Guest article by Bastian Mensing
Bastian is using this promotion to collect donations. More information at the end of the blog:
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
In July 2022, I signed up for my first ultra-self-supported gravel event "Gran Guanche" in the Canary Islands.
The total distance of 700 km and a whole 16,000 meters of altitude is spread over five of the Canary Islands - Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and El Hierro. The ferry crossings give the participants a schedule and the opportunity to take a breather.
I couldn't quite explain to myself why I should only do the event by bike. Why not cycle there directly in an environmentally friendly way?
The idea to participate was born in November 2022. My simple plan: Starting from Innsbruck, where I live, I cross the Alps and follow the Mediterranean to Valencia, cross the Spanish Altiplano and finally land on the Atlantic to take the ferry to the Canary Islands - sounds pretty good, doesn't it?
My KEEGOs after thousands of kilometers together
SAID AND DONE!
On Sunday, February 5th, 2023, my journey began. KEEGO was one of four partners who supported me and the project.
Why KEEGO? On the one hand, from the beginning, I only decided to ask potential partners who share the same values as me.
On the other hand, I only wanted to be supported by partners that I already use anyway and am accordingly convinced of the added value of the respective equipment.
I have known KEEGO since its early days and still use my first KEEGOs from 2020 today.
The durable bottle with its durable titanium core has already passed one or two endurance tests with me and has given me fresh water without a plastic taste even after hours on the bike. I also had the feeling with KEEGO that, as a young company, they have the right spirit to support me in my daring adventure. But why did I actually need partners? The special thing about my journey was that I wanted to raise money for a good cause while doing what I love - cycling.
Stage 01: Departure in Innsbruck
LET'S GO!The "farewell" from Innsbruck was made easier for me when I was spontaneously accompanied on the first stage through the Inn Valley to Landeck. The challenge I feared most - loneliness - began from Landeck, up to Pfunds, Tyrol. Winter showed its best side, because I hardly had to deal with rain, snow and wind on my first stages across the Alps and in general during the entire trip. The sun perfectly set the scene for the beautiful landscape as I drove from the Maloja Pass, St. Moritz, to Chiavenna and then along the beauty of Lake Como. I left the Alps and followed the Adda River towards Pavia, on the "Ticino" River. Before reaching the Mediterranean Sea, I crossed the "Capanne di Marcarolo" National Park. Some steep climbs showed me that I still need to do some training before I reach the Canary Islands. The chosen route was worth the effort, because I was alone in the national park for about 2 hours, apart from a few local residents. Leaving Rossiglione meant a milestone for me: "Cycling from Innsbruck to the Mediterranean somehow felt 'crazy'." Disbelieving head shaking became a positive habit when I came across the next perfect bike path or passed a breathtaking landscape and simply realized that I was really experiencing this long-dreamed-of journey.
After the frosty descent from the Maloja Pass
CONTINUE?After seven consecutive days with an average of just over 100 kilometers, my body began to tell me to slow down a bit - I started having problems with my left knee. The point had come: it was time to take a first real break. To make good use of the break, I adjusted my setup, got some kinesiology tape, refilled my energy stores and my KEEGOs. After a day of rest, I was back on the road - along the Côte d'Azur, Camargue to the Spanish border. The following week was enriched with some tourist stops in Girona and Barcelona. In both cities I enjoyed the cultural and culinary offerings. As I left Barcelona in the direction of Tarragona, I had my first "dead end" experience after almost 1,700km. Fortunately, I was able to share it with others, as I was not traveling alone at the time. Toby, a British cyclist, was also stuck. The conclusion was that 1,700km without a "dead end" is pretty good and if you do end up in one, you can meet nice people there 😃 The second random encounter of the day was that Victor, a German cyclist with the same destination Huelva, showed up at my hostel. We first met briefly near Toulon. Then randomly on the way to Barcelona and now for the third time - stories that such a bike trip brings.
Day of rest in the wooden barrel St. Aygulf, France & Route between Girona and Barcelona
ALWAYS ALONG THE COASTFollowing the coast became a routine, like filling one of my KEEGOs with water and the other with electrolytes. Despite the routine, there was no sign of boredom. The next highlight was just around the corner: the "Parc Natural de la Serra d'Itra". About 20 kilometers of gravel road along the coast, without traffic. This beautiful stage ended in Benicàssim, where I was lucky enough to be hosted by Dominique and Raimon (a Swiss-Catalan couple). Raimon has been traveling by bike for about 6 years and Dominique has accompanied him on several of his trips. A wonderful evening followed with lots of inspiring stories. Time flew by and after a sightseeing walk through Valencia I realized that my time on the Mediterranean was over and I was ready to climb the Altiplano with its endless olive groves, highway-like roads and rural villages. In my opinion, the ride on the Via Verde could have lasted forever - simply beautiful!
Altiplano & Via Verde Andalucia
PRETTY FLAT5 km before Córdoba, I had the feeling of a creeping flat tire, which reminded me that I obviously have a guardian angel with me. How do I come to that conclusion? Here is my summary of the first 2,600 km: Only one flat tire, a small problem with the front brake, 15 km of fog in France, no rain at all and lots of sunshine ☀️
I was on the last two stages and, based on the previous course, I didn't expect to experience 60 km of rain and a lot of headwind all the way to Seville. But with the Atlantic in sight, I could just smile it away and successfully finish my journey on March 10th in Huelva. The joy over what I had achieved, which was crazy for me and unbelievable for others, spread inside me and lasted until I was on the ferry the next day. As I left the Iberian Peninsula towards the Canary Islands, the adventure I had registered for last year was back - Gran Guanche was back in my head. 🚵
After 2,799km in Huelva while waiting for the ferry
The race was scheduled to start on Saturday, March 18th at 10 a.m. But for me, the event began the moment I cycled to Orzola, saw the other participants, had lunch with them, and exchanged ideas with them about their strategies, equipment, attitudes, and motivations. Adequate hydration was clearly the key to the journey so far.
My eye-catching pink KEEGO also provided good conversation and some of the participants wished they had a flexible and lightweight bottle with them that still kept the drink fresh!
Shortly before the race, the nervousness began to rise. More than 100 participants gathered in the small church outside of Orzola, waiting for the start. While climbing through the dark, volcanic landscape of Lanzarote, following the lined-up red dots at the top, and seeing the white, lined-up participants following, my joyful head-shaking returned. Fuerteventura started with a surreal lunar landscape and many washboards. Being together with others made me forget the fatigue. Hydration was good because supermarkets and small bars made refilling easy. My first flat tire broke the rhythm, and I had to finish Fuerteventura on my own. In addition, fatigue set in. When I reached the ferry at 8 p.m., joy and excitement returned instead.
Fuerteventura Washboard Road Trail & Tenerife Anagua Rural Park
THE NEXT STAGEThe night in a hotel bed was perfect for recovery. Nevertheless, the next day started with a small setback, as I apparently lost my tracker on the ferry. The organizer calmed me down - he would consider my Strava data. The good news kept me going, and the first part of the steep climb led me to the jungle center of Gran Canaria. Beautiful green landscapes, with a blooming peak on top of the Pico de las Nieves. The descent, motivated by Mark Davis, made it possible to catch the 6 p.m. ferry. I was on a 4-day pace. ☺️ When I arrived in Tenerife by ferry, my idea of tackling Tenerife in the middle of the night with Rogier, whom I met on the ascent to Pico de las Nieves and who was also an ultra-rookie, and covering 175 km with 4,700 meters of altitude, was destroyed by the changing of the brake pads and a failing piston. Therefore, I split Tenerife into two days and tackled the first ascent after the repair for lunch, struggling with some mental breakdowns as I cycled up. But valleys must be crossed, and I made it halfway and joined up with subsequent - as fate would have it - Viennese participants to cross El Teide the next day and reach El Hierro on the fourth day. Again, the time on the ferry was used to discuss the various tactics and approaches. In the end, I was able to team up with Johannes and found in him a fellow campaigner for the plan to drive the first 50 km and 1,800 meters of altitude into the night, to cover a little less than half the distance at once and then continue after a 3-4 hour sleep near the beach.
Arrival last ride on Tenerife
THE HAPPY END
Once again, it was a case of "no sooner said than done." We mastered the night ride and formed a camp with a four-person group that stayed together until the end. Our group started at 6 a.m. and climbed El Hierro until sunrise, arriving in Timijiraque shortly after noon. Teamwork makes the dream work! We kept each other on our toes and finished the Gran Guanche in a 5-day pace. Ironically 4 Ultra Rookies. Thanks Kev, Jens and Johannes and everyone else who made it one of the toughest yet best experiences on the bike 😊
THANKS TO KEEGO FOR THE MEGA SUPPORT WITH THE BEST DRINKING BOTTLES FOR ADVENTURES OF THIS KIND AND THANKS FOR SUPPORTING MY DONATION PROJECTS
It was a great pleasure - I KEEP GOING! 👊🏽 & Donating 
Happy tired finisher smile
How can you continue to support me?
Use the discount code FANDURANCE10 for 10% discount in our shop until May 6th, 2023 inclusive. Additionally, KEEGO donates 20% of the purchase amount to Bastian's project.
The donation campaign is being carried out in favor of three different projects or pillars, hence the name:
4 Paws - 2 Feet - 1 World | 100% of the donations will be donated
- 4 Pfoten represents an organization that rescues dogs in very poor condition from the center of the Azores.
- 2 feet represents us as people, and we will support a hospice organization in Tyrol that supports sick people or their relatives on their further journey.
- 1 World represents the planet we live on and the necessary activities to preserve its beauty.
