Taunus Bikepacking Podcast

Taunus Bikepacking No. 9 is done. Before everyone heads home, we’re at the finisher party to celebrate. We catch up on the highs, check in with riders as they arrive, and talk about why it's so hard to pack up and leave. Here’s to the Taunus spirit.

Day 6 is a masterclass in resilience. Across the field, the theme is "breakdown": mechanical failures, flat tires, and physical exhaustion haunt the field.Riders are being forced to adapt to a brutal spectrum of conditions, from the draining, stifling intensity of extreme heat to the sudden, jarring chaos of a thunderstorm washout. Yet, the collective spirit remains astonishingly positive as they overcome the odds through creative, sugar-fuelled hydration strategies and sheer mental fortitude.As we approach the finish line, the narrative is shifting from the raw intensity of the race to the impending triumph of the final party.

As the Taunus route reaches a fever pitch, the focus turns to the women’s front-runners. Erika’s tactical masterstroke sees her edge ahead, while Annika remains stoic under the relentless summer sun. Across the region, the rising temperatures turn the town of Limburg into a vital oasis, forcing riders to innovate their cooling strategies. Amidst the physical exhaustion, we delve into the introspective side of ultra-cycling, exploring how the road serves as a sanctuary for reflection. Finally, we arrive at the finish line, where our riders find the one thing they have been dreaming of: a well-deserved rest.

The Taunus Bikepacking odyssey reaches a milestone as the first riders cross the finish line. After over three days of relentless terrain, Janek secures the top spot on his third attempt, finally overcoming the technical hurdles of years past. We explore the introspective nature of this event, hearing from riders finding catharsis in the struggle, and those forced to confront the heartbreaking decision to scratch. From logistical mishaps to the unwavering spirit of the middle pack, we capture the highs and lows of the long road home.

Day 3: the adrenaline has faded, leaving only the grinding reality of the road. While our mid-pack riders fight their own quiet battles, the race at the front has turned volatile; every mechanical tweak and hour of sleep becomes a tactical move. It's a day where resilience is tested against exhaustion, forcing our riders to find their limits.

The adrenaline of the start line is gone, and now, the real race begins. This is the day the ferry deadline dictates everything. In this episode, we follow our riders as they try to navigate the 'Ferry Factor'; that non-negotiable bottleneck that forces everyone to find out if their "perfect plan" survives reality, or if they’re scrambling to catch a ride that’s already left the dock.

As our riders roll out of the campsite, the real test begins. In this episode, we follow the field as they leave the comfort of the start line and head into the maze of the Taunus.We track the early tactical gambles, the engineering marvels of the custom bike builds, and the deceptive reality of the Rhine ferry bottleneck. As the sun dips below the horizon, the Taunus shows us both its beauty and its bite.

As the Taunus region settles into an electric, nervous energy, the 99 riders have gathered at the Eppstein Project campsite for Registration Day. A leafy, terra-cotta landscape of meticulously prepared bikes, last-minute tire decisions, and the quiet camaraderie of a field preparing to be swallowed by the course.In this episode, Ross and Paola capture the final hours before the start line. We navigate the "race-within-a-race" logistics of the looming Rhine Ferry bottleneck, and hear the stories of riders facing everything from unpredictable mud to the heatwaves ahead. As the sun drops behind the hills and the terrace beer garden hums with anticipation, we set the stage for the staggered start.The gear is checked, the patches are on, and the silence of the forest is about to be replaced by the rhythmic click of bicycle hubs. The Taunus adventure begins at dawn.

Welcome to the Taunus Bikepacking Adventure podcast — a daily audio dispatch from the heart of one of Europe’s most beautiful and well hidden ultra-cycling events.As 99 nervous riders gear up for the ninth edition of the event, Paola Handley and Ross Brannigan are ready to deliver a second batch of podcast episodes.In this preview episode, we talk to a whole new generation of riders lining up this year. Their backgrounds and motivations are as diverse as their approaches to the ride. What unites is them all is a strong desire for adventure.Over the coming week, Paola and Ross will take you on a true rollercoaster ride through Taunus, with all the ups and downs the riders experience along the way.

On the final day, the road turns inward. As wheels stop spinning, something deeper begins to move. Grief, growth, and quiet revelations surface in the stillness. New friendships spark, old defences soften, and shared joy weaves through the closing hours. In this space between ending and beginning, the Taunus leaves its mark.