2023 Basajaun planning ❓Why
I did this race as a pair and with the aim of enjoying as much as possible the course and finishing within time.
Ultra-cycling rules says that we have to be self-suficient and you can take it to the extreme or embrace or even enforce that you must help others in needs and this is how Carlos Mazón set the tone.
The adventure scores in all the important aspects that drives me; social fitness, physical fitness and mental fitness.
👥 Social fitness
The experience starts before the race with a WhatsApp group where all the people is together and people start to help each other with logistics. Locals will inform you about local connections or any kind of help you might need.
After a few hours in, once the big group is broken, small talks with other riders
The tone of the WhatsApp group keeps during the race and jokes like the following..
Also advice…
People will inform if they found any lost like vest, jackets, etc… and bring it all along the way…
In general I think that ultra-cycling creates profound social links and here there is no exception, conditions are set for that.
The experience goes on and on… in this second edition locals starts to ask… “What are this bunch of destroyed cyclist that pass by during days…”, they are curious first, and then they start to help. It’s great to engage with them and see that you contribute to those little towns 🏘️.
Any challenge, can be an opportunity… passing by the 3rd town where all bars are close (they had the local festivity the night before)… can lead to end having breakfast and getting some sandwich 🥪 on the house of a local.
💪 Physical fitness
The race covers a very wide range of terrain… you will be wishing for some smooth tarmac or fireroad… because there are as well challenging sections…
Challenge comes from the terrain… but as well by the weather conditions… you can go from very cold rainy high mountains ⛰️… to very hot, dusty and dry desert 🌵.
Drop rate on the first 2 days is substancial… either it wasn’t what the rider expected (harsh) or for what the bike can handle (non-reparable issue).
🧠 Mental fitness
Landscape is different every day. You will go through different natural parks and terrain… Terrain like forest, pyrenees, dessert, vineyards…
You will experience time of loneliness in wild nature and… you might need to do some stop to catch up air or let your legs recover… you can sit on a rock, eat that sandwich you bought in the last bar… while you mind focus on the landscape around.
For some days… ride, eat, sleep repeat is going to be the basics you need.