"I want to finish with a big smile on my face."

That’s Mascha Wahlig’s goal for the 2025 Atlas Mountain Race. Last year, Mascha lined up at Atlas Mountain Race, her second-ever ultra-endurance bikepacking event. She was fast, pushing herself to the limit, but she was also overwhelmed. The intensity of the race, the sheer number of riders, and the pressure she put on herself—it all built up, culminating in a moment of panic and paralysis in the middle of the desert when her cleat broke.

She eventually got it fixed (with a bit of super glue and grit), but mentally? The race left her drained. Even months later, she found herself experiencing panic on training rides in the dark, reliving the helplessness of that night in Morocco. Instead of pushing it down, she did the work. She sought help, developed strategies to manage fear and build mental strength, and slowly rebuilt her confidence. And it worked.

Since Atlas, Mascha has gone on to win both the Hellenic Mountain Race and Sneak Peeks, proving to herself that mental performance is just as crucial as physical fitness in ultra-cycling and bikepacking. Now, she’s coming back to Atlas Mountain Race 2025, but this time, with a totally different mindset.

She’s racing for herself—not for a number, not for a podium—but to ride with confidence, be present, and take in the experience.

In this episode we talk about:

• The mental battles of ultra-cycling and bikepacking—panic, fear, and self-doubt.
• How Mascha built mental resilience and confidence after last year’s Atlas Mountain Race.
• What it takes to win ultra-endurance bikepacking races like Hellenic and Sneak Peeks.
• Strategies for handling stress and mental fatigue in long-distance racing.
• The power of self-compassion, managing expectations, and racing with a freer mind.
• How to prepare mentally and physically for events like Atlas Mountain Race.

If you’ve ever doubted yourself, struggled with confidence in endurance sports, or felt overwhelmed by the sheer challenge of a long-distance race, this episode is for you.

As always, thank you to Albion Cycling for supporting Detours this year.

Links

• Follow Mascha on Instagram
• Follow Mel on Instagram
• Follow Detours on Instagram
• Dotwatch Atlas Mountain Race

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In this episode, I chat with Marei Moldenhauer—a rising star in ultra-cycling and bikepacking. Marei balances a demanding career as a doctor while excelling in the world of endurance racing. Her recent accomplishments include winning the women’s race at Bright Midnight in Norway (where she also finished fourth overall!!!) and finishing second just two and a half hours behind the women’s winner at the Transcontinental Race (TCR) 2023.

We discuss Marei’s entry pathway into ultra-cycling, from receiving her first steel bike as a gift from her brother to becoming a competitive bikepacker. She shares her training approach, how she’s preparing for the Atlas Mountain Race, and her love of climbing. Marei also opens up about the challenges she faces as a celiac athlete, her strategies for fueling during ultra-endurance events, and her unexpected preference for Katjes over Haribo gummy bears!

Marei will be one of the many women racing this year's Atlas Mountain Race and I can't wait to see how she gets on.

Thanks to Albion Cycling for supporting the podcast and my adventures this year!

Follow Marei on Instagram: @marei.mol

Follow Mel on Instagram: @melwwebb

Follow Detours on Instagram: @detourspodcast

Follow Albion on Instagram: @albion.cycling

Do you have a story from your own adventures you want to share with us?

We’d love to feature your story on the podcast! Write us a short piece of 200–300 words describing a memorable adventure or experience related to bikepacking, ultra-cycling, or outdoor exploration. Whether it’s your first ultra-endurance race, an unforgettable moment with locals on the trail, a tough lesson learned in the wild, or a surprising detour that changed your journey, we want to hear about it.

Stories don’t have to be epic—it could be something simple but meaningful, like discovering a hidden gem on your favourite route, overcoming a fear on the bike, or connecting with fellow riders in an unexpected way. Send your write-up to [email protected], and we’ll feature selected stories on future episodes!

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We’ve got some big news! I am so so stoked to share that Detours is now presented by Albion Cycling. They’ve been fans of the show since day one and to have their support feels pretty darn cool.

In this solo episode, I reflect on a transformative 2024—a year defined by big goals, unexpected detours and a ton of personal grown.

Through listener questions, I share more about the ups and downs of racing, how I balance work, life, and ultra-endurance training and everything in between. I also share what I’m most excited about for the year ahead.

I’d love your feedback on today’s episode — what did you think? What do you want to hear more of on solo episodes in the future?

Do you have a story from your own adventures you want to share with us? Submit it to be featured in an upcoming episode! Email us at [email protected]

This episode was brought to you by Albion, the very best cycling kit, designed to help you stay outside longer.

Follow Mel on Instagram: @melwwwebb

Follow Detours on Instagram: @detourspodcast

Follow Albion on Instagram: @albion.cycling

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode!

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When I think of women in bikepacking, Alexandera Houchin is one of the first people that comes to mind. She’s raced the Tour Divide countless time and been a steadfast figure in encouraging more women to take on these big challenges. As an Indigenous woman and member of the Fond du Lac tribe, becoming a sponsored athlete, heck an athlete at all, was not necessarily a pathway she saw for herself growing up.

She joins me on the podcast to share about her journey to the bike, and how she’s made a career of this niche sport. We discuss what keeps her returning to these races year after year, her experiences navigating body image as someone with a bigger body, and how she’s redefining what success looks like in this next chapter of her career. Alexandera shares incredible insights on community, representation, and how showing up with her full heart have shaped her path in bikepacking.

Trigger Warning: We discuss topics related to body image and disordered eating between the 19:00 and 25:00 marks. If these are sensitive topics for you please feel free to skip this portion of the episode.

To keep up with Alexandera’s adventures follow her on Instagram @alexanderahouchin and read her writing on her Substack

In an effort to bring you even better episodes in 2025 please fill out our audience survey and share your honest feedback on the show — your support is so appreciated ❤️

As always, if you loved this episode, please leave us a review, follow wherever you listen and share it with a friend. Even better you can make a one time pledge of your support and any funds raised go back into creating this show.

A big thank you to Ben Crannell for mixing the audio for this episode.

You can find us on Instagram @detourscycling and Mel @melwwebb

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In this episode, Mel chats with Theo Kelsey-Verdecchia, ultra-endurance cyclist and creator of the Golden Horseshoe bikepacking route in Ontario. Theo shares how he designed this epic 1,600 km route to showcase Ontario’s hidden gems—from rugged singletrack to remote backcountry trails. He talks about racing vs. touring mindsets, balancing challenge with accessibility, and the joys of discovering unexpected resupply stops. Tune in for a conversation about route creation, adventure, and pushing personal limits.

If you want to keep up with Theo's adventures and stayed up to date on his plans for the inaugural Golden Horseshoe event, follow him on Instagram

In an effort to bring you even better episodes in 2025 please fill out our audience survey and share your honest feedback on the show. Thank you in advance for the time and help to grow this show ❤️

As always, if you loved this episode please leave us a five star review, follow the show and share it with a friend. Even better, you can make a one time pledge of your support and any funds go back into creating this show.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we chat with Leanne Bentley, an ultra-distance cyclist and creative living in the Netherlands. She is also the maker behind the bikepacking bags of Carrie Gere. Originally from the UK, Leanne shares her path from childhood cycling clubs to taking on the world of ultra-racing. She gives us a peek into her early cycling days with fun stories from car parks and grass track racing, and explains how the pandemic led her to discover bikepacking.

Leanne opens up about the lessons from her first races, gear mishaps, and how she balances her cycling with running a creative business and designing custom bikepacking bags.

To keep up with Leanne's adventures follow her on Instagram, as well as her latest bag developments at Carrie Gere.

If you loved this episode please leave us a five star review and don't forget to share this episode with a friend. You can even go one step further and pledge your support on our Buy Me a Coffee.

Thanks as always for listening and we'll see you next week.

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Justinas is back on Detours sharing all about his wild 2024 season where he set a new record on the Triple Crown of bikepacking: The Tour Divide, Colorado Trail Race and Arizona Trail Race. Justinas completed all three of these races in a cumulative time of 25 days, 5 hours, and 30 minutes (2d:13h:3m ahead of Jay Petervary’s record from 2015). We caught up while he was recovering in Arizona just a few days after winning the Arizona Trail Race. We shared so many good laughs about his season and everything it took to complete these races. From eating a double cheese burger at the bottom of the grand canyon, to sourcing a ground sheet from construction sites to managing disappointment from route closures, this conversation covers it all.

To keep up to date with Justinas' adventures be sure to give him a follow on Instagram.

If you loved today's episode, please leave us a five star review and share the episode with a friend. It truly does help this show get in the ears of more listeners.

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This past year Emma Missale has burst onto the bikepack racing scene, landing herself second on the podium at both the Hellenic and Silk Road Mountain Races. By day, Emma is a bike messenger in Copenhagen and is a three time bike messenger world champion! In this episode she shares all about life as a bike messenger, how she found bikepacking and everything she's learned in her first year racing ultras.

Make sure to give her a follow on Instagram to keep up with her adventures @shotti_e

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Jade Simpson-Field is an adventurer and bikepacker from Leeds who’s made a habit of squeezing in massive adventures around her "normal boring life." Jade’s love for riding her bike is infectious and she’s no stranger to tackling some of the toughest endurance races out there (all while wearing sandals!)—even when imposter syndrome tries to creep in.

We talk about her journey into bikepacking, from her early days riding in Vietnam to racing the Highland Trail 550 (twice!) and her goal of becoming the first person to complete the Lakeland 200 in all four seasons. She also talks about placing third at this year’s Silk Road Mountain Race and what motivates her to push on, even in the hardest moments.

Jade’s story is packed with relatable moments, practical tips, and plenty of inspiration. Thank you Jade and we can't wait to see what you get up to next!

You can keep up with Jade's adventures on Instagram

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Stephen Shelesky is commercial outdoors photographer who has shot for some of the biggest brands in the space and some of the world's best skiiers. He's also an ultra racer. Just one week before he was meant to race the Silk Road Mountain Race for the second time, he was asked to join the media team and photograph the race instead. This would be his first time shooting a bikepacking event.

In this conversation Stephen shares all about diving into these uncharted waters, giving us a sneak peak into life in the media car and ultimately a new perspective on how impactful these events can be on our lives.

Equal parts inspiring and entertaining, Stephen was an absolute delight to talk to.

You can check out more of his work on Instagram or on his website.

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