Roundtables

Roundtable: Night Starts

Starting a race in the dark is undeniably a spectacle. However, with concerns about riders' safety on the roads and the effect of a first sleepless night on a longer race, we put it to those with varying perspectives as to whether night starts have a place in our sport or not.

Roundtable: Mandatory Kit Requirements

In this roundtable we discuss the topic of mandatory kit for ultra distance races. With no governing body for the sport, race organisers have differing ideas about what kit is deemed essential for the particular conditions of their race. Read on for more on this important topic.

By:Nicky Shaw

Roundtable: Scratching from Ultra Distance Races Part 2

Scratching is a part of ultra distance races that most racers will have to deal with at some point. This two part roundtable aims to open up the dialogue on scratching, and debunk the negative stigma that it sometimes carries.

By:Nicky Shaw

Roundtable: Scratching from Ultra Distance Races - Part 1

Scratching is a part of ultra distance races that most racers will have to deal with at some point. This two part roundtable aims to open up the dialogue on scratching, and debunk the negative stigma that it sometimes carries.

By:Nicky Shaw

Roundtable: Mandatory Rest Periods - Part 2

With the dangers of sleep deprivation being ever-present in bikepacking races, it has recently become a buzz-word in the endurance world. Find out what our community thinks on making rest mandatory.

By:Beccy Waters

Roundtable: Mandatory Rest Periods - Part 1

With the dangers of sleep deprivation being ever-present in bikepacking races, it has recently become a buzz-word in the endurance world. Find out what our community thinks on making rest mandatory.

By:Beccy Waters

Roundtable: Shermer's Neck - Part 2

Shermer’s Neck is a condition where the neck muscles fail from fatigue and can no longer support the weight of the head. In Part 2 of this feature we discuss how it should be dealt with appropriately on social media, actions to raise awareness and preventative measures.

By:Nicky Shaw

Roundtable: Shermer's Neck - Part 1

Shermer’s Neck is a condition where the neck muscles fail from fatigue and can no longer support the weight of the head. In part 1 of this feature we aim to shed some light upon the condition, with a collective discussion concerning responsibilities and appropriate action.

By:Nicky Shaw

Roundtable: The Role of the Media Crew

The role of the media crew in telling the story of a race both during and after the event has been instrumental in the growth of our sport but their potential influence on the race is disputed. We pose our questions to those with the most experience from either side of the lens.

By:Beccy Waters

Roundtable: How can our sport achieve better diversity through positive action?

In a changing world, organisers and coordinators are seeking to address the gender, racial and LGBTQ+ imbalances in bikepacking. We put some questions to these changemakers about their chosen methods for positive action, the benefits they’ve reaped and the work left to be done.

Roundtable: How do dotwatchers affect the racing experience?

As the sport of ultraracing has grown, so has its spectator experience: dotwatching. In the world of unsupported racing, we ask the panel how do dotwatchers affect the race experience?

Roundtable: Should races enforce safety equipment that are additional to the country’s legal requirements?

Welcome to the DotWatcher Roundtable, a new feature where we invite prominent guests from our racing community to discuss a hot topic in unsupported racing. To kick things off, we’re posing some questions about rider safety in events.