The Just Bikes Podcast

Today’s episode is all about the Neom Titan Desert Race Saudi Arabia, which is my next mountain bike race. The race takes place 18-22 November in Neom, KSA. In today’s episode, I chat with Manuel Tajada Vitales, the manager of the Titan World Series to chat the origins of the race, this year’s edition, the camp and some of his favorite memories of the race This is part 1 of 2 parts so stay tuned for episode 19.2 going live on Wednesday 31, July, the second of which focuses on Titan’s efforts to get more women on the startline, things we love to hear! 🇸🇦 For more info on the Neom Titan Desert Race, visit: https://titandesertksa.com🇲🇦 For more info on the Skoda Titan Desert Race in Morocco, visit: https://skodatitandesertmorocco.com/en/ To hear about Moroj Adil, Saudi Arabia’s first pro cyclists experience on the race, check out our episode with her here . I hope you enjoy the episode! Dawn 

Hi All In April, I finished Sani2C, a three day, point to point stage mountain bike race in KZN, South Africa. The race was 272 km with 4000m of elevation gain on some of the most beautiful mountain bike trails in the world with various terrains including single track through farmlands, nature reserves, sugar cane fields, forests, down the infamous Umko drop and along the stunning uMkhomazi River.  This is the long-awaited race report, in which guest host and race partner, Annie Baillie joins me for Day 1and 2, thank you Annie for your voice and being my partner. A special thank you also to Darren, Jared and Gerard who were kind enough to speak with me pre-race. And thank you to Samantha and Kelly for allowing me to be third wheel on Day 3. Some useful links: 🇿🇦 Registration is now open for the 2025 edition: https://sani2c.co.za **If you’re a big group, Farmer Glen did mention that there are special rates available so do email the team. All the contact details are available on their website. ** Did we mention going for the Luxury Tents? 🎙️ My interview with Farmer Glen is live on Spotify, Apple or wherever you listen to your podcasts 🔗 Find Sani2C on IG: @_sani2c If you liked this episode, please tap subscribe wherever you are listening. Please also leave a review - 5 ⭐ only. Check out The Mettleset Podcast and follow @JustBikesThePodcast and @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.  x Dawn

Hi all, In April, I finished Sani2C, a three day, point to point stage mountain bike race in KZN, South Africa. The race was 272 km with 4000m of elevation gain on some of the most beautiful mountain bike trails in the world with various terrains including single track through farmlands, nature reserves, sugar cane fields, forests, down the infamous Umko drop and along the stunning uMkhomazi River. My race report, much of which recorded day by day on the race, will go live later this week but today, I’m sharing a chat I had with the brains & heart behind Sani2C Farmer Glenn Haw, who along with his family and wider community, have been hosting this event for 20 years now. In this Episode, Farmer Glen and I chat about: His experience at Comrades - a 90km ultra-marathon that he just returned from at the time of recording in early June Farmer Glen’s philosophy on life & adventure  and how the race is a family affair The Format of the race including an e-bike category and a non-stop category  - which has since taken place since we recorded this The impact of the race on the communities it travels through What funny things have happened on the race, including what happened to me What advice her would give to any aspiring race organizers Registration is now open for the 2025 edition: https://sani2c.co.za **Reminder, if you’re a big group, Farmer Glen did mention that there are special rates available so do email the team. All the contact details are available on their website. Find Farmer Glen on IG: @farmer_glen Find Sani2C on IG: @_sani2c My race report will follow this week and I’ll also include some useful info and tips for travel logistics as well based on my experience.  If you liked this episode, please tap subscribe wherever you are listening. Please also leave a review - 5 ⭐ only. Check out The Mettleset Podcast and follow @JustBikesThePodcast and @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.  x Dawn

Today’s episode is a little Bonus update from me on what’s been happening in my world and what’s coming up.  Maybe you can relate, maybe you can’t, but I hope some people will find it helpful. And my next race - as noted - is: 🇸🇦 The NEOM Titan Desert Race KSA 🚲  380 KM⛰️ 2800m 🗓️ Nov 17-23 - 5 days of racing including the Prologue 📍 NEOM, Saudi Arabia 🔗 https://titandesertksa.com/en/ 🇫🇷 Recorded on top of Alpe D’Huez, I did make it out downhill mountain biking and please find below some resources in case you wanted to do the same: 🚲 Where I rented my DH MTB Altitude Sports: https://www.altitudesports-alpedhuez.fr 💶 Cost with insurance and all the gear was approx: 105 Euros 🚵🏻‍♀️  Gear included body armor (mandatory apparently), helmet, knee pads, jersey and gloves, bring your own googles or glasses 🚠 The lift (right across from the store) was about 26 Euros 🟢 Green trails were very easy and flowy 🔵 Blue trails were only slightly more difficult❌ I was riding alone so didn’t attempt red or black trails this time around  An Episodes from The Mettleset Podcast you may like 🎙️ Bikepacking on the 4 rivers trail in South Korea If you liked this episode, please tap subscribe wherever you are listening. Please also leave a review - 5 ⭐ only. Check out The Mettleset Podcast and follow @JustBikesThePodcast and @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.  x Dawn

Happy World Bicycle Day! Earlier this year, I spent a week chasing - and sharing the stories of the cyclists competing in the Race Around Rwanda, a 1000km self-supported bikepacking race with 18,000m of elevation and 40% offroad. I detailed the stories from the road of beautiful and brutal race this year in episodes 6 through 10 as well as episode 14 so go back and check those episodes out. This is a story from Rwanda but it's not just about the race. This is about the impact of one woman, Violette Neza, a champion Rwandan ultra-cyclist and coach and I couldn’t think of anyone more worthy to feature - and spotlight on World Bicycle Day. In this episode, you’ll hear Violette’s own story of learning to ride a bike. What cycling means to her and why she wants to share the joy of cycling with other girls and young women, who otherwise may never have the opportunity to experience what we all do regularly, how wonderful and freeing it is to ride your bike. I recorded this back in February in Kigali so to get up to date with Viollete and her team, please follow: Komera Cycling Team: @komeranewct Violette: @nezavioletteI hope you enjoy the episode! Dawn

If you’ve been following The Just BIkes Podcast for a while, you’d know that earlier this year, I spent a week chasing the cyclists competing in the Race Around Rwanda, a 1000km self-supported bikepacking race that took place in February. With about 18,000m of climbing and 40% offroad with some VERY wild weather patterns, this race is tough. It’s one I did myself in 2023 but that is a story for another day - or today, if you want to hear it, I did do two episodes based on my own experience below: Dawn’s DNF Race Report Part 1Dawn’s DNF Race Report Part 2Also please feel free to scroll back to episodes 6 through 10 to get a flavor of this year’s race. We’re revisiting Race Around Rwanda today with my last episode detailing some of experiences of those who took on the race this year, sharing a interview I did on the ground in Kigali with the Lanterne Rouge(s) Christine & Roland Bartmus Caps 55… who timed it perfectly by rolling into the finisher's party to a hero's welcome. You may also be interested to know that registrations are now open for the 2025 edition of the race: https://racearoundrwanda.com I hope you enjoy the episode! Dawn

Moroj Adil is Saudi Arabia’s first pro cyclist and you’d be forgiven for not knowing her name yet as she only started cycling two years ago. Yes, that is right, from not knowing how to ride a bike, to being on the Liv Alula Jayco Continental team, her story is one that needs to be heard and what’s most exciting is that it's just getting started. In this episode, we chat through: 🚲 How Moroj got started 🚲 Her first group ride - which was also her first time riding a bike 🚲 Her first mountain bike race, The Neom Titan Desert Race and how she went from disqualified finisher to podium finish a year later 🚲 The fateful The AlUla Tour 🚲 Joining the Liv AlUla Jayco Continental Team 🚲 The Traka; and 🚲 Her Olympic and Paris Roubeux aspirations Moroj’s story highlights what’s possible when you don’t put limits on yourself. It’s a story of taking and making opportunities, working hard and then letting the magic happen. It’s a story of heart, self-belief and the support you receive along the way.  Find Moroj on Instagram at @moroj.adi More Good Stuff:  🔗 🇿🇦 Sani2C - Dawn’s latest race 🔗🇷🇼  The Race Around Rwanda - the first in the 2024 Race series I hope you enjoy the episode! Dawn

Today’s episode features a member of a very elite club with member numbers totalling around 50 worldwide at the time of recording. This club is the Triple Everest Hall of Fame. Not just any old member of this club, Dubai-based Nick Glover is a unique one as he is also believed to be the first type one diabetic to ever Triple Everest, and the first in the UAE to do so. Nick is exceptional in every sense of the word. He is also a two time cancer survivor and someone who’s not just satisfied with a personal accomplishment, but wants to take others along with him for the ride. This episode is a rich episode, full of learnings and inspiration. In my chat with Nick Glover, we go into: ⚽ The role of sport in Nick’s childhood ⚕️His type-one diabetes diagnosis 🚴‍♂️ Overcoming cancer twice and becoming a cyclist 🏃‍♂️ His entry into endurance sports including Ultraman 🏔️ From single to triple everesting 🫂 The experience… and the sherpas🧠 Mindset 🚲 What’s next 🇬🇲 The Why - Waste to Wonder For more info on what was discussed in the episode: 🚲 Nick Glover on Strava 🚲 Nick Glover on Instagram🚲 Everesting.cc🚲 Jebel Jais on Climb by Bike 🚲 Jebel Hafeet on Climb by Bike 🚲 Waste to Wonder Cookery School 🚲 Dawn’s next MTB Race Sani2C Two Episodes from The Mettleset Podcast 🎙️ Nadhira Al Harthy on becoming the first Omani woman to summit Everest 🎙️ Faranak Partoazar, Iran’s first female MTB championIf you liked this episode, please tap subscribe wherever you are listening. Please also leave a review - 5 ⭐ only. Check out The Mettleset Podcast and follow @JustBikesThePodcast and @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.  x Dawn