Life In The Saddle

This November, I headed to the Black Forest in Germany to explore what the area has to offer for gravel riding. What I discovered was an incredible landscape of gravel tracks and single-track roads; over deserted mountain peaks and through colourful autumn forest. This was one of the best micro-adventure explorations I have undertaken to date. I utilised Komoot's mapping facility to plan the three day exploration of Schwarzwald. The German mapping service proved its worth with great success; my routes linked together 'highlights' inputted by the Komoot community, and the resulting trails and paths were perfect for gravel bike riding. My social media posts and photos tell the story of this three day exploration; but the best way to really explore this hidden gem of a region would be to plan a trip here yourself.

The beauty of GPS mapping software is that you can plan the perfect bike adventure in just a matter of clicks. Using crowd-sourced information on the best trails, tracks, and roads — online and app-based mapping solutions such as Komoot enable you to explore completely new regions, without fear of getting lost or riding on unsuitable terrain. I have tried and tested most online GPS mapping services that are available at present, and the one I keep coming back to is the German platform Komoot.com . Komoot offers five unique advantages over other platforms: 1) Reliable routing on suitable roads and trails — based on crowd-sourced information on rideability 2) A breakdown of the surface types encountered on a route e.g. paved, unpaved, gravel, single-track 3) Option to choose between biking disciplines: Road, Touring, MTB — to get the best route and surface 4) 'Highlights' across the map — unique attractions and POIs previous riders have identified 5) Downloadable route...

I am frequently asked what inspires me to ride a bike. My answer is curiosity. Curiosity to see how far you can ride; how fast you can travel; how many new places, people and cultures you can see along the journey. Endurance cycling is an adventurous challenge, to both body and mind. At numerous points one will be shouting at the other to stop; but they rarely agree. It is a perpetual cycle of disagreement. The idea of the Black Forest 400 ride arose from curiosity. At Christmas, I drove for nine hours to reach this beautiful part of Germany. On the drive back, I got wondering… could I ride that? Non-stop? Self-supported? A challenge was born… 400 miles, with over 8,000 metres of elevation gain. My longest ride to date. Beginnings The ride starts from the historic town of Arras, in northern France. Arras was an important stronghold in both World Wars, and the scene of great battles (including the Battle of Arras in 1917). The long straight road out of town is lined wit...