Bikepacking Ultra FAIL | My first attempt at 400km of gravel bikepacking in France

[@WKG111]

Absolutely EPIC! How could you even consider that a fail? You did over 200km on difficult terrain, carried a fully loaded bike through a flooded jungle and even made a Pringles holder for your bike! This was more like a Top Gear Special episode. Love it, mate. Keep at it, brother.

[@MaartenOverweg]

Thank you so much, mate. Your comment (and all the comments from everybody else) mean the world! I try to tell myself I've come a long way. Looking back on where I was even a year ago, this is all a victory. But it sure didn't feel like a victory when I had to admit to myself I wouldn't be able to make it 😅

[@Chunky246]

Not a fail at all. Amazing effort. Route back looked stunning in parts. Onwards and upwards!

[@MaartenOverweg]

Thanks Chunky! It is absolutely gorgeous over there, I'll definitely be back for another trip. In the back of my mind I'm already thinking about doing the event again next year and see if I can finish it then...🙈

[@ctouzelet]

Sometimes you have to touch your own limits (physical and mental) to understand and progress. You've learned more than if you'd done this race easily. Keep going!

[@MaartenOverweg]

You're absolutely right! But it sure didn't feel like it on the Saturday 😅 I will return and still haven't let go of the idea of doing events like this, so I'll keep going for sure!

[@LIFE_ToBeContinued]

Life is good. Currently in the Dolomites. Tomorrow I start my 640km in 64 hours for my 64th birthday ride. It snowed last night 😱!

[@MaartenOverweg]

Oh my goodness! Stay safe, mate! And enjoy the challenge!

[@blairdrader5490]

That's a special ride, success can be measured in different ways. You learned some things and bounced back on the next day. That mud is demoralizing! Love the green Rapha jersey, I have the same one.

[@MaartenOverweg]

Thanks Blair! That Rapha jersey is great, isn't it? I absolutely love it. And you're right, I learned a lot and was already enjoying the trip the next day....but one day I will come back and take my revenge 😅

[@pascal_kurschildgen]

A dnf deserves at least as much respect as a finish. It takes a lot to recognize yourself and your limits. The act of making a dnf is a hard act and it takes greatness. Be happy about every single meter you have driven.

[@MaartenOverweg]

You are a 100% right, Pascal! Wise words indeed, but in the moment I really struggled with my decision. But I had to face the fact that it was mission impossible 😅

[@jansen1975]

It’s never a fail Maarten. Either you win or you learn 👍 You inspire me to do these things. Made me do the Hermannsweg bikepacking. 👍

[@MaartenOverweg]

@@jansen1975 Thanks mate! That’s super nice of you to say! 🙏and I kinda know that it’s just a learning experience, but sometimes knowing and feeling are different things 😅 anyway, I’m already feeling much better and am thinking about my next adventure 🥳

[@LIFE_ToBeContinued]

There are no failures only experiences! Well done.

[@MaartenOverweg]

Amen, good sir! And thanks! How are you doing? Having the time of your life at the moment, as far as I can tell from your videos 😉

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Mate, that was epic and brutal in equal measure. And in absolutely no way was it a failure - you took on a ride that most people wouldn't even consider, you smashed out some really tough KMs, saw some wonderful countryside and, at the end of the day, had fun. Plus, we all got another great Maarten adventure video out of it. Keep on doing what you're doing mate - and keep enjoying it. Thanks for another really entertaining video.

[@MaartenOverweg]

Thank you very much, mate! I 100% hear what you're saying and fully agree. But....but....it just felt like a blow to the ego when I had to scratch on Saturday. I will learn from this and keep joying it all, they won't get rid off me that easily 😂

[@PAULPICKLES]

What an amazing ride, mate! Huge kudos from me for even thinking about doing 400km! Whether it's 10km or 400km, just enjoy the moments. It's easy to feel deflated, but like you've said, you've come a long way. Just keep enjoying these adventures. Legend 💪 ❤

[@MaartenOverweg]

I will, mate! I'll regroup and keep going 🥳

[@dave300m7]

Great video, certainly not a fail, and clearly any day that starts with French bakery products is always a good day 😀

[@MaartenOverweg]

Thanks Dave! And indeed, a day starting with chocolate croissants is a good day!

[@halwye]

It's a fab adventure just watching your challenge here. Heroic effort. Those trees across the forest mud wallow (with 300+km ahead), just lugging the bike over them would finish most of us. What does that rig, all in, weigh! The tests came piling in, one after another, then several at once. Got to feel for that woman who lost her phone from its quadlock. Puts your kit and competences into perspective. About a sore bum, I have a remedy - press the pedals harder, as that takes the weight off the underparts. But that doesn't work at all. The full 400km ... did anyone get there. As to the challenge overload, well one part that balked you was the pizza being uncut. Think I could just about take that one on. Thing is, we're left with a sense that that ride hasn't put you off, that you'll be back for more. Yes please, more stonking stuff, reaching for the stars. And showing the great outdoors.

[@MaartenOverweg]

Hi Hal! How've you been? All good, I hope? Indeed, you haven't seen the last of me when it comes to this type of event. I will be back, pizza cutter and all! About the rig: I did not weigh it because I really don't want to know. But yes, it was too heavy and for this type of event I will need to go with the absolute bear minimum. Lesson learned there!

[@halwye]

⁠soldiering on, sort of vicariously out on the trails with you. Sprained ankle that won’t mend is a nuisance. But all I’m really should only be focused on where next.

[@bergvis]

Don't call it failure, Maarten It's just an episode in a story, making you more human 👊

[@MaartenOverweg]

Thank you very much, Tom 🙏 I know I shouldn't, but it sure felt like a failure on the Saturday when I had to admit I wouldn't be able to do it 😅

[@VeloViking]

Sorry to hear that you have fallen out of love with social media, mate! I have missed your videos lately, but you finally uploaded again and it was a good one. Looks like a good event/route and in my book it wasn't a fail 🙂

[@MaartenOverweg]

Yeah, I was quite done to be honest. It's a lot of work and sometimes I don't really see the fun in it anymore, especially when some people make so-called funny comments and stuff like that 🤷‍♂ I know I shouldn't listen to all that, but I do this for a bit of fun and if it stops being fun then I'd rather not do it at all.

[@VeloViking]

@@MaartenOverweg I understand you totally. For me it's actually a bit different. I do make videos mostly for myself, but I do wish I had a bigger audience and more interaction/comments, asking questions etc.!

[@MaartenOverweg]

@@VeloViking I get that and it's also how KZbin and other social media suck you in. They have you feel good about the likes, shares, comments, subscribers etc etc. I get lost in that sometimes. Even though I make the videos for myself, it is fun to see that a video does well in viewer numbers. In that sense, it's a weird hobby and when I started making videos I already promised myself I would only keep doing it if it would still be fun.

[@VeloViking]

BTW I just came home from a week in Portugal, having done a bit of recon for the Gravel Birds! It seems to be fairly flat terrain without any longer climbs, at least b Norwegian standards🙂 We consider it to be a fairly flat course if you have a 1000 meters of elevation in a 100 kilometres ride!

[@MaartenOverweg]

@@VeloViking interesting stuff mate! I believe the Gravel Birds website said something about 10.000 meters of climbing over 750km or something like that

[@VeloViking]

Pacing is an art, when it comes to long days in the saddle! Hopefully we will master this art when we're doing the Gravel Birds next year 😉

[@MaartenOverweg]

100%! Thing is there wasn't much pacing I could do, the climbs and the mud just meant I had to spend a lot of energy. On a flat road pacing is much easier and I know I can do it. But this is definitely a puzzel I need to solve if I want to stand a chance to do Gravel Birds 😅

[@VeloViking]

@@MaartenOverweg I'm sure you will make it. You just don't have to be afraid of taking a break, eat something and enjoy the ride and then you'll surely get to the finish. I was in Portugal for a holiday last week, doing a bit of recon, getting the wibes in, and I'm pretty sure that the Gravel Birds will be an epic experience if we get to go!

[@robvandenbosch7860]

Leuke video. Keep it up!

[@MaartenOverweg]

Dank je wel! I'll try 😅

[@tangomike01]

I hope you are well, missed your reels matey

[@MaartenOverweg]

@@tangomike01 Thanks mate, I really appreciate your kind message. I’ve fallen out of love with the whole social media thing the past weeks but this event was just too much of a thing for me not to make a video about it. I want to be able to watch it back in a year of so and smile at my own (mis)adventure 😅 other than that, I can’t complain. How about yourself? All good, I hope?

[@futerko108]

Epic! ❤

[@MaartenOverweg]

Thanks mate!

[@matzas78]

Not AT ALL a failure… Don’t even say that again ☺️🤟🏼 you did a fantastic job and you deserve a big applause 👏🏼👏🏼

[@MaartenOverweg]

Thanks mate, you're the best! It sure did feel like failing, but I'm pretty much over that now. Thank you again, it does help when other people say it instead of me listening to my own inner voice 😅

[@noelaom4213]

Failure is not to try...what you done was amazing... wasn't that long ago we were at the back of the 111...well I am still there😂 ....

[@MaartenOverweg]

@@noelaom4213 thanks mate! Yeah, you’re right. But it’s easy to forget all that and not be satisfied with how far I’ve come 🤷‍♂️

[@hansthijs]

Het is het ‘wedstrijd’ element wat vaak tot stoppen leidt. Als je het op je eigen tempo gefietst had was het relaxter gegaan en had je meer genoten. Nu moest het 200 worden met een deels onmogelijke route. Zo leer je dat inderdaad op de terugweg 😉. Was mooie video met prachtige plaatjes 😎

[@MaartenOverweg]

Ja, daar heb je een goed punt. Als ik er een dag langer over had mogen doen, dan had ik het gehaald (denk ik 😅). Maar dat is achteraf ook weer een goed leermoment voor als ik vaker van dit soort events wil doen. Dank voor het kijken trouwens, leuk als mensen het mooie plaatjes vinden 🙌

[@benelst6087]

hey maarten! knap gedaan hoor! en of je wint of je hebt iets geleerd, in dit geval of je rijd de route uit of je hebt iets geleerd ;-).... groetjes! ps: ACT mannen staan bekend om hun routes, ik heb de ACT3 eens gedaan... ook heel zwaar in combo met het weer dat ik had ;-).

[@MaartenOverweg]

Dank je wel, Ben! Het ego knakte toch even toen ik me zaterdag al vroeg in de rit realiseerde dat ik het niet ging halen :-) ik heb ook echt nog aan jou en je gigantische avonturen gedacht onder het motto "what would Ben do", maar er was geen mentale gymnastic mogelijk om me nog verder te doen bewegen. Dus helemaal prima zo en op naar het volgende avontuur!

[@2wheelsrbest327]

Well Maarten if that's a fail I am a China Man , I am not by the way ' well done anyone who crosses that start line is a winner in my eyes.

[@MaartenOverweg]

Hahahaha, mate what a great expression that is! Thanks for making me laugh and for the uplifting words, after a few days I can tell I haven't lost the hunger for this type of event. Regroup and attack another day, I would say 🥳

[@haicobianchi7832]

Wel wat anders als smugglers :-) Maar heel herkenbaar. Had dit ook tijdens Taunus dit jaar. Ook scratch maar heb er wel heel veel van geleerd. Vooral dat ik niet naar afstand maar naar tijd moest kijken.

[@MaartenOverweg]

Haha, ja inderdaad! Vorig jaar bij Smugglers ging ik zo zat als een aap mijn tent in na een 100km ritje. Was ook leuk overigens. Maar Taunus was ook zo zwaar, dus? Ga je nog wel proberen vergelijkbare events te doen met wat je nu geleerd hebt?

[@haicobianchi7832]

Mijn laatste was Alps divide en die is nog weer van een andere orde😂 raakte daar na drie dagen geblesseerd. Ook weer veel geleerd en Alps is er geen een voor een gravelbike 😳 maar ja volgend jaar denk ik Taunus weer

[@haicobianchi7832]

En deze lijkt me ook erg leuk😃

[@MaartenOverweg]

@@haicobianchi7832 Ik denk dat ik voorlopig even van het klimmen wegblijf 😂 Maar dat klinkt allemaal heel mooi, zowel Alps als Taunus. Ik zit zelf aan Gravel Birds te denken in Portugal of misschien ooit The Bright Midnight. Maar eerst nog maar eens mijn wonden likken en verder trainen 😅

[@MaartenOverweg]

@@haicobianchi7832 Ja, ik zou hem zeker aanraden!

[@guidospanoghe8896]

It seems that nowadays you're not allowed to fail anymore, and be disappointed about it! But better to fail ( and learn from it ) than stay at home and write comments in the commentbox. 😉

[@MaartenOverweg]

Hahaha, good point Guido! I've decided to keep failing, it's just too much fun 😅