German ultra-cyclist Jonas Deichmann is about to set off on his latest epic from the top of Europe to the southern tip of Africa.
AIDED BY DEVELOPMENTS IN BIKEPACKING, long distance riding and ultra racing have become hip. Once, such epic rides were associated with faded cotton shorts, craggy beards and ageing panniers. Now there are ultra race circuits, and big-budget and televised record rides.
As you read this, 31-year-old German ultra rider Jonas Deichmann is preparing to leave Cape North in Norway to ride some 18,000 kilometres to Capetown in South Africa. He’s hoping to set a record, after record-breaking rides across Europe and Asia, and from top to bottom of the Americas.
What are the mental and physical differences between regular road and endurance riding?
In physical terms, I’m extremely slow, but I can ride for many hours. In the end it’s all a mental game, if you’re strong mentally you can keep going – as long as you eat.
How do you motivate yourself to keep going?
If I’m in the mountains, I have absolutely no problems . . . you have a finish line (the summit). The worst is on the flat and into a headwind. At that point I set myself short goals. If you think, “Oh, it’s 500 kilometres to go”, that’s not very motivating, so I break it down. Maybe in 50-60 kilometres there’s a gas station, and they have chocolate, and I like chocolate. Once I get the chocolate I’m happy again, and tell myself there’s another gas station in 100 kilometres, and more chocolate, so keep going.
How do you train for ultra rides and races?
It’s all about getting the base kilometres in. Last year, I cycled 52,000 kilometres, and I also do other sports. The important thing is to have fun. If I don’t want to train then I don’t. My training is travelling by bike to exotic locations, so my motivation stays up and the kilometres stay up.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July - August 2019-Ausgabe von Action Asia.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July - August 2019-Ausgabe von Action Asia.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Policing Paradise
Palau’s President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr has established his country in the vanguard of global efforts on ocean conservation, in particular with the 2015 designation of much of its territorial waters as a marine reserve and no-take zone. Policing this vast area though remains immensely challenging.
The Not-So-Silent World
Human activities may be emitting levels of noise that harm marine life.
Once Were Warriors
A visit to the 2018 World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan is a surreal trip to a time and place where martial skills matter.
The Secret Life Of Pangolins
PALAWAN – IT’S 1AM AND MOST PEOPLE are safely in their beds. Instead I’m deep in the jungles of Palawan with an international team of researchers and a squad of Philippine Marines, searching for pangolins, the most illegally trafficked mammals on Earth.
Feast Your Senses
The Alta Via 1 is the classic Dolomite trail, bringing the peaks within arm’s reach as you hike between homely refugios and historic war-time fortifications.
China's Olympians Show The Way
WITH 40 RIDERS FROM 12 COUNTRIES, THE KTA made its second visit to the Desaru Coast in Malaysia with its Asia Pacific Hydrofoil Tour Series , which welcomes amateur and professional riders a like . Chinese Youth Olympians Haoran Zhang and Jingle Chen took first places in the Men’s and Women’s classes, while Korean veteran Soon Ho Kwon was crowned champion in the Masters.
China's Masses Warming To Snow
TWO YEARS AGO, CHINA opened the world’s largest indoor ski slope with two black runs, a blue run, snow play area and beginner slopes all served by chairlifts and magic carpets. Interestingly, it choose to build this behemoth in Harbin, where real snow piles high every winter and temperatures plunge low enough to host the annual International Ice and Snow Festival.
A Quieter, Cleaner Everest In Store?
FOLLOWING RECORD deaths during the Everest climbing season earlier this year, Nepal’s government and the climbing community are suggesting a new list of preconditions for any summit attempt.
A Life List Of Adventure
There’s a first time for everything. But some firsts matter more: experiences that are life-altering, that change perspective, build confidence and teach you about all you can do and all you can be.
Virtual Reality As A Travel Sales Tool
Virtual Reality As A Travel Sales Tool
