In ultra distance bikepack racing, women typically make up just over 10% of the starting line. In recent years, we've begun to see that number grow with a number of efforts popping up to encourage more women to take to the start line and give the sport a go. This year, 30 women will be lining up to take on the Silk Road Mountain race, which is often regarded as the pinnacle of off-road bike pack racing. They'll travel more than 1,900 kilometers across the country, into the high mountains, across rivers and valleys, and into some of the most remote and rugged destinations of Kyrgyzstan. This episode is a celebration of the women lining up this year. They come from all corners of the globe, and it's a spotlight on their individual stories.

Dotwatch the 2025 Silk Road Mountain Race

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The Tour Divide sits on nearly every bikepack racers’ bucket lists—a someday ride. Someday, when there’s more time, more money, more fitness. Someday when it fits neatly into life. But the reality is, there never is a perfect moment to take on a ride of this magnitude. This year, for Jake, “someday” became this year.

With just four months to prepare, Jake lined up in Banff for the 2024 Tour Divide, ready to see what he was capable of. Sixteen days and 4,400 kilometers later, he arrived in Antelope Wells, in 19th overall. It was wild to sit at home and watch his dot fly down the Divide, and beyond special to surprise him at the border in Antelope Wells.

In this episode, Jake reflects on the reality of chasing a big dream and what it takes to see it through. He shares how he’s learned to find his own rhythm and trust his own instincts, embrace the unknown, and so much more. Plus, we talk about the dynamic of supporting each other’s ultra racing, and what it was like to be on the other side dotwatching.

Topics include:

• The decision to finally go for it—and what training looked like with four months to prepare
• Learning to race his own race
• Gear choices, including a bikepacking bags, camping gear and more
• Peanut butter mud, windstorms, and post office floors
• Mental lows, unexpected highs, and crossing the finish line after 16 days
• What he learned about himself out there on the Divide
• Up next Colorado Trail Race

P.S. If you’re a new listener, Jake is my husband :)

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Every year, the Flint Hills of Kansas call Rachel Wills back to Unbound XL. At 350 miles, the race is a test of endurance: relentless heat, drivetrain-clogging mud, a horizon that stretches on forever, and a thousand sharp, punchy climbs that chip away at you one by one.

Rachel has lined up in five times: finished four, scratched once. And with each ride, she's uncovered a new experience. For her, Unbound XL has become so much more than a race. It’s become a ritual. A way of grounding herself in place, community, and the kind of effort that reveals something new every time.

In this episode, Rachel reflects on what’s kept her coming back and how the Flint Hills have shaped her over time. She shares about the power of all women’s spaces like Velocio // Exploro, lessons from big days in the saddle, why tandem wheels are surprisingly great to follow, and the descending advice she picked up from Rebecca Rusch.

Topics include:

• What makes Unbound XL so challenging (and so special)
• The emotional weight of scratching and coming back
• Growth through repetition and ritual
• Riding with Velocio // Exploro and the power of a women’s team
• Letting go of racing for results—and finding something deeper

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The pathway into bikepacking isn’t always straightforward—and even with endless routes and resources online, it can still be hard to know where to begin or how to find your people.

That’s where Bikepacking Roots comes in: a nonprofit working to make bikepacking more inclusive, accessible, and community-driven.

In this episode, Noelle Battle and Danielle Parnes share what it takes to create a truly welcoming ride—from addressing common barriers like gear and confidence to building non-competitive spaces where people can learn, grow, and show up exactly as they are.

Topics include:

• Noelle and Danielle’s very different entries into the sport—and how that shapes the work they do today
• Their BIPOC Bike Adventure Program and it's fuelling grassroots leadership and gear libraries across the U.S.
• Their Steward Network and how it connects ride leaders, organizers, and route developers across North America
• Tips for planning inclusive, beginner-friendly group rides
• Why their upcoming summits are about so much more than bikepacking

Resources

• Bikepacking Roots Website
• Community Events Calendar
• BIPOC Bike Adventure Program
• The Bikepacker's Guide
• Rocky Mountain Summit Sept. 12-15, 2025

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Follow Bikepacking Roots on Instagram: @bikepackingroots

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On July 6th, after 21 days, 10 hours and 48 minutes, Molly Weaver rolled into Tower Bridge in London—becoming the first woman to set a world record for circumnavigating mainland Britain by bike, breaking a time that had stood for 40 years.

A former Women’s WorldTour rider, Molly stepped away from racing after a crash and burnout in 2017. She found her way into ultra-distance events, chasing big landscapes, solo efforts, and above all, fun. But she never fully committed to going all in. Because when you don’t give it everything, failure can’t quite cut as deep.

Still, the feeling lingered: maybe she hadn’t yet seen what she was truly capable of. Maybe her past didn’t have to define her future. This year she decided to go all in, chasing the World Record a World Record. Riding 7,732 kilometers around the edge of Britain would take structure, discipline, and belief. And in the process, the effort itself became a form of healing.

In this episode, Molly shares the story behind the ride, how she rebuilt her relationship with trying, how her crew carried her through the hardest days, and how raising money for the RNLI gave the effort meaning beyond herself.

Topics include:

• Circumnavigating mainland Britain by bike
• Setting a world record and what it really takes
• Healing through structure and sustained effort
• Letting go of fear and redefining failure
• The difference between a self-supported and supported effort
• Fundraising for the RNLI and riding with purpose
• And yes… the dot-watching cat

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Follow Molly's adventures on Instagram: @mollyweaver94

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What do you do when your bike gets swept down a flooded Scottish river, you're soaked to the bone, and miles from the nearest village? Well... you'll have to listen to find out!

Kerry is a blazing-fast Scottish ultra racer with deep roots in mountain biking. After racing the Highland Trail 550 for the first time in 2024, finishing just under three hours off the women’s record, she came back in 2025 with her eyes set on it. What followed was an absolutely nail-biting race between her and eventual women's winner Emma Bateup (our last guest), with both women pushing the pace through torrential rain, flash floods, and highland bog.

In this conversation, Kerry breaks down what really happened out there: from stormy river crossings to the moment her bike got pulled away by the current, and the long, cold walk that followed. We talk about how she's built an off-road racing life while juggling three jobs, her past as an elite mountain biker and triathlete, and how she's navigating what it means to race fast, chase joy, and tell stories that bring others along for the ride.

Topics include:

• Highland Trail 550
• Racing with joy vs. racing to win, and why it’s not either/or
• Fueling, body image, and strength in endurance sport
• Sharing the dots and building community through storytelling
• Working three jobs while riding at the top level of bikepacking

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Follow Kerry's adventures on Instagram: @kerrymacphee

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The summer racing season in the world of ultra and bikepacking is in full swing! In this episode, I’m catching you up on what’s been happening and what's ahead.

From surprising Jake at the finish of the Tour Divide (yes, I cried... so much crying!) to managing media at Hellenic, it’s been a full few weeks. I share women's racing highlights from this season so far, including Tour Divide, Highland Trail 550, Hellenic Mountain Race, Kromvojoj, El Piri, and the Trans Balkans Race.

I also look ahead to what’s coming next: Bright Midnight, Transcontinental Race where nearly 100 women(!!!) will be lining up this year. and of course, the Silk Road Mountain Race. Even though I won’t be racing this year, I’m excited to return to Kyrgyzstan for a third time and be back in the ultra bubble with the media crew.

And inevitably, I’ve missed some races—so if there’s a standout story you think should be featured, I’m all ears.

Plus, I want to hear from you. If you’ve been on an overnighter, a big summer ride, or a bikepacking trip you’re proud of, send me a voice note to thedetourspodcast@gmail.com I’d love to feature your stories on the show and celebrate adventures big and small.

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Follow Mel on Instagram: @melwwebb

Follow Detours on Instagram: @detourscycling

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Use code DETOURS15 to get 15% off your next order from Albion

If you love this show please consider pledging your support to sustain producing this show: https://buymeacoffee.com/detourspodcast

Emma Bateup is no stranger to going full send into the deep end. Whether it's tossing her bike across a flooded river or screaming into the Scottish mountains during a low moment, she’s all in. Just a couple of years into ultra racing, Emma already has a resume that includes wins in the women's race at Tour te Waipounamu, a fourth overall at the Great Southern Brevet, and now a breakout performance at the 2025 Highland Trail 550—where she won the women’s race and placed 7th overall.

In this episode, Emma shares the story behind that ride, from chasing records to losing her multi-tool in a creek and navigating Scotland’s notorious river crossings. We talk about fuelling mistakes (pro tip: never skip a resupply), what happened when her chafing hit code red, and how close competition can unlock your best performance, even if your rival’s rain jacket is way too easy to spot.

We also get into her journey into bikepacking, how ultra racing compares to enduro and XC racing, and why she thinks crying is a superpower. Emma’s energy is contagious, and this conversation is full of laughs, honest reflections, and the kind of type-two stories that make you want to grab your bike and go.

Topics include:

• Emma’s 2025 Highland Trail 550 win (and the chaos along the way)
• Racing head-to-head with Kerry MacPhee
• River crossings, hail storms, and a tragic lost multi-tool
• Her first ultra at Tour Te Waipounamu and what she’s learned since
• The trade-offs of ambition, joy, and full-time racing
• Coaching kids, racing XC, and what’s next

Follow Emma's adventures on Instagram: @em_b8up

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

Follow Mel on Instagram: @melwwebb

Follow Detours on Instagram: @detourscycling

Follow Albion on Instagram: @albion.cycling

Use code DETOURS15 to get 15% off your next order from Albion

If you love this show please consider pledging your support to sustain producing this show: https://buymeacoffee.com/detourspodcast