and still managed to keep the gravel
spirit alive a bit.” Nevertheless, inevitably,
some of the gravel spirit was lost, not least
because a larger group of people simply
weren’t able to sit around the campfire in the
evening. Accordingly, a full weekend will be
the focus of any future Gravel Fondo plans.
THIS ISN’T MOUNTAIN BIKING
It’s also thanks to the pioneering work of
Gravel Fondo that gravel bikes are now
far more commonplace. At the same time,
they’ve evolved and become even more
versatile and suitable for off-road use. Wider
tires, more advanced frame designs and even
suspension in some cases provide versatility
undreamed of just five years ago. Yet that
doesn’t mean Gravel Fondo is a slave to these
developments – in Stephan’s mind, gravel
bikes are still racing bikes made suitable for
rough(er) roads: “Even though gravel bikes
have evolved, we won’t change the basic
concept and turn Gravel Fondo into a MTB
marathon. You can ride downhill trails on a
gravel bike; it’s just not as much fun. A short,
flowy single track has always been part of
Gravel Fondo, but the main element is gravel
roads and remote stretches of asphalt through
the forest. We don’t want to roll over a carpet
of roots at 10 km/h – that’s what mountain
bikes are for.”
How the 2022 Gravel Fondo will look like is
still up in the air, for various reasons. There
are plenty of beautiful gravel roads outside
of Germany, and rumour has it that Sweden
and France have some particularly nice ones.
We can be sure that the coffee machine in the
office is already running hot and will bring us
one or two surprising innovations.
© STEFAN HAEHNEL
41

Rondo Mutt ST
Gravel Bike
HERE IS
MY BIKE
© MARTIN OHLIGER
BRAMM — RONDO MUTT ST
Who are you and what do you do at
Bikester?
Hi, my name’s Bramm, I’ve worked in Team
Text for a few years now but I started in the
Customer Care team offering technical help
and advice to our customers. Team Text is
responsible for all the text on the Bikester
websites, making sure it all makes sense and
it’s easy for people to get the information
they need. I’ve always enjoyed spending time
outdoors, from camping in the garden when
I got my first tent, to white-water rafting and
skiing in Canada. I’ve ridden bikes all my life,
from BMX to road, and in the past few years
I’ve added gravel to that list.
Which bike do you ride and why?
I ride this beautiful turquoise Rondo Mutt ST
– it has plenty of mounting points, excellent
tyre clearance and, with the flip chip set
to ‘low’, pretty road-like geometry, which
suits most of the gravel trails I ride here in
Brandenburg. I don’t need a monster truck for
90 % of my riding, but of course, with Rondo
bikes, you always have the option to adapt
the geometry to deal with the rougher stuff.
I have planned a couple of bikepacking trips
this summer and I’ll be putting the Rondo
through its paces. Gravel bikes are perfect for
faster tours with minimal luggage – they’re
comfy and they’ve got plenty of braze-ons &
bottle mounts, but they’re more fun on the
trails than a touring bike.
BIKESTER

Face
the night
with
confidence.
G
E
L
-
C
U
M
U
L
U
S
ラ
ン
ニ
ン
グ
2
3
#UpliftingMinds
43

Text: Jana Zoricic
RANDONNEUR
REVIVAL
OF BREVETS, DYNAMOS AND DESSERTS
© VERENA GORNY
BIKESTER

These days, ‘randonneur’ is usually
used to describe a touring bike, but it
also refers to the person. These cyclists
love riding their road bike, but instead
of a short, fast ride, they like to ride
all day. Rather than KOMs and sprint
finishes, the randonneur enjoys long
rides on their stable, comfy and, above
all things, reliable bike. You’ll see the
term ‘randonneur’ used to describe a
particular type of bike: road bikes with
racks, mudguards and dynamo lights.
However, in recent years this term has
been left behind in the race to market
all-road bikes, gravel bikes and tourers.
So, it’s time for a little journey into the
world of randonneurs and brevets. Let’s
look at the history of randonneur culture,
what makes a randonneur and how
you can turn your bike into a reliable
randonneuring machine.
45

PARIS–BREST–PARIS AND THE
BIRTH OF THE RANDONNEUR
© CARLOS MEYER
The origin of the term ‘randonneur’ is clear:
‘randonnée à vélo’ translates to ‘hike on a
bike’, and this description of bicycle travel
represents a milestone in the history of
cycling. To understand why, we need to travel
back 130 years to one of the oldest bicycle
races in the world: Paris–Brest.
Towards the end of the 19th century, Paris–
Brest was not only one of the first longdistance
bicycle races, but also the toughest.
As the name suggests, the 600 km route
ran from Paris to Brest on France’s Atlantic
coast. In 1891, without much fanfare, the
distance was doubled to 1200 km: from Paris
to Brest, then back again. The first race was
so demanding for riders and their bikes that
it was abandoned for the next 10 years. The
next time it was held, in 1901, it was organised
by none other than Henri Desgrange, founder
of the Tour de France.
Even back then, long-distance races were
supposed to be the preserve of elite riders,
and in the third edition of Paris–Brest–Paris,
the amateur class was excluded from supply
stops along the route. So great was the
public outrage that the Audax Club Parisien
(ACP), organiser of amateur long-distance
rides called Brevets, got involved. The club
came up with a particularly clever type of
protest: It organised a brevet along exactly
the same route, on exactly the same day.
The only differences were that the brevet
had a 96-hour time limit, riders had to be
completely self-sufficient and the event was
open to everyone. There was, however, one
condition for participation: Riders must
have completed a 300 km brevet beforehand.
Almost sixty riders took part, thus laying the
foundations for modern randonneuring.
BREVETS
These long-distance rides still exist today and
continue to attract large numbers of riders.
The longest brevet is still Paris–Brest–Paris,
now held every four years. Today, up to 6,000
participants attempt to complete the 1,200
km route within the 90 hour time limit.
Participants still have to complete other
brevets beforehand to enter; thus, Paris–
Brest–Paris remains true to its wellestablished
roots (and route!). And although
there’s a time limit, the race is a very personal
challenge for each rider.
This style of riding and its ethos are firmly
entrenched in French cycling culture. There
are many events every year for long-distance
enthusiasts, with different formats and
variations to suit almost every taste. In true
French fashion, there’s even a pasty named
after the race: Le Paris-Brest. If you like
pralines, choux pastry and cream, it’s worth
trying this ‘slice’ of cycling history.
BIKESTER

WHAT MAKES A RANDONNEUR?
Organised long-distance rides were already
popular at the beginning of the 20th century,
but Paris–Brest–Paris secured a special
place in the public’s heart. The popularity
of this punishing event also meant bikes
started to change as riders demanded more
comfort, luggage space and protection from
the elements. Riding against the clock,
and daylight, also meant lighting became
increasingly important. This led to the
randonneur bike we recognise today: relaxed
(more upright) geometry, permanentlymounted
lights, racks and mudguards, as well
as generously wide tyres.
These characteristics haven’t changed much
over the years, but they have continued to
evolve. Classic randonneurs are still made
of steel and titanium: durable, long-lasting
materials. There are, however, many modern
long-distance machines made of aluminium
or carbon that can take racks, lights and
mudguards. Lights are generally dynamo
powered, and modern systems can also charge
your phone or GPS. Full-length mudguards,
often sturdy metal models, are also usually
permanently affixed. This gives the rider
maximum coverage and protection while
also avoiding the annoying rattles caused by
temporary mudguards.
© ILLUSTRATION: JONAS CHRISTOPH
47

BIKESTER

© CARLOS MEYER
HOMEMADE RANDONNEURS
Modern road bikes have wider tyres, and
many have disc brakes. Both features are
perfect for randonneuring, so you don’t have
to buy a new bike to take part – it’s easy to
prepare your existing bike for some longdistance
fun.
The first thing to do is fit mudguards: Getting
wet is no fun, and many events take place
during the colder months. There are plenty
of lightweight mudguards designed to fit road
bikes, and these are a good start, although
they can quickly reach their limits in heavy
rain. If you have mudguard mounts, it’s wise
to fit something sturdier.
Lighting is trickier; hub dynamos and fixed
lights are reliable, but getting them set up
with a new front wheel can be expensive. For
beginners, using rechargeable lights with long
battery life is a better option.
Nowadays, you don’t even need a rack if you
want to carry luggage on your bike: There’s
a vast range of bags you can affix within the
frame triangle, to the seatpost or to the
handlebars. Nor do you need to take all your
camping gear; some tools, hearty provisions
and a few items of clothing will suffice for
your first foray into the world of brevets.
ARE GRAVEL BIKES THE NEW
RANDONNEURS?
Gravel bikes have room for larger tyres and
normally have mounts for mudguards and
racks, making them pretty good randonneurs,
though there are some differences.
Randonneur bikes are most at home on the
asphalt, and their geometry is designed for
smooth roads instead of mud and gravel; the
rider also sits more upright than on most
gravel bikes.
FROM STEEL STEEDS TO
ENDURANCE RACERS
Genuine old-school randonneurs with steel
frames, racks and high-volume tyres are
relatively rare these days. Travelling by bike,
on the other hand, has never been more
popular. The surfaces on which people ride
their road bikes today are much more diverse,
and the bikes have evolved accordingly.
Aluminium and carbon bikes are usually
lighter than steel but just as strong. Framebags
have made luggage racks less common,
and even racing bike tyres are getting wider.
All these developments can be traced back to
the randonneurs and brevets of the last 100
years. As more people get into cycling and
decide to focus on distance rather than speed,
it’s looking more and more like we have a
Randonneur Revival on our hands!
49

© GONSO
IM
PR
IN
T.
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BIKESTER

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