Detours: Bikepacking, Ultra-Cycling and Adventures by Bike

• Riding in the Moment with Marei Moldenhauer

  In this episode, I chat with Marei Moldenhauer—a rising star in ultra-cycling and bikepacking. Marei balances a demanding career as a doctor while excelling in the world of endurance racing. Her recent accomplishments include winning the women’s race at Bright Midnight in Norway (where she also finished fourth overall!!!) and finishing second just two and a half hours behind the women’s winner at the Transcontinental Race (TCR) 2023.We discuss Marei’s entry pathway into ultra-cycling, from receiving her first steel bike as a gift from her brother to becoming a competitive bikepacker. She shares her training approach, how she’s preparing for the Atlas Mountain Race, and her love of climbing. Marei also opens up about the challenges she faces as a celiac athlete, her strategies for fueling during ultra-endurance events, and her unexpected preference for Katjes over Haribo gummy bears!Marei will be one of the many women racing this year's Atlas Mountain Race and I can't wait to see how she gets on.Thanks to Albion Cycling for supporting the podcast and my adventures this year!Follow Marei on Instagram: @marei.molFollow Mel on Instagram: @melwwebbFollow Detours on Instagram: @detourspodcastFollow Albion on Instagram: @albion.cyclingDo you have a story from your own adventures you want to share with us?We’d love to feature your story on the podcast! Write us a short piece of 200–300 words describing a memorable adventure or experience related to bikepacking, ultra-cycling, or outdoor exploration. Whether it’s your first ultra-endurance race, an unforgettable moment with locals on the trail, a tough lesson learned in the wild, or a surprising detour that changed your journey, we want to hear about it.Stories don’t have to be epic—it could be something simple but meaningful, like discovering a hidden gem on your favourite route, overcoming a fear on the bike, or connecting with fellow riders in an unexpected way. Send your write-up to [email protected], and we’ll feature selected stories on future episodes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• BIG NEWS! Mel's reflections on 2024 and what's in for 2025

  We’ve got some big news! I am so so stoked to share that Detours is now presented by Albion Cycling. They’ve been fans of the show since day one and to have their support feels pretty darn cool.In this solo episode, I reflect on a transformative 2024—a year defined by big goals, unexpected detours and a ton of personal grown.Through listener questions, I share more about the ups and downs of racing, how I balance work, life, and ultra-endurance training and everything in between. I also share what I’m most excited about for the year ahead.I’d love your feedback on today’s episode — what did you think? What do you want to hear more of on solo episodes in the future?Do you have a story from your own adventures you want to share with us? Submit it to be featured in an upcoming episode! Email us at [email protected] episode was brought to you by Albion, the very best cycling kit, designed to help you stay outside longer.Follow Mel on Instagram: @melwwwebbFollow Detours on Instagram: @detourspodcastFollow Albion on Instagram: @albion.cyclingDon't forget to subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Alexandera Houchin on racing with heart and 10 years of bikepacking

  When I think of women in bikepacking, Alexandera Houchin is one of the first people that comes to mind. She’s raced the Tour Divide countless time and been a steadfast figure in encouraging more women to take on these big challenges. As an Indigenous woman and member of the Fond du Lac tribe, becoming a sponsored athlete, heck an athlete at all, was not necessarily a pathway she saw for herself growing up.She joins me on the podcast to share about her journey to the bike, and how she’s made a career of this niche sport. We discuss what keeps her returning to these races year after year, her experiences navigating body image as someone with a bigger body, and how she’s redefining what success looks like in this next chapter of her career. Alexandera shares incredible insights on community, representation, and how showing up with her full heart have shaped her path in bikepacking.Trigger Warning: We discuss topics related to body image and disordered eating between the 19:00 and 25:00 marks. If these are sensitive topics for you please feel free to skip this portion of the episode.To keep up with Alexandera’s adventures follow her on Instagram @alexanderahouchin and read her writing on her SubstackIn an effort to bring you even better episodes in 2025 please fill out our audience survey and share your honest feedback on the show — your support is so appreciated ❤️As always, if you loved this episode, please leave us a review, follow wherever you listen and share it with a friend. Even better you can make a one time pledge of your support and any funds raised go back into creating this show.A big thank you to Ben Crannell for mixing the audio for this episode.You can find us on Instagram @detourscycling and Mel @melwwebb Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Theo Kelsey-Verdecchia on creating the Golden Horseshoe bikepacking route

  In this episode, Mel chats with Theo Kelsey-Verdecchia, ultra-endurance cyclist and creator of the Golden Horseshoe bikepacking route in Ontario. Theo shares how he designed this epic 1,600 km route to showcase Ontario’s hidden gems—from rugged singletrack to remote backcountry trails. He talks about racing vs. touring mindsets, balancing challenge with accessibility, and the joys of discovering unexpected resupply stops. Tune in for a conversation about route creation, adventure, and pushing personal limits.If you want to keep up with Theo's adventures and stayed up to date on his plans for the inaugural Golden Horseshoe event, follow him on Instagram In an effort to bring you even better episodes in 2025 please fill out our audience survey and share your honest feedback on the show. Thank you in advance for the time and help to grow this show ❤️As always, if you loved this episode please leave us a five star review, follow the show and share it with a friend. Even better, you can make a one time pledge of your support and any funds go back into creating this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Leanne Bentley: Alps Divide 2024 women's winner and bag maker at Carrie Gere

  In this episode, we chat with Leanne Bentley, an ultra-distance cyclist and creative living in the Netherlands. She is also the maker behind the bikepacking bags of Carrie Gere. Originally from the UK, Leanne shares her path from childhood cycling clubs to taking on the world of ultra-racing. She gives us a peek into her early cycling days with fun stories from car parks and grass track racing, and explains how the pandemic led her to discover bikepacking.Leanne opens up about the lessons from her first races, gear mishaps, and how she balances her cycling with running a creative business and designing custom bikepacking bags. To keep up with Leanne's adventures follow her on Instagram, as well as her latest bag developments at Carrie Gere. If you loved this episode please leave us a five star review and don't forget to share this episode with a friend. You can even go one step further and pledge your support on our Buy Me a Coffee.Thanks as always for listening and we'll see you next week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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