It isn't necessarily about getting quick in-between the tape
July 5, 2022 2:19 PM Subscribe
Matthew Fairbrother is a 17-year-old from Christchurch, New Zealand. This is his first time outside of New Zealand and he's in Europe by himself. He's racing the MTB Enduro World Series but, being short on funds, he rides up to 250km a day on his Enduro mountain bike between the events as he bikepacks through Europe.
"The only thing I changed from the race set-up was the tyres - I took off the mountain bike tyres and put on some slicks. Other than that the set-up is the exact same as the EWS race bike. For bags, it was just whatever I was given. It was quite a good set up to be honest even though I didn't have much of a choice. It was bar, seat, top tube - everything on the bike. Nothing on my back. That's essential."
Chamois? No chamois.
(via the Blister Podcast)
"The only thing I changed from the race set-up was the tyres - I took off the mountain bike tyres and put on some slicks. Other than that the set-up is the exact same as the EWS race bike. For bags, it was just whatever I was given. It was quite a good set up to be honest even though I didn't have much of a choice. It was bar, seat, top tube - everything on the bike. Nothing on my back. That's essential."
Chamois? No chamois.
(via the Blister Podcast)
Even someone of modest athleticism can get a lot further on a good bike than a lot of people realize but 250km in a day is definitely a lot.
posted by mhoye at 4:16 PM on July 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by mhoye at 4:16 PM on July 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
That's a proper bikepacking setup, no panniers or overloaded front forks just the handlebar, top tube, frame, and seat. I'd say it's probably too minimalist because he hasn't been able to get a good night's sleep even though he's obviously dead tired at the end of the day but that's part of the appeal too I think.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 4:44 PM on July 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 4:44 PM on July 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
250 km is 155 miles. I think the most I've done in a day is about 120 miles, and after that it's largely about nutrition management, but this kid is also being competitive somewhere on the days when he's not riding from venue to venue.
Mad props.
Deep in the comments on this Single Track World article on him there's a GoFundMe which says that he's raised enough to compete in the North American bit of the circuit, including a bit extra for few nights indoors (and some couches to crash on), and picked up a little sponsorship help.
posted by straw at 5:13 PM on July 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Mad props.
Deep in the comments on this Single Track World article on him there's a GoFundMe which says that he's raised enough to compete in the North American bit of the circuit, including a bit extra for few nights indoors (and some couches to crash on), and picked up a little sponsorship help.
posted by straw at 5:13 PM on July 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
and after that it's largely about nutrition management
Coca Cola, chocolate and gummy bears...
posted by Chuffy at 6:11 PM on July 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Coca Cola, chocolate and gummy bears...
posted by Chuffy at 6:11 PM on July 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Coca Cola, chocolate and gummy bears...
I just love that, after he tore his tongue apart with gummy bears that had rough sugar on the outside, he just moved to gummy bears without sugar on the outside as a solution. Nutritional management - gummy bear style.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 6:20 PM on July 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
I just love that, after he tore his tongue apart with gummy bears that had rough sugar on the outside, he just moved to gummy bears without sugar on the outside as a solution. Nutritional management - gummy bear style.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 6:20 PM on July 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Reminds me of another New Zealander known for going fast on two wheels.
posted by TedW at 6:49 PM on July 5, 2022
posted by TedW at 6:49 PM on July 5, 2022
and after that it's largely about nutrition management
Coca Cola, chocolate and gummy bears...
To be 17 again.
posted by jmauro at 8:52 PM on July 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Coca Cola, chocolate and gummy bears...
To be 17 again.
posted by jmauro at 8:52 PM on July 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
"It's bloody mint riding over this side of the world", nice to hear Kiwi talk!
What an awesome guy, pretty driven to cycle to each event. Yeah, 250Km in a day is a lot, I did that twice while touring; once in Europe rode into a part of France I didn't like so kept pedaling to the next crossing back into Belgium, and a very long day in Alaska. Great to have all that energy, and endless appetite, and not put on weight despite that.
I hope he gets support, a world champion in the making, with a very aware, mature outlook.
posted by unearthed at 2:32 AM on July 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
What an awesome guy, pretty driven to cycle to each event. Yeah, 250Km in a day is a lot, I did that twice while touring; once in Europe rode into a part of France I didn't like so kept pedaling to the next crossing back into Belgium, and a very long day in Alaska. Great to have all that energy, and endless appetite, and not put on weight despite that.
I hope he gets support, a world champion in the making, with a very aware, mature outlook.
posted by unearthed at 2:32 AM on July 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
Looking at his Strava he did around 1300 km from Amsterdam to Austria (almost Slovenia) in 5 days, including taking most of one day off. That’s crazy if you plan to compete straight afterwards.
(I’ve done the similar distance Paris-Brest-Paris endurance event in a similar time and was absolutely fucked)
posted by grahamparks at 4:13 AM on July 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
(I’ve done the similar distance Paris-Brest-Paris endurance event in a similar time and was absolutely fucked)
posted by grahamparks at 4:13 AM on July 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
People like to say "youth is wasted on the young" but this guy's got it all figured out. Thanks for pointing out the gofundme, I'll get him a few gummies.
posted by LegallyBread at 6:18 AM on July 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by LegallyBread at 6:18 AM on July 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
This is one of the things I love about Kiwis and Aussies. The urge to wander is strong within them.
posted by GallonOfAlan at 7:43 AM on July 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by GallonOfAlan at 7:43 AM on July 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
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It's bloody mint riding over this side of the world.
posted by chavenet at 2:38 PM on July 5, 2022 [8 favorites]