Life will find a way.

Another angle of my „Desert Rose“ under that one solitary blooming tree right in the desert. Atlas Mountain Race 2020, Morocco.

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Das Leben findet immer einen Weg.

Ein anderer Blickwinkel auf meine "Wüsten-Rose" unter diesem solitären, blühenden Baum mitten in der Wüste. Atlas Mountain Race 2020. Marokko.

"Whohooo! 😀"

That was my caption on the respecitve Instagram I posted that very morning. What a great sunrise and morning this was. Climbing out of the Aguinane oasis valley and cresting the little pass right at sunrise.

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"Whohooo! 😀"

Das war meine Bildunterschrift unter dem entsprechenden Instagram, dass ich an diesem Morgen gepostet hatte. Was für ein toller Sonnenaufgang und Morgen war das. Das aufsteigen aus dem Oasen-Tal von Aguinane und das Erreichen der kleinen Passhöhe direkt zum Sonnenaufgang.

While day number one of the race was all about leaving Marrakesh and climbing from the more green and maritime climate influenced north side way up to the highest point of the race, day two introduced the racers to the proper dry climate and blue skies which would define our race towards the finish. As a recurring theme of the Atlas Mountain Race - little did I know that a real test of determination for this day was still ahead of me. Here all looks very nice to ride. But it was indeed the beginning of a long plain crossed by numerous of deep gullyies where you literally had to climb down and then out of again. Sun was setting and anxiety to find the track again after each gully crossing was creating a good sense of urgency. Everything went fine. But I literally cursed aloud for the first time that evening. And not the last time. ;-) Would I had refrained from making a few photos of myself riding in the desert would I have known how much I would press on later just before dark and in the dark? Well… maybe. But I’m glad I didn’t. :)

So often Morocco took my breath away. And it wasn’t for the effort, although I would have any reason to. No, it was simply the landscape. The vastness and width of the views and horizons. Here I was pushing hard to try to reach CP 2 just before the cut-off. You see it was early in the evening as I entered this last long and wide valley which climbed ever so slightly and then for real over 20 kilometers before finally the descent into the oasis valley of Aguinane would begin. But I could simply not stop and admire and then photograph this awesome view! The sun was already below the hills behind me and just illuminated the hills in front of me and the beautiful clouds which were a singular event in all the days besides the first. They even would shed a few rain drops later. BTW I still hold the KOM up that valley despite this photo stop and a second one quite a bit later. ;-) Didn’t help with the cut-off, but oh well - that route was worth each and every stop to fully take it in. :)

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Marokko raubte mir so oft den Atem. Und das war nicht aufgrund der Anstrengung, obwohl ich allein davon jeden Grund gehabt hätte. Nein, es war einfach die Landschaft. Die ungeheure Ausdehnung und Weite der Ausblicke und Horizonte. Hier war ich hart unterwegs, um den CP2 noch vor seinem Schließen zu erreichen.

Ihr seht, dass es schon am frühen Abend war, als ich dieses letzte lange und weite Tal erreichte, welches ganz langsam und am Ende dann sehr merkbar über 20 Kilometer anstieg, bevor die Abfahrt in das Oasen-Tal von Aguinane anfangen würde. Aber ich konnte einfach nicht hier anhalten und diese sagenhafte Ansicht zu bewundern und zu fotografieren!

Die Sonne war bereits unter den Hügeln hinter mir verschwunden und beleuchtete nur noch die Hügelkette und die tollen Wolken vor mir. Die übrigens eine totale Ausnahme im ansonsten blauen Himmel außer dem ersten Tag darstellten und später auch noch ein paar Regentropfen fallen lassen würden. Übrigens halte ich immer noch den KOM über den Anstieg durch dieses Tal trotz diesem Foto-Stop und einem zweiten eine Weile später. ;-) Hat zwar nicht mit dem Cut-off des Checkpoints geholfen, aber, was auch immer - diese Route war jeden einzelnen Stop wert, um alles in mich aufzunehmen. :)

Typical colors of Morocco: shades of ochre below, blue above.

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Typische Farben Marokkos:

Schattierungen von Ocker unten, Blau oben.

Dull weekend and unpleasant to ride outside. Seems more like the proverbial November than early January. Miss crisp fresh snow and blue sky over the forests and hills of the Wittgensteiner Land. But - training and testing motivation for the upcoming Atlas Mountain Race in February is high so that keeps me going. Yesterday I was on my mountain bike again and visited the Neye Reservoir near Wipperfürth. Added further stuff towards the planned full setup for the #AMR2020.

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Trübes Wetter und ungemütlich zum Fahren draußen. Sieht mehr nach dem sprichwörtlichen November als nach frühem Januar aus. Ich vermisse frischen, knisternden Schnee und blauen Himmel über den Wäldern und Hügeln des Wittgensteiner Lands. Aber - die Motivation zum Trainieren und Testen für das im Februar anstehende Atlas Mountain Race ist hoch und das hält mich im Gang. Gestern war ich wieder auf dem Mountainbike unterwegs und besuchte die Neye-Talsperre nahe Wipperfürth. Habe weitere Teile ergänzt hin zum komplett gelpanten Setup für das AMR2020

Currently the registration for the 2021 edition of the Atlas Mountain Race is open. Head over to @atlasmountainrace on Instagram to find all the info. You and me have until end of October to apply for it.

The inaugural edition was a blast! I was and am still blown away by Morocco and the Atlas and Antiatlas mountains and desert. In fact - I still relish in the experiences and only have one half of my journal published (you’ll find part 1 in English as well as in German at my blog under „Touren & Events“ - just follow the link in my bio).

It’s still kind of unreal for me, that this was in fact the last international event in regard to ultracycling we all could enjoy before COVID-19 changed the course of the planet. In fact - some participants which extended their stay in Morocco for more than a few days got already severely hit by travel restrictions. Of course this situation is still not overcome and it also won’t be so by some kind of magic just because the calendar will change from 2020 to 2021. But I think Nelson found a very reasonable and fair way to plan under this uncertain circumstances as far as it might be possible. With already a determined fall back date in October 2021 and a possible transfer (with some conditions) of starting places towards 2022 should travel restrictions apply to individuals.

Nevertheless: even without COVID. Can it be as awesome as the first experience when I apply again? Would it be prudent to apply and try to build up excitement in the face of (in my opinion) severe uncertainty? Should I not rather focus on some later event in the year? Both a new experience offering new horizons and probably a safer and more local (as in central Europe) venue later in the year? Decisions, decisions.

But don’t let my musings detract you from applying. If you haven’t participated in the inaugural edition you are in for a real treat. Such a great race and amazing country. Highly recommended!

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Found this beautiful solitary blooming tree in the stone desert. Matched my "Desert Rose" to it. A fitting nick name I gave to my bike in Morocco. It oh so lived up to it’s name! Couldn’t ask for a more capable ride for the Atlas Mountain Race. Not a single mechanical nor flat for the whole race and such a fun to go fast over the flats as well as downhill (and it provided the means to climb well - or be pushed well, more often than not… ;-)).

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Ich fand diesen wunderschönen, solitären Baum in voller Blüte mitten in der Steinwüste. Wie geschaffen, um meine "Desert Rose" für ein Portrait dort anzulehnen. Ein passender Spitzname, den ich meinem Rad in Marokko gab. Und wie es ihm gerecht wurde! Ich hätte um kein besseres Rad für das Atlas Mountain Race bitten können. Keine einziges mechanisches Problem und keine Reifenpanne über das ganze Rennen hinweg und solch eine Freude, schnell über flache wie auch Abfahrtsstrecken zu fahren. Und auch Bergaub waren alle Voraussetzungen für gutes Klettern - nun, und auch mehr als mir lieb war, für gutes Schieben, gegeben. ;-)

Sideview with a view.

My Thrill Hill in one of the most beautiful canyons of the Atlas Mountain Race route.

Just remounted the front tire from the dynamo hub front wheel to my normal one today. Painless and easy (in stark contrast to another wheel and tire combo I also tried to get off of another rim…).

Discovered 3 thorns and 2 further little sealant knots from the inside. So tubeless and Stan’s Race sealant did their work. From the outside the tires nearly look as new. Very satisfied I have to say.

Do you have any questions in regard to my bike or setup? Just fire away.

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Seitenansicht mit Aussicht.

Mein Thrill Hill in einer der schönsten Schluchten der Atlas Mountain Race Route. Ich habe just heute den Vorderreifen vom Dynamo-Laufrad abgezogen und ihn dann wieder auf das normale Vorderrad montiert. War eine vollkommen problemlose und leichte Sache (ganz im Gegensatz zu einer anderen Reifen und Felgenkombination, die ich heute ebenfalls in der Mache hatte...).

Dabei habe ich drei Dornen und zwei weitere kleine Dichtmilch-Knubbel in der Innenseite des Reifens entdeckt. Das zeigt, dass das Tubeless-Setup und die Dichtmilch (Stan's Race Sealant) ganze Arbeit geleistet haben. Von außen sieht man dem Reifen außer etwas Abnutzung der Stollen kaum etwas an. Bin sehr zufrieden mit dieser Leistung, muss ich sagen.

Habt ihr irgendwelche Fragen in Bezug auf mein Rad oder mein Setup? Dann nur zu.

OMG, it’s full of stars…! Haha, I simply had to use that quote. Came already with great anticipation for so many things to Morocco. Not the least the night sky. And OMG, it didn’t dissappoint! Even with lights on the trail and the need to focus on your path you were always aware of that big starry canopy above you. Hold still for a minute and even switch off your lights and… whoa! I simply had to stop for a few occasions to photograph it. No matter what! Here I stopped after crossing the long Hamadah plain and still had quite a stretch to go to reach my goal for the night which was the town of Taznakht. I illuminated my bike and the ground around it with the red light of my head torch and included Orion in my ultra wideangle star scape.

Pleased to keep the #nobikesnolikes crowd happy. As my ThrillHill kept me myself happy throughout the whole Atlas Mountain Race. Not a single failure, always a trusty companion. And what shall I say about that light in Morocco? All the light. My favourite the early morning light as it also meant that the whole day and new sights and experiences and much progress was ahead of me.

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Ich freue mich, das #nobikesnolikes Volk glücklich zu machen. Wie mein ThrillHill mich selbst während des gesamten Atlas Mountain Race glücklich machte. Kein einziger Ausfall, immer ein treuer Begleiter. Und was soll ich über das Licht in Marokko sagen? All das Licht. Mein Lieblingslicht das des frühen Morgens, da es gleichzeitig bedeutete, dass der ganze Tag und neue Ausblicke und Erfahrungen sowie Fortschritt vor mir lagen.

Yeah, I’m getting old and soft and so probably a bit of soft and squishy ride is now in order… 😅

Well, I’m just kidding of course, but then maybe not. I may also be already on the lookout for an appropriate steed for the #AMR2020. Pondering I might just as well take it as an excuse for n+1 and have something with really big sprockets in the rear and accommodating even bigger tires than I might be able to fit into my Drifter with 650B wheels. And just going for a hard tail MTB in addition to my gravel bike would be a bit to similar and boring for me. And damn - I liked it! Was a bit eye opening and very helpful, that @rose_bikes had a small mtb test event at the Halde Hoheward, one of the many pithead stocks in the Ruhrgebiet area. I tested their new Thrill Hill in size S and M and with Shimano XT and Sram Eagle mechanical groupsets. Actually I liked the Shimano XT more. As well from the lever feel and operation as well as the shifting itself. On the flipside, I played with the Eagle AXS control unit and wow, this would be tops.

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Ja, Ich werd' alt und weich und von daher ist vielleicht so 'ne weiche Gummikuh langsam ganz passend... ;-)

Natürlich mache ich nur Spaß, oder... vielleicht auch nicht. Ich könnte auch auf der Suche nach einem passenden Untersatz für das Atlas Mountain Race sein. Die Überlegung geht dahin, das Rennen als Ausrede für n+1 herzunehmen und nach etwas zu suchen, was viel größere Ritzel hinten und Platz für nochmal viel dickere Reifen als mein Drifter, auch wenn ich es mit 650B-Laufrädern ausstatte, bietet. Und verdammt - Ich mochte es! War sehr erhellend und hilfreich, das Rose ein kleines MTB Test Event an der Halde Hoheward, eine der vielen Bergbau-Halden im Ruhrgebiet, abhielt. Ich testete ihr neues Thrill Hill in Größe S und M und mit den beiden mechanischen Gruppen Shimano XT und Sram Eagle. In der Tat mochte ich die Shimano mehr. Sowohl vom Schalthebel und seiner Bedienung als auch vom Schaltgefühl selbst. Dann wiederum habe ich auch mit der Kontrolleinheit der elektronischen Sram Eagle AXS gespielt und wow, das würde die beste Bedienung ergeben.

Bliss.

I so often feel blessed when I’m out on my bike. As I did then with this view.

Moroccan desert evening.

BTW: a motive so much more able to be enjoyed on a proper monitor then on an instagram stream on a mobile phone... But who am I telling this here on flickr...

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Gesegnet.

Ich fühle mich so oft gesegnet, wenn ich mit dem Rad unterwegs bin. Wie auch hier mit dieser Ansicht.

Marokkanischer Wüstenabend.

Übrigens: Ein Bildmotiv, welches so viel besser an einem vernünftigen Monitor anstelle in einem Instagram-Stream auf einem Handy genossen werden kann... Aber wem sage ich das; hier auf flickr...

Can’t get that much more of an Berber #BATW as this. I found this nice and very perfect in shape looking small Agadir (or is it a Tighremt?) right on our route out of Tasznakht which I left at dusk in the next village. So I simply had to put my trusty bike on there. :)

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Wenn es ein Berber-BATW gibt, dann wohl kaum mehr als so. Ich fand diesen schönen und in tollem Zustand befindlichen kleinen Agadir (oder ist es ein Tighremt?) direkt an unserer Route heraus aus Tasznakht, welches ich in der Morgendämmerung verlies, im nächsten Dorf. Da musste ich einfach mein treues Rad dort für ein Foto positionieren. :)

I ❤️ my bike.

And the Moroccans their breast walls, apparently. :)

That was a really lovely and intriguing canyon oasis the Atlas Mountain Race route had us riding (and yes, of course, also a bit hiking) through.

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Ich ❤️ mein Rad.

Und die Marokkaner ihre Straßenmauern, augenscheinlich. :)

Das war eine wirklich schöne und faszinierende Oasen-Schlucht, durch die uns die Atlas Mountain Race Route führte (sowohl fahrend als auch, natürlich, etwas schiebend).

Only around 25 to maybe 30 % of the 1150 km of the Atlas Mountain Race were tarmac in various, mostly really good quality. It not only gave some periods of much welcomed respite but also provided a bit of another look on the Moroccon countryside and it’s traffic infrastructure. But make no mistake - quite often you’d also be wishing to be back on some piste. Please give me a nice piste instead insanely steep tarmac climbs which aren’t a respite at all! But this one here had it’s steep parts right at the beginning and then actually was not only quite ok to ride but also provided amazing views into endless canyons and on striated rock formations. It was the N 9 over the Tizi'n-Tinififft pass we had the pleasure to tackle right after the visit at the Cascade de Tizgui.

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Nur rund 25 bis vielleicht 30 % der 1150 km des Atlas Mountain Race waren Asphalt in verschiedener, meistens richtig guter Qualität. Dieser gab nicht nur einige Phasen hochwillkommener Entlastung sondern erlaubte auch einen etwas anderen Blick auf die Marokkanische Landschaft und ihre Verkehrsinfrastruktur. Aber macht keinen Fehler - mehr als einem lieb sein konnte wünschte man sich zurück auf irgendeine Piste. Oh bitte gib mir eine schöne Piste anstatt irre steilen Asphaltanstiegen die überhaupt nichts mit Entlastung zu tun haben! Aber dieser hier hatte sein steiles Stück ganz am Anfang und war danach sogar ganz ok zu fahren und ermöglichte auch tolle Blicke in endlose Canyons und auf gestreifte Felsformationen. Es war die N9 über den Tizi'n-Tinififft Pass, den wir direkt nach dem Besuch der Cascade de Tizgui befahren durften.

Don’t ask. Or ask anyway. ;-)

Cozy shelters are cozy.

From the Atlas Mountain Race.

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Fragt nicht. Oder fragt trotzdem. ;-)

Heimelige Schutzplätze sind heimelig.

Vom Atlas Mountain Race.

Can’t get that much more of an Berber #BATW as this. I found this nice and very perfect in shape looking small Agadir (or is it a Tighremt?) right on our route out of Tasznakht which I left at dusk in the next village. So I simply had to put my trusty bike on there. :)

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Wenn es ein Berber-BATW gibt, dann wohl kaum mehr als so. Ich fand diesen schönen und in tollem Zustand befindlichen kleinen Agadir (oder ist es ein Tighremt?) direkt an unserer Route heraus aus Tasznakht, welches ich in der Morgendämmerung verlies, im nächsten Dorf. Da musste ich einfach mein treues Rad dort für ein Foto positionieren. :)

I don’t want to say the climate in the Wittgenstein county and the Rothaar Mountains, respectively, is harsher than in the arid Anti Atlas stone desert plains but… there in Morocco I found that solitary blooming tree as a stark appearance right in the middle of February. Today on the Easter Sunday despite riding several hours I hardly came by any blooming bushes. Yes of course, there were some - but nothing presenting itself as a nice photo opportunity, really. Nothing unusual for Easter, though. Here the deciduous forests are just beginning with the very first sheen of delicate green only on south slopes of the hills.

So I present to you - this blooming tree of Morocco as a Happy Easter Greeting to all of you. :)

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Ich will zwar nicht sagen, dass das Klima im Wittgensteiner Land und im Rothaargebirge rauer als in den ariden Steinebenen des Anti Atlas ist, aber... dort in Marokko fand ich schon mitten im Februar diese außergewöhnliche Erscheinung eines solitären Baumes in voller Blüte. Und heute im Wittgensteiner Land - trotz diversen Stunden Fahrt - kaum etwas. Ja natürlich. Es blühte an einigen Büschen schon hier und da. Aber nichts, was sich selbst als gute Fotogelegenheit präsentierte. Aber nicht ungewöhnlich für Ostern hier in der Gegend. Jetzt fängt der Laubwald erst an den warmen Südhängen ganz langsam an, erste zarte Grünansätze zu zeigen.

Daher präsentiere ich euch - diesen blühenden Baum in Marokko als einen Frohen Oster Gruß an euch alle. :)

Playing in the sand. Pushing your bike was a constant in the Atlas Mountain Race. Mostly up, sometimes even down and sometimes in the flats. Because you were crossing some gully or navigating some riverbed. Sometimes even along the length of it. This here was on the stretch between Afra and Intliten or later, Tizgui, respectively. It was a blast going full gas across the plains. It was mostly good terrain, at least for a full suspension bike and I could go full steam on my aerobars. But there were also a few riverbed crossings and deep loose and sandy stuff like you see in the photos. Some I could ride - although it felt like churning your pedals low cadence on a cyclo trainer with constant load across the pedalling revolutions. And some - not. ;-)

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Im Sand spielen. Das Rad schieben war eine Konstante im Atlas Mountain Race. Meistens aufwärts, manchmal sogar herunter und manchmal in der Ebene. Z.B. weil man eine Erosionsrinne überwinden oder ein trockenes Flussbett durchqueren musste. Manchmal auch entlang eines Flussbettes vorandrang. Das hier war der Abschnitt zwischen Afra und Intliten bzw. später Tizgui. Es hat Riesenlaune gemacht, Vollgas über die Ebene zu heizen. Es war zumeist sehr gut befahrbare Piste, zumindest für ein vollgefedertes Rad. So konnte ich viel in den Aerobars Tempo machen und die Fahrt genießen. Aber es gab auch einige Flussbettquerungen und es gab auch tiefe und lose sandige Bereiche wie ihr hier im Foto seht. Einiges davon konnte ich fahren, auch wenn es sich wie mühsames kreisen der Pedale in niedriger Kadenz auf dem Rollentrainer anfühlte - Widerstand über die gesamte Kurbeldrehung. Einiges konnte ich aber auch nicht fahren. ;-)

Shops of the Atlas. More or less that’s how your typical shops look which we would encounter on the race route. This one here even with some sort of advertising.

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Läden des Atlas. Mehr oder weniger ist das, wie der typische Laden aussieht, den wir auf unserer Renn-Route jeweils vorfanden. Dieser hier hatte sogar so etwas wie ein Werbeschild.

The sun sets for the High Atlas, Morocco.

(First evening of the Atlas Mountain Race 2020).

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Die Sonne geht unter - gesehen vom Hohen Atlas, Marokko. Am ersten Abend des Atlas Mountain Race 2020.

Flashback to a Moroccan #BAAW. That was at my penultimate day of the Atlas Mountain Race and the penultimate resupply stop where I bought water, bread, some biscuits and a coke. And the old shop owner with whom I communicated completely by sign language was so kind to put this chair into the sun at the opposite road side for me.

Always respect the race!

But be aware that these kind of unsupported races mean so much more than results. So much more than the mere fact of crossing the finish line. Which isn’t a given at all! Such races typically have scratch rates of 40 to over 50 percent. A testament to all the hardship and the sheer remoteness of the courses. So much can go wrong over hundreds or thousands of kilometres. And it is no shame to not being able to finish the race. But - it will keep nagging at you. Don’t let that turn into negativity, though. Channel it into motivation instead. And, if at all possible, try to finish!

I was so glad when I finally stood there. 1174 kilometres after the start in Marrakesh. Countless views and experiences later. With a left foot at the brink of breaking up off an old rupture. And at the day after the finisher party. But in no way would I have wanted to exchange the finisher party with me being able to ride and cherish every single meter of the race on my own. From start to finish. To finalise the inaugural Atlas Mountain Race as the proper Lantern Rouge. Thank you Nelson and all the people I have met there for this amazing experience!

I’m glad that I finally have found the entry into writing my Journal. I’ve already finished the prologue and day one. Now to keep writing. If you know me, you know there’s lots of writing to do… ;-)

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Respektiere das Rennen, immer! Aber sei dir bewusst, dass diese Art von nicht-unterstützten Rennen so viel mehr als ihre bloßen Resultate bedeuten. So viel mehr als den blossen Akt, die Ziellinie zu überqueren. Was nicht mal garantiert ist. Fern davon! Solche Rennen haben typischerweise Abbruch-Quoten von 40 bis deutlich über 50 Prozent der Teilnehmer. Ein Zeugnis der Härte und der schieren Abgelegenheit der Strecken. So viel kann dort über hunderte oder sogar tausende von Kilometern schiefgehen. Und es ist daher keine Schande, nicht das Ziel zu erreichen. Aber - es wird dann an dir nagen. Lass' das aber nicht in's Negative umschlagen. Nutze es, um positive Motivation für ein nächstes, ein anderes Mal zu erlangen. Und, wenn irgend möglich, versuche doch ins Ziel zu kommen!

Ich war so froh, als ich endlich dort stand. 1174 Kilometer nach dem Start in Marrakesch. Zahllose Aussichten und Erfahrungen später. Mit einem linken Fuß, der am Rande des Aufbrechens einer (nicht so) alten Sehnenruptur stand. Und am Tag nach der Finisher Party. Aber um nichts in der Welt hätte ich diese Finisher Party dafür eintauschen wollen, fähig zu sein, jeden einzelnen Meter des Rennens mit meiner eigenen Kraft zurückzulegen. Vom Start bis ins Ziel. Um die Erstaustragung des Atlas Mountain Race als wahre Lantern Rouge zu beenden. Danke, Nelson und all die Menschen die ich dort getroffen habe, für die wunderbare Erfahrung!

ich bin auch froh, dass ich jetzt endlich den Einstieg in das Schreiben meines Tagebuchs gefunden habe. Den Prolog und den ersten Tag habe ich schon fertig. Nun muss ich aber am Schreiben bleiben. Wenn ihr mich kennt, wisst ihr, da liegt einiges an Tipp-Arbeit vor mir... ;-)

23rd of February. This very day one year ago I arrived at the finish of the inaugural Atlas Mountain Race. What an experience it has been! I stepped a tiny bit out of my comfort zone and yet I was instantly in _my_ zone after the start. That being totally enthralled by my surroundings and the simple pure meditative joy of pedaling through it. And making lots of photographs. My way to introduce enough breaks… ;-) What also nearly did break, was my left foot. As I have hiked my bike more in that race then every bike I ever owned for my whole live. And I rode and pushed through more technical and rocky trails in the dark then ever. In the middel of the race this seemed too much for the tendon which I ruptured 2 years ago. Pure awe of the landscape first turned into grave concern but then after another 2 days into the hope and aim to make it to the finish line nevertheless. And I could enjoy the landscape again. And curse a bit on Nelson the nearer I got to the finish. But finishing I did! And I look fondly back at not only the race but also at the short post race bubble in Sidi R’bat and a bit chilling after this in Marrakesh. I just can’t wait to hang out with all you guys in future races hopefully soon again!

That was shot and written the Friday before embarking to Morocco:

Sooo, nearing completion of my #AMR2020 rig. Still have stuff to do until my flight to Morocco coming Thursday. Time is running fast now, only 8 days to the Start! And I basically only have this weekend to finalize things and then begin packing as there won’t be much time in the coming week. Thankfully training wise the current week is an easy week. All the real work is done and I feel rather (cough ;-))) prepared. But office hours, weather and daylight hours don’t really blend well together this early in the year. Sad that I only could head out for the last rays of sun on this beautiful Friday with the sun literally about to set behind the hill line. But I had only today for a final official photo shoot until a deadline tomorrow. Literally water tested my new river crossing and hiking shoes by running to the right place to shoot from before the light went and soaked my feet… oh well, good test. ;-) „Final“ pre race photo shoot or not, I’ll still have some tinkering with my cockpit to do. But I guess I have the basics covered. Still have to figure the final placement of the Lupine light out. But the main light will be my new dynamo powered kLite Bikepacker Ultra light. First test was very promising.

With the bags you can see that I switched to the Ortlieb Seat-Pack again, as I already figured in the last post. All in all it’s my biggest seat-pack and proven. And I need the packing volume. Up front it’s a Revelate Designs Saltyroll which will mainly hold my sleeping gear and isolation layers. 2 Mountain Feedbags on each side of the stem and an Apidura Expedition Top Tube bag are completing all the bags.

Two German bike brands, two carbon frames - but two very different concepts. My Rose ThrillHill Full Suspension MTB and Marco’s Canyon Grail Gravel bike. One would reach the finish, one not. Doesn’t have to boil down to the type of bike. Although I was impressed how Marco would whip that bike relentlessly over the gnarliest of trails. But I guess it was inevitable: Around day 5 the flat fairy finally caught up to him and from then on it went a bit south, I guess. Sadly I haven’t heard of him since the race and was a bit sad as I saw that the day after we reached CP2 he scratched. Was a pleasure having met and shared three night accomodations with you, Marco. :)

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Zwei deutsche Radmarken, zwei Carbon-Rahmen - aber zwei sehr verschiedene Konzepte. Mein Rose ThrillHill Full Suspension MTB und Marcos Canyon Grail Gravelbike. Eines würde das Ziel erreichen, das andere nicht. Aber das muss nicht zwingend etwas mit der Art des Rades zu tun haben. Obwohl ich überrascht wie beeindruckt war, wie Marco das Grail über die übelsten Pisten peitschte - am Tag fünf holte ihn schließlich die Pannenfee ein. Von da an ging's wohl irgendwie bergab. Leider habe ich seit dem Rennen nichts wieder von ihm gehört. Im Rennen fand ich es schade, als ich am Tag, nachdem wie CP2 erreichten, gescratched hatte. War mir ein Vergnügen, dich getroffen und 3 Übernachtungen mit dir geteilt zu haben, Marco. :)

"Hairpins? Where we are going we don’t need hairpins!"

More views from the Tizi ´n Tinififft pass. These dimensions. And all that rock.

It's from the National Road 9 over Tizi 'n Tinififft climbing up from Agdz (or from the Cascade of Tizgui, respectively)

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"Serpentinen? Wo wir hingehen, brauchen wir keine Serpentinen!"

Mehr Aussichten vom Tizi 'n Tinififft Pass. Diese Dimensionen. Und all dieser bloße Fels.

Das ist von der Nationalstraße 9 über den Tizi'n-Tinififft im Anstieg von Agdz (bzw. von der Cascade de Tizgui).

Dreaming of views and descends like this.

Morocco - we will meet again.

Spectacular View, spectacular downhill. This was a few Kilometers before the crossroads to Ait Kine (away from our route) and a further 7 km before Tagmout, a village with resupply options where I met Örs and also Robert which just scratched and was about to enter a taxi.

The more refined version. Stitched at home from several shots instead of the one-shot iPhone panorama I posted on Instagram right there.

I captioned:

"Slow progress. Riding now left foot unclipped to safe it from pull motions (wanted and unwanted due to terrain and stability control sudden motions) and from unclipping strain. This foot underwent a surgery for 2 years. Nursing me and my foot to CP 3. And then hopefully continue to the finish.

Beautiful canyon, though! Still enjoying it all! "

Difficult times. At this point I still wasn't certain that I was going to make it. It wasn't the point to just push on through some pain or discomfort. It was the point to judge wether that tendon would (or was already) irreversibly damaged requiring surgery again or leaving me limp.

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Die bessere und hochauflösendere Version. Immer noch vom iPhone. Aber aus mehreren Einzelaufnahmen zusammengefügt anstelle nur das One-Shot Panorama direkt aus dem iPhone, geposted damals an Ort und Stelle.

Ich schrieb, übersetzt:

"Langsames Vorankommen. Fahre nun mit dem linken Fuß ausgeklickt, um ihn von Zugbewegungen (gewollt und ungewollt - aufgrund des Untergrundes und plötzlichen unwillkürlichen Kontrollbewegungen) und von wiederholter Ausklick-Belastung zu schützen. An diesem Fuß hatte ich vor zwei Jahren eine Operation. Schleppe/pflege mich und meinen Fuß Richtung CP3. Und dann hoffentlich weiter bis zum Ziel. Wunderschöne Schlucht, aber. Genieße trotzdem alles hier!"

Schwere Zeiten. An diesem Punkt war ich mir immer noch nicht sicher, ob ich es schaffen würde. Es war keine Frage, sich "einfach" nur durch einigen Schmerz oder Unbehagen durchzubeissen. Es war die Frage, einzuschätzen ob die entsprechende Sehne unwiderbringlich geschädigt werden würde (oder es schon war) und entweder erneute Operation erfordern oder mich humpelnd zurücklassen würde.

Wüsten radeln.

Moroccan dirt road downhills. Some of the best. Definitely some of the most scenic.

What an amazing atmosphere. Literally, as the constant strong wind brought lots of Sahara sand with it and softened the early evening light.

Atlas Mountain Race, Morocco. This February.

Moroccan dirt road downhills. Some of the best. Definitely some of the most scenic.

What an amazing atmosphere. Literally, as the constant strong wind brought lots of Sahara sand with it and softened the early evening light.

Atlas Mountain Race, Morocco. This February.

Curves. In rock and tarmac.

This is Morocco, too. A glimpse to great road riding cresting the Tizi n’ Tinififft Pass with it’s splendid rock formations and canyons. I would definitely recommend Morocco also for a road riding camp in winter or early spring. Once we are all allowed to travel again I will most probably return to Morocco some time. Maybe for road. But maybe also offroad. #AMR2021 - it’s itching again…

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Kurven. In Fels und Asphalt.

Auch das ist Marokko. Ein flüchtiger Blick auf tolles Rennrad-Fahren beim überqueren des Tizi n' Tinififft Passes mit seinen irren Felsformationen und Schluchten. Ich kann Marokko definitiv auch für ein Rennrad-Trainingslager oder einen Rennrad-Urlaub im Winter bzw. frühen Frühjahr empfehlen. Sobald wir wieder Reisen dürfen werde ich sehr wahrscheinlich mal nach Marokko zurück kehren. Vielleicht mit dem Rennrad. Aber vielleicht auch mit dem Mountain Bike. #AMR2021 - es juckt schon wieder...

Moroccan dirt road downhills. Some of the best. Definitely some of the most scenic.

What an amazing atmosphere. Literally, as the constant strong wind brought lots of Sahara sand with it and softened the early evening light.

Atlas Mountain Race, Morocco. This February.

Dreaming of views and descends like this.

Morocco - we will meet again.

Spectacular View, spectacular downhill. This was a few Kilometers before the crossroads to Ait Kine (away from our route) and a further 7 km before Tagmout, a village with resupply options where I met Örs and also Robert which just scratched and was about to enter a taxi.

My way of coping with early morning night time riding. Don’t ride so much but be distracted by the new moon and the faint glow of the dawn which is about to begin and make photographs. Can you see the bright „star“ a bit above and to the right to the moon? That is actually Jupiter. Harder, and on instagram probably impossible to see is the other faint „star“ a bit to the left of the moon. That is Saturn.

Early morning after just leaving CP 2 in the Aguinane Valley. Sadly didn’t see any of it in the daylight. But I have to say I loved leaving it in the earliest of dawn with experiencing the sunrise a bit later just cresting a little pass to leave it.

Wrote this below the Instagram at that day: "Can‘t complain at all up to now. So glad I chose the Fully! Excellent riding. And pushing a lot, also. 🙈😅 My @rosebikes Thrill Hill"

And it stayed true all the way up to the finish line. Great bike, no mechanicals, perfect bike for the job! :)

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Dies schrieb ich unter das entsprechende Instagram an diesem Tag: "Kann mich bis jetzt nicht beschweren. So glücklich, dass ich das Fully ausgewählt habe. Exzellentes Fahren. Und Schieben, ebenso, jede Menge. 🙈😅 Mein @rosebikes Thrill Hill"

Und das bewahrheitete sich bis zur Ziellinie. Tolles Rad, keine Pannen, perfektes Rad für die Aufgabe! :)

Things look better when on your bike. Morocco has rocks in abundance. So it’s only natural you find it also in the villages. What always intrigues me is when everything has the same color and blends into the landscape. As everything is made from the material which forms this landscape. In this case: unpaved roads, walls, masonry of houses etc.

Ibn Yacoub, day 6 of my Atlas Mountain Race.

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Die Dinge sehen vom Rad einfach besser aus. Marokko hat Steine im Überfluss. Da ist es nur normal, dass man sie auch in den Dörfern findet. Was mich immer fasziniert ist, wenn alles die gleiche Farbe hat und ganz mit der Landschaft eins wird. Weil alles aus dem Material gemacht ist, welches die jeweilige Landschaft formt. In diesem Fall: unbefestigte Straßen, Stützmauern und Mauerwerk etc.

Ibn Yacoub, Tag 6 meines Atlas Mountain Race.

A look back just before the start of the Race. The Registration and Briefing was held the day before the race start. The usual mixture of relaxed and at the same time excited chatting with friends from former events, getting acquainted with new ones and anticipation and a bit of nervousness before the race. To various degrees of course. But since this was the inaugural edition, nobody really knew what to expect for a 100 percent. And so even amongst the more experienced riders there was a bit of anxiety, I guess. I myself was rather occupied with another situation. Until just before the briefing I wouldn’t know where my bicycle was in Limbo between Frankfurt, Madrid and Marrakesh and whether it would show up at all. Only after further inquiry I finally got the message that it was underway from Madrid to Marrakesh and would arrive with a night flight at 1:30 AM in Marrakesh, just seven and a half hours before the start. So while I normally enjoy looking at other peoples bikes and stuff I was a bit distracted, to say the least. It only occurred to me in working with my photo files that I indeed photographed @ChristianMeier's nice Bellecycles built (great match between bags and frame paint job) with the Registration Banner. On the other hand I was well aware of @quirkcycles nice prototype for the race. Also a beauty in regard of matched color and bag design and a few interesting design details. I’m so, so glad I received my bike still on time to really experience this beautiful (and beautifully hard) race. The more so in the current situation.

Staying with the CP1 for a while here is the situation in the late evening at the Auberge in Telouet. It was as lovely as rustic. With a squat toilet inside and walls as rough as from the outside but they were very efficient in getting everyone a place to put their sleeping bags (for 50 Dirham which equates to 5 Euro) and quick to getting each and everyone seated across the street in the restaurant area. The lovely Laura and her colleague you see in the first photo even had to keep the eager young restaurant assistant a bit at bay lest I could get my brevet card stamped and get first bearings right after my arrival there at 11 PM. But after putting my bike in and deploying my sleeping bag I got ushered up to the restaurant and basically got a several course menu. That was actually quite pleasant and as efficient as filling. You can see the development in the following photos. First there was a nice Salad Marrocain and a few olives with a few french fries as starter. Bread, of course. Then immediately thereafter my first (of many) omelette of the race arrived which got followed by a few slices of orange with cinnamon. And then my first Moroccan mint tea. Very nice!

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Ich bleibe für einen Moment mal bei CP1. Hier ist die Situation am späten Abend des ersten Tags des Rennens vor der Auberge Telouet. So reizend wie rustikal. Mit einer Hock-Toillette innen und Mauerwerk so rauh innen wie außen. Die Besitzer waren aber sehr effizient darin, jedem einen Platz für seinen Schlafsack bereit zu stellen (für 50 Dirham was ziemlich genau 5 Euro sind) und jedem schnell zu Essen zu verhelfen. Die reizende Laura und ihre Kollegin, die ihr hier sitzen seht hatten sogar ihre Not, den eifrigen jungen Restaurant-Helfer etwas zurück zu halten, damit ich erst mal meine Brevetkarte gestempelt bekommen und mich kurz orientieren und dann mein Rad und meinen Schlafsack unterbringen konnte. Dann wurde ich schon auf die andere Straßenseite und eine Treppe hoch zum Restaurantareal bedeutet. Was dann folgte, war eine kurze Vergewisserung dass ich das haben wollte, was er mir da gerade aufzählte und ich sagte einfach nur, ja gern. Kurz drauf ging es schon mit dem Mehrgangsmenü los. Zuerst einen Salat Marrocain, dann Oliven und ein paar Pommes Frites. Brot, natürlich. Dann sofort das erste von vielen Omelettes des Rennens und als Desert Orangenscheiben mit Zimt. Dazu dann als Abschluss meinen ersten marokkanischen Minztee. Sehr fein!

Not in the summer. Definitely not in the City. But sunny. And overall really nice. The „Winter“ in Morocco. What a great experience in February. Who’d knew it would have been the last for a while… Loved my full suspension Rose Thrill Hill there. And here. ;-)

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Nicht im Sommer. Definitiv nicht in der Stadt. Aber sonnig. Und generell sehr fein. Der "Winter" in Marokko. Was für eine tolle Erfahrung im Februar. Wer hätte gedacht, dass es die Letzte für eine lange Weile gewesen wäre... Fand mein voll gefedertes Rose Thrill Hill super dort. Und hier auch. ;-)

Piece for piece I’m preparing my bike for the #AMR2020.

Having very good experiences with the Profile Design Aerobars (which have the widest possible adaption range we ultra cyclists really need and want from Aerobars) I quickly snatched one of the last bargain PD T5+ complete sets. As unfortunately, Profile Design moved onward with it’s aerobars and unfortunately joined many other brands in just being less adjustable. Maybe not of that much consequence for time trialing and triathtlon, but for ultra cycling.

If you want to know how to set-up aerobars properly for ultra cycling and for cycling in general and what to look for in choosing aerobars, just head to my blog. I actually have an article for this written in English for you (but it’s not the current one, you will find it via the search in my blog - just look at my bio for the link to my Blog). Back to this bike: Felt good from the get go. I choose 30 mm riser pieces which proved very nice. I might test some other, more ski bend shaped extension bars also. Still have some T1+ extensions lying around.

I also got rid of the original equipped Ergon Grips. The bike came with Ergon GA20 grips. Really not my cup of tea. To small in diameter, to hard rubber. While for technical riding and short afternoon stints I think round standard shaped grips are best, I would choose a bit thicker and more cushy grips for that. Maybe the Ergon GE1 Evo grips. And for the riding I want to do in Morocco with that bike, these Ergon GP2-S instantly felt so much better! Great support of the outer palm area of the hand and very good pressure relieve for the ulnar nerves.

I also cut the 740 mm handlebar down to 720 mm. Not much, but just that more fitting for my body size and at least a tiny bit better in handling and negotiating doorways, small paths and the like. Still felt like I should add reflectors to the outer grips to remind cars from behind that there is some stuff protruding outside of this cyclist riding narrowly resting on the aerobars

A look back just before the start of the Race. The Registration and Briefing was held the day before the race start. The usual mixture of relaxed and at the same time excited chatting with friends from former events, getting acquainted with new ones and anticipation and a bit of nervousness before the race. To various degrees of course. But since this was the inaugural edition, nobody really knew what to expect for a 100 percent. And so even amongst the more experienced riders there was a bit of anxiety, I guess. I myself was rather occupied with another situation. Until just before the briefing I wouldn’t know where my bicycle was in Limbo between Frankfurt, Madrid and Marrakesh and whether it would show up at all. Only after further inquiry I finally got the message that it was underway from Madrid to Marrakesh and would arrive with a night flight at 1:30 AM in Marrakesh, just seven and a half hours before the start. So while I normally enjoy looking at other peoples bikes and stuff I was a bit distracted, to say the least. It only occurred to me in working with my photo files that I indeed photographed @ChristianMeier's nice Bellecycles built (great match between bags and frame paint job) with the Registration Banner. On the other hand I was well aware of @quirkcycles nice prototype for the race. Also a beauty in regard of matched color and bag design and a few interesting design details. I’m so, so glad I received my bike still on time to really experience this beautiful (and beautifully hard) race. The more so in the current situation.

Aaaand - my Rose Thrill Hill after my last Bikepacking Race - the Atlas Mountain Race. Photos at the finish in Sidi Rabat just before giving it a first wash. Now part 2, the landscape format shots.

As I’ve written: extremely satisfied with the performance of the bike and my modifications, hacks and bodges for the race. Not a single mechanical throughout the race.

1.) The bike. Only saddle bag and handlebar roll removed.

Everybody's goin’ surfin…. Surfin Agadir! ;-) Some behind the bars impression of my cockpit. And of those funny last kilometers through really deep sand. Part of which was rideable. With a bit of technique. With some wide tires. With finding and following some elusive ruts and firmer tracks. With more or less watts, churning through. And other parts… not. And there were enough parts of the latter…

But from here it were just 10 kilometers or so. Nothing we wouldn’t have been used or ready to completely hike if need be. We were aptly trained by then... ;-)

I ride for open hearts. As the view opens around every corner my heart opens up the same. So many corners, but also so many straights and sweeping trails with unbelievable views. My heart was wide open in Morocco.

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Ich fahre für geöffnete Herzen. So wie sich der Ausblick nach jeder Kurve öffnet, so öffnet sich auch mein Herz. So viele Kurven aber auch so viele Geraden und geschwungene Trials mit unglaublichen Aussichten. Mein Herz war weit offen in Marokko.

Playing in the sand. Pushing your bike was a constant in the Atlas Mountain Race. Mostly up, sometimes even down and sometimes in the flats. Because you were crossing some gully or navigating some riverbed. Sometimes even along the length of it. This here was on the stretch between Afra and Intliten or later, Tizgui, respectively. It was a blast going full gas across the plains. It was mostly good terrain, at least for a full suspension bike and I could go full steam on my aerobars. But there were also a few riverbed crossings and deep loose and sandy stuff like you see in the photos. Some I could ride - although it felt like churning your pedals low cadence on a cyclo trainer with constant load across the pedalling revolutions. And some - not. ;-)

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Im Sand spielen. Das Rad schieben war eine Konstante im Atlas Mountain Race. Meistens aufwärts, manchmal sogar herunter und manchmal in der Ebene. Z.B. weil man eine Erosionsrinne überwinden oder ein trockenes Flussbett durchqueren musste. Manchmal auch entlang eines Flussbettes vorandrang. Das hier war der Abschnitt zwischen Afra und Intliten bzw. später Tizgui. Es hat Riesenlaune gemacht, Vollgas über die Ebene zu heizen. Es war zumeist sehr gut befahrbare Piste, zumindest für ein vollgefedertes Rad. So konnte ich viel in den Aerobars Tempo machen und die Fahrt genießen. Aber es gab auch einige Flussbettquerungen und es gab auch tiefe und lose sandige Bereiche wie ihr hier im Foto seht. Einiges davon konnte ich fahren, auch wenn es sich wie mühsames kreisen der Pedale in niedriger Kadenz auf dem Rollentrainer anfühlte - Widerstand über die gesamte Kurbeldrehung. Einiges konnte ich aber auch nicht fahren. ;-)

Which one do you like more - the landscape or the portrait version?

Continuing my Atlas Mountain Race photo series: Despite the serious condition of a really important tendon in my left foot which already underwent surgery two years ago and which forced me to basically limp on my bike and riding left foot unclipped since Issafn I thought (or wondered if) I could manage to ride myself into the cut-off time again for CP3. But at the same time I wouldn’t let that at any moment interfere with my awe of the surroundings. Especially since at that day they were so unique with all the Sahara dust in the atmosphere. This created a very remarkable sunset I took all in before descending into the dusk and towards the Gorge d'Ait Mansour.

Aaaand - my Rose Thrill Hill after my last Bikepacking Race - the Atlas Mountain Race. Photos at the finish in Sidi Rabat just before giving it a first wash. Now part 2, the landscape format shots.

As I’ve written: extremely satisfied with the performance of the bike and my modifications, hacks and bodges for the race. Not a single mechanical throughout the race.

Another Topeak Ninja Cage for below the down tube makes it 3 for the whole bike. And the Power2Max powermeter with a Wolftooth 32 tooth chainring and XTR cranks. Looks pretty nasty in that baked in dust but worked like a charm. Minor niggles with the P2M spider: I had to source extra short chainring bolts and even shorten them some more as the recommended and also sold by P2M bolts wouldn’t lead to a proper mounted chainring. Loved the pedals also.

Goes well with the Morocco theme. Everything is tone in tone and predominantly ochre. ;-)