Bikepacker Race Compass Question Title * 1. ELEVATION (cumulated elevation gain of event or race)What total elevation gain is suitable for you?How much elevation are you capable/ready to ride?How many meters of altitude do you dare to climb? 5000 m / 15'000ft 10'000 m / 30'000ft up to 20'000 m / 65'000ft the more the better OK Question Title * 2. TERRAINWhat is your preferred Terrain?What's your favourite route to ride on? The route is mainly asphalt or fast rolling gravel. The perfect terrain for gravel or road bikes. The route is flowy gravel with some technical sections. Can be well ridden with gravel or a hardtail mountainbike. Technical terrain and single trails with some bumpy trails but still ridable. Good ridable with a hardtail but preferrably with a full-suspension bike. Advanced technical terrain and single trails with lots of bumpy trails. Occasially requires to carry or push the bike. The right place for a full suspension mountainbike OK Question Title * 3. DURATIONHow many days are you able to spend in the saddle? How much holiday can you invest in an adventure? 2-3 days (extended weekender) up to 1 week up to 2 weeks the longer the bether OK Question Title * 4. SLEEPDo you ever sleep and if, what is your sleeping strategy or preferred place to sleep? I reduce my sleep to the minimum Stoppeing means loosing time.I carry only very basic sleeping gear. E.g. emergency blanket, light warm Jacket and leg warmers. Thats usually enough for the short time I stop riding. Outdoor (Sleeping Bag, Bivi, Tarp, Tent). I enjoy flexibility and peace of mind to ride longer or shorter then expected. I dont like to stop somewhere just because there might be no other option to sleep. Hostel and outdoorI try to follow a plan and reach predefined sleeping berth but I have my sleeping gear with me, so I can adjust and sleep outside, if things turn out differently. Hotel, B&BI like some comfort and organization. I prefer to know where I will stop and sleep OK Question Title * 5. NATUREHow important is nature on your trip? Mother nature is my biggest opponent who has to be defeated in a race. I respect the laws of nature and don't let them get me down. That's all. I appreciate if ist nice, but I am not here for sightseeing. I never stop if not necessary. There are enough images online, that I can check-out when I'm back home. There is enough time to see and enjoy nature while riding but I occasionally even stop to enjoy a nice view or to take a quick picture. Nature is one of the main driver making me bikepacking. I love nature and even stop at nice places to enjoy the view and the beauty of landscapes etc. OK Question Title * 6. CULTUREHow important is the cultural aspect to you at such an event or race? Do you rather pass through or avoid cities or cultural sites? Culturel stuff is not of importance to me. I consider cultural sites and events rather as a distraction. In my opinion, it is faster, better and safer to avoid places with lots of people, traffic and especially tourists Cultural sites and historically exciting places are ok. If I can choose between such a place or a bypass and the routes take about the same amount of time, I would choose the bypass. I like to drive through cultural sites and historically exciting places from time to time. Ok, this may take a little longer, but it enriches my experience and I like to take a picture of beautiful places I can later show to my friends and dot watchers. Cultural sites and historically exciting places on a route are sometimes a reason for me to decide for or against taking part in a race. I like cycling, but this is by far not the only reason to participate in an event. Long, barren routes are too boring for me. OK Question Title * 7. FOOD & DRINKHow/what do you eat/drink during a multi-day event or race? I enjoy good food, even if it's during a race. Ideally, there is a good restaurant can be found at least every main eating time e.g. every 4 hours or so. I dont like robo-food (gel, power bars, etc.), but they are ok help to keep me riding if there are no local shops to buy fruits, nuts, sandwiches, pastery or even a pizza to go. Ideally these shops can be found at least every main eating time e.g. every 4 hours or so. I always have enough food with me for 1-2 days, so I am independent and not dependent on shops and restaurants. I eat whatever is available, the main factor is nutrition value (the fuel for my engine). I carry enough food and or gels and power bars to reach my goal. Taste is secondary. OK Question Title * 8. SOCIAL Do you prefer to go solo or do you like to ride in company? I do this entirely for me. I don't care too much about others, but for sure would always help in an emergency. I prefer to ride solo but I also enjoy to meet other riders. I would not wait or stop for others (except emergencies) I prefer to meet other riders on the route and spontaneously decide to ride together for a while. If we are a good match and ride the same the same rhythm, we might ride together to the finish line. I prefer to ride with one or more bike mates. I don't like to ride alone. I don't feel comfortable alone in foreign places. OK Question Title * 9. FUN FACTORHow important do you rate the fun factor? Fun sounds romantic, but to be brutally honest, the greatest fun is being out there on the track and race. There's not much room for fun as I'm trying to push my limit. If there's any fun, it's rather after reaching the finish line or when I'm back home and remember the adventure. I know there is a thin line between success and failure. I am not happy if I don't at least touch the limit. The price for this is that I mostly rather suffer then enjoy the race. I am aware, that there are always ups and downs, I try to enjoy the highs and to overcome the lows. I prefer to stay within my limits and try to reach my goals in a good and healthy shape I cycle as long as I'm happy and stop when it's no longer fun. I don't have an issue stopping or even giving up if there is no more sense in suffering. OK Question Title * 10. HEALTHHow important is your health to you? I am aware that extreme bikepacking races are anything but safe and healthy. To ride down a mountain in an overtired state holds certain dangers. With high concentration and a lot of practice, I try to keep these dangers as low as possible. I already expose my body to extreme stress during training so I can cover long distances overtired and starving. I consciously push my body to the limit because I know that my body can perform much more than I dare to do. I accept that this is not only healthy and harmless. I'm health conscious, but I'm willing to push the limits during a bikepacking race.I am willing to take a certain risk, but I slow down or even stop as soon as I realize that my health is in danger. My health and well-being are very important to me. If I notice that I am overstraining my body or too tired to continue safely, I immediately take a break. I know and accept to ride slower than it might be possible. OK DONE