The Just Bikes Podcast

The Just Bikes Podcast is a new podcast from The Mettleset, hosted by me, (slow) ultra-cyclist Dawn Barnable and friends.

As the name suggests, the podcast is all about bikes! From ultra to adventure, the pain cave to the peloton and lots of type-two fun, I'm going to be speaking to. feature a host of guests - new and old friends - from all over the world to talk about all things cycling and cycling culture.

In this trailer, preview, whatever you'd like to call it, we go through the why and who behind the podcast. Our first episode goes live on 8 December, so don't forget to subscribe, like and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Five stars only... as if it needs to be said.

You can find the podcast on IG at @justbikesthepodcast and just like on Strava, feel free to slide into our DMs with questions, comments, guest suggestions and love. The complaint department however is permanently closed.

Don't forget to check out The Mettleset as well on IG at @themettleset, or if you want to keep it professional, on LinkedIn @themettleset. We regularly feature a host of impressive women - and men - in all sorts of sports across MENA region and beyond. As little sister to The Mettleset, expect some cool crossover on occasion.

Lastly but importantly, we are super excited to kick off this podcast with launch sponsor, the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge, a cycle challenge for everyone, including Dawn as it was her very first race back in December 2018.

Set for 24-25th February, 2024 and starting & ending at Expo City Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the Cycle Challenge comprises three races, the Junior Rides, the 35 km TotalEnergies Outride, and the 92 km Main Event, Hop on over to @spinneysdubai92 or visit cyclechallenge.ae for more info and to sign up. Support for those who make our work possible, is greatly appreciated and extremely good karma.

I hope you enjoy the podcast!

Dawn

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

Hello everyone, Dawn here

Today’s episode is all about the Titan World Series and more specifically, their plans to get more women on the starline, and over the finish line of the original Titan Series Race, The Skoda Titan Desert Race in Morocco.

Mariona Faixat Codinach tells me all about the SheTitan program, what it aims to achieve and why it's important.

Helpful Links:

🚵🏻‍♀️ She Titan: https://skodatitandesertmorocco.com/en/shetitan/

🇲🇦 The Skoda Titan Desert Race in Morocco, visit: https://skodatitandesertmorocco.com/en/

🇸🇦 The Neom Titan Desert Race, visit: https://titandesertksa.com

🎙️Episode 19.1 on the Titan Desert Race Saudi Arabia: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6h9YolHMH7EPXzZBryYJyz?si=f036f5f2eff24073

To hear about Moroj Adil, Saudi Arabia’s first pro cyclist’s experience on the race, check out our episode with her here.

I hope you enjoy the episode!

Dawn

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

Today’s guest is Juliet Elliott, the queen of storytelling on two wheels. Between her YouTube and Instagram, Juliet has a combined audience of over 225,000 followers, gained through sharing adventures and advice that is fun, accessible and with a dose of good humor. Juliet and I love a chat so I’ve actually divided this episode into two parts - both of which can be listened to as standalone episodes. In this, Part 1, we go into Julliet’s year in review, we chat through setbacks, ultra cycling solo and in a pair and what’s so special about bikepacking and ultracycling.

We also chat through many of her adventures in 2023 including:

🚲 The Race Around Rwanda

🚲 Across Andes

🚲 The Rift

🚲 Mountain Biking in Switzerland Vallee Region

Part 2 is also live now and in this episode, we go into all things content creation and what it's like to be a cycling content creator.

More Info on Juliet:

🚲 Find Juliet on IG: @julietelliott

🚲 Find Juliet on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JulietElliottsChannel including her Across Andes experience HERE

Other goodies:

🎙️K-Bikepacking: Cycling South Korea’s 600km 4 Rivers Path in 4 and a half days

🎁 Your own Adventure Calendar, get it printed in A0 format , please just leave a review - 5 ⭐ only

🚴🏿‍♀️ 🚴🏻‍♀️ 🚴🏾‍♀️

This episode is brought to you by the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge, a cycle challenge for everyone! Set for 24-25th February, 2024, the next edition includes three events (yes, really), all starting and ending at Expo City, Dubai. For more info on the Junior Rides, the 35 km TotalEnergies Outride and the 92 km Main Event, hop on over to @spinneysdubai92 on Instagram or visit cyclechallenge.ae.

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

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

The Transcontinental (TCR) is an annual, self-supported ultra-cycling race that, as the name suggests, spans almost across the entire European continent. It is widely considered one of the toughest on the planet, testing rider’s fitness, mental strength, planning, problem solving and ability to endure as they ride 4000km with approx 40,000m of climbing.

So what type of person decides that they’re going to take on the TCR without being a cyclist? Well, meet our guest for EP 1, Dr Sarah Ruggins who took part in the last edition. In our chat we learn that her story goes way beyond the TCR and way back into childhood when she was an elite runner with a bright athletic future ahead of her. Listen and you’ll learn more about Sarah’s strength - and ability to endure - and how it didn’t start with the TCR.

More Info

🚲 Find Sarah on IG: @_not_that_kind_of_doctor

🚲 For applications to the next Transcontinental Race: https://www.lostdot.cc/race/tcrno10

🚲 To see the photo that introduced me to Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/p/CvhMOgVsz64/?hl=en

🚲 Photo credits of Sarah’s teaser video go to: https://www.jamesbusbyimages.com

Resources

🎙️ Ultra Cycling 101 on The Mettleset Podcast

🎙️ The Women of The Race Around Rwanda Part 1

🎙️ The Women of The Race Around Rwanda Part 2

🚴🏿‍♀️ 🚴🏻‍♀️ 🚴🏾‍♀️

This episode is brought to you by the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge, a cycle challenge for everyone! Set for 24-25th February, 2024, the next edition includes three events (yes, really), all starting and ending at Expo City, Dubai. For more info on the Junior Rides, the 35 km TotalEnergies Outride and the 92 km Main Event, hop on over to @spinneysdubai92 on Instagram or visit cyclechallenge.ae.

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.

xDawn

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

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

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