How I prepared my first ultra cycling gravel race

If you’re nervous about starting your first ultra gravel race: you’re not alone. For months I was latently nervous for my first ultra and this peaked to proper excitement the days before. 

Ultra cycling events have increased massively in popularity in recent years. New heroes rise every year. Following their stories inspires new waves of riders to discover the challenge of exploring the limits of body and mind on a bike. An ultra gravel race typically spans several days, covers hundreds or even thousands of kilometers, and often demands complete self-sufficiency from the rider. It’s as much a test of resilience and problem-solving as it is of cycling and strong legs.

In this guide, I’ll share how I prepared for my first ultra gravel race: the Bright Midnight 2025. The Bright Midnight is a self-supported bikepacking event in Norway, starting in Tolga and looping through rugged highlands. The race covers 1,100 kilometers and 20,000 meters of elevation, with riders given 6.5 days to finish. From October 2024 until the start on July 6th 2025, I had about 8 months to prepare.

Here’s how I prepared boiled down to 8 essential points, covering everything from training to gear, mental strategies, and in-race execution.

Understanding what you signed up for

For me the preparations started with getting a better knowledge of ultra cycling in general, and the specifics of the race I entered. Every ultra race has different challenges, terrain, and logistics. All this can influence training and planning.

Know the details
In my case: The Bright Midnight is a self-supported bike race over 1,130 kilometers with over 20,000 meters of elevation. The race starts in Tolga and passes the rugged highland landscapes of Norway. Participants have 6.5 days to complete the race back to Tolga. This means on average at least 173 kilometers need to be completed daily.

Get to know the terrain and conditions
We only received the final route a couple of weeks in advance. This is pretty common because routes need checking and can change until shortly before the start of the event. This can make it hard to plan based on the actual route. But usually aftermovies of previous editions are available to get a good first impression. You may find a gpx file of previous years, but since route builders like to mix things up I used this only to get a general feel for the area. I also studied the faq section of the Bright Midnight website for tips & tricks. For example this pointed me in a direction for the type of bike and tyre size for the event.

Study the requirements
Self-supported, what does this mean? Can you draft or not? Are you allowed help from fellow riders? Can you visit a bike shop? Can you get a ride to a doctor or do you have to do everything under your own power? Familiarize yourself with what it is you sign(ed) up for.

Research and preparation
When you receive the final route: prepare yourself into further detail. If you know how many kilometers you have to ride daily, where does this leave you on the route? Where can you stock up on supplies frequently for food and water? Do you need a place to sleep and where can you find one that suits your schedule? Odds are you don’t find your stops at the exact required daily distance. Most organizers will provide a road book, but it makes sense to have a rough plan yourself and always have an idea of where you could go during the race.

Setting up a training plan

For context: Before subscribing for the Bright Midnight I cycled anywhere between 6,000 to 7,500 kilometers for years. Gravel and road bike combined. The longest rides I did up to this point were around 200 kilometers, and those were only a few. 

I already used the Join cycling training app for a couple of years during indoor winter training on Zwift. For me the step to use this for preparing for my first ultra race was a no-brainer. During winter months this always gave me a good indication if I was on track or not.

Start early
I had around 8 months to prepare. Starting early gave me a feeling of control and allowed me time to increase mileage steadily without risking injury or burnout. I committed to a consistent training schedule leading up to the event. Starting with roughly 8-12 hours a week.

My timeline

• Base Phase (Oct–Dec): Focused on overall time on the bike and building FTP, based on a general FTP builder schedule in Join. 
• Build Phase (Jan–Apr): Combined FTP work and increased long rides. I set Bright Midnight as my specific goal in Join. I sometimes deviated a little from my Join schedule by doing more long rides than scheduled. 
• Peak Phase (May–Jun): About 6–4 weeks before my ultra I peaked my weekly kilometers. I also planned a couple of 200 kilometer rides and 1-day test-ultra of 300 km (Flatlands 300) to practice long days in the saddle and nutrition during long rides. 
• Taper Phase (late Jun): The last 14 days I reduced my volume to rest and recover before race day. 

Value time on bike and a training schedule
At the start I didn’t set any goals for kilometers per week or month. During winter in NL I mostly ride indoor on Zwift. Output in kilometers varies so much by the choice of route and climbs here that this doesn’t represent the right performance metric. Instead I committed to time on bike. Roughly 3–4 days a week I did 90–120 minutes on Zwift, strictly following my Join schedule. Although it can get boring, I find this a perfect way to follow a specific training schedule to the minute and to the watt. I topped off this indoor training with longer weekend rides of 3–4 hours. Consistency was key here.

I want to point out that training tools like Join include various different types of training into a schedule: D2 zone training, intervals, polarized, etc. If you don’t use training tools, I’d make sure to mix it up and not just “go long.”

Building endurance & strength

Ultra gravel races are not just about pedaling long hours. They test the limits of your physical durability, climbing ability, and muscular endurance. To handle back-to-back long days in the saddle, you need to train your body to keep up performance under fatigue. With the benefit of hindsight here’s a combined list of pointers based on what I did and what I should have done

Endurance rides

• When you have time, lay down a good foundation with polarized training. After this, prioritize more long and steady rides at a sustainable pace (Zone 2 heart rate, conversational speed).

• Gradually extend your long rides until you can comfortably spend 8–12 hours on the bike, mimicking the demands of race days.

• I found back-to-back long rides on weekends particularly useful for simulating consecutive days of building fatigue.

Strength training

• Strong legs power you forward, but a stable core and upper body keep you comfortable and efficient. I’ll always remember the metaphor: “you can’t fire a canon from a canoe”.

• Really plan and follow up on core stability work-outs. Think short sessions of planking, Russian twists, back extensions etc. Youtube is full of short routines.

Hills training

• With 20,000+ meters of elevation, climbing strength is non-negotiable. However, climbing in the Netherlands… that’s a problem.

• I like to think that my intervals in Zwift gave me a good base for climbing, but of course this is not specific training for hills or mountains.

• I did some outings to the South of the Netherlands to get in some hill training. When there, I tried to make the most of it and pushed for long days as well.

Nutrition and hydration strategy

Nutrition can make or break an ultra gravel race. I definitely feared struggling on the bike by running out of energy or getting hydration wrong. Unlike shorter events, where you can oversee your problems and correct them with gels and bottles, ultras require a long-term fueling plan that balances real food, quick energy, and hydration.

Practice nutrition in training

• Practice early: Don’t wait until race day to figure out what works for you. I experimented with different foods, drinks, and timing before landing on my standard package. I used to have a habit of not eating on rides shorter than 2 hours, which I changed when I started to train for ultra cycling. 
• 60–90 g of carbohydrates per hour on the bike seems to be the golden standard. I learned that during long days in the saddle it’s also a matter of giving yourself options you still fancy.  
• When you can, mix in real food (sandwiches, wraps, yoghurt) to avoid flavor fatigue and stomach upset from relying only on sports products. 

Hydration tactics

• I was told to drink regularly, not reactively. Aim for 500–750 ml of fluid per hour, adjusting for heat, terrain, and intensity. 
• Use electrolytes (sodium, magnesium, potassium) to replace what you lose in sweat. Plain water alone will not be enough in long, hot, or high-elevation races. 
• I’ve been using the same hydration mix for years now, so I trained with the same mix I used in the race. It’s smart to avoid surprises. 

Fueling for long days

• Friends who already did ultra races taught me to think in terms of meals, not just snacks. During a 12-hour day, my body craves more than gels. I prioritized stopping at shops, bakeries, or gas stations if the route passed through towns. 
• I feared running out of nutrition and carried many backup calories in case I would misjudge resupply points. Energy-dense items like nuts, dried fruit, or energy chews pack small and last long. But I did go a bit overboard with the amount and weight I carried which I would change for a next time. 

On-race adjustments

• Listen to your body: if you’re bloated, slow down fueling temporarily and sip fluids until your gut settles. 
• Don’t ignore hunger or thirst signals, but also don’t overcompensate — consistency is the key.
  

Equipment and bikepacking gear preparations

When it comes to ultra gravel races, your bike and gear are your lifeline. In a self-supported event, every choice matters, from your gear ratio to your rain jacket. I made a packing list of everything I carried for my first ultra. But here’s a first impression of important items.

Bike setup

• Fit your bike: A gravel bike with comfortable geometry keeps you happy on long rides. I highly recommend doing a professional bike fit session before you start training for an ultra cycling race. I did one before actually purchasing my gravel bike.   
• Gearing: Choose a wide range to tackle steep climbs when fatigue sets in. My setup (SRAM) for the Brigh Midnight was a wolftooth 38t chainring with a 10-44 SRAM XPLR cassette. This was ok for almost the whole race, but there were 2 steep climbs where I chose walking parts over biking. 
• Tires: Nothing new here: choose the right tire. I think in gravel, tubeless really is a no-brainer. I ride 40mm Tufo Thundero’s that I’m pretty happy about. Had no punctures for the entire race. 
• Comfort additions: I added aero bars for alternative hand positions. Also a well-tested saddle will reduce strain over multi-day rides, but don’t forget the chamois cream! 

Essential gear

• Repair kit: I carried 2 inner tubes for backup, plugs, tire levers, CO2 cartridges, multi-tool, spare chain quick-links and extra sealant. 
• Lights: Although Bright Midnight is fairly light at night, lights are still recommended. I chose the Exposure Race MK 18 (2800 lumens). Which lasts a long time but you do have to charge. Any reliable rear light with USB recharge will do, and I used an extra Nitecore head torch as a backup rear light or during stops. 
• Navigation: A GPS device with the race route preloaded, plus a backup. For me the Wahoo element bolt v2 worked fine. 
• Bags: Frame bag, saddle bag, and top tube bag for food, tools, and essentials. Keep weight balanced and accessible. Mine was a combination of Restrap (Saddle and Frame bag) and Tailfin (Top tube and Handle bar bag). 

Clothing for all conditions

• Layering system: Base layers, a windproof jacket, and a waterproof shell. Temperatures in Norway (or other high-elevation events) can swing dramatically between day and night. 
• Rain protection: My rain setup was a Maap atmos rain jacket, combined with an Endura humvee ¾ shorts, Endura waterproof socks and BBB overshoes 
• Cold weather: I brought lightweight (waterproof) gloves, knee and leg warmers, a buff and a ultra light down puffer jacket
   

Lightweight packing

• If you have the option to bring things for multiple purposes that’s a big plus. For example, a lightweight down jacket can double as evening warmth, jacket for cold descents and an extra sleep layer. 
• Carry only what you truly need. I really learned during my first ultra: every extra kilo becomes a burden on climbs. In hindsight I brought too much food that I could also buy at stops and too much double backup bike fixing stuff. 
• Resupply opportunities (shops, gas stations) along the route reduce the need to carry large food reserves, but always keep an emergency stash. 

Key tip: Test your full setup at least once. Preferably including a night out in your sleeping gear. This helps you practice packing and make sense of the “what goes where best” logistics on your bike. It also shows how your body and gear performs after 12+ hours on the bike. Don’t forget to also test your rain setup. Discovering that your rain jacket leaks or your saddle bag rubs against your wheels is far better during training than on race day.

Mental preparations

Endurance events are more than a physical challenge. For me it was just as much a mental game. When you’re 3 days in, exhausted, sore, and facing yet another climb in the rain, your mindset is what keeps you moving forward. Training your mind is just as important as training your legs.

Build mental resilience in training

• Simulate discomfort: I went for long rides in bad weather, preferably after a night out before. I still do now. I got used to not being bothered by the rain or muddy terrain. And getting back home after these dirty rides always gives me a greater sense of accomplishment 
• Back-to-back long rides: Besides building stamina, these teach you what it feels like to ride on tired legs and how to manage fatigue mentally as well as physically.
• Limitations as lessons: Everything is a matter of perspective. Instead of seeing setbacks (bonking, flats, bad days) as a negative, I tried to treat them as practice for race-day problem-solving (it will rain in Norway.. I will have punctures in Norway.. I will be cold and tired in Norway etc.) 

Positive reinforcement

• Break the race into segments: Someone taught me: you don’t have to eat the whole elephant all at once, just piece by piece. Instead of thinking about the full 1000km ultra distance, focus on reaching the next climb, town, or resupply. Smaller goals are mentally manageable. Fooling yourself helps. 
• Affirmations: Simple reminders like “keep moving forward” or “every pedal stroke counts” can be surprisingly powerful when spirits are low. I remember thinking for hours: “you’ve got all the time in the world and nothing else to do. You just have to get this number of kilometers down” 

Handling unexpected challenges

• Expect the unexpected: Weather shifts, mechanical failures, fatigue and moodswings. These are all part of the game. Imagining things will happen, makes them less intimidating when they occur. 
• Have backup plans: Knowing your gear. Carrying the tools and skills to fix a mechanical issue. These things matter and give a feeling of control. If I did not make the ferry, B&B or hotel, I carried a small sleep setup as a backup for ease of mind. Be resilient, there is always a “next best thing”. 
• Stay flexible: Things rarely go perfect. It’s better to adapt than resist. I suffered from medical issues and self pity on day 5. That took me the better part of a day to get back going. A big part of that was me being stuck in not letting go of how I thought things should have gone.

Enjoy the adventure

• Remind yourself you voluntarily signed up for this. That you must not forget to enjoy every part of the race. Ultra races are as much about adventure as performance. Take moments to appreciate the landscapes, the solitude, or the camaraderie when you cross paths with others. 
• Don’t expect you will be the one to own this ultra thing the first time. Of course you will run into the limits of your body. These events are meant to challenge you. It’s probably why you signed up in the first place. So when you manage to push yourself to your limits, grab the opportunity to learn who you are when you’re on the edge of what you think you can take.
  

Tapering and final preparations

Once you’ve put in the long rides, tested your gear, and dialed in on nutrition, it’s time to let your body recover and sharpen up before race day. The final weeks aren’t about building fitness. Here is where you think about arriving fresh, confident, and ready.

The taper phase

• When to start: I began tapering about 2–3 weeks before the race and was fresh at the start. 
• Reduce volume, not intensity: Cut total training hours by 30–50%, but keep some shorter, sharper rides to stay active. 
• Rest matters: Prioritize sleep and recovery. Arriving well-rested is far better than being overtrained and exhausted. 

Final gear checks

• Do a full bike service: check your drivetrain; replace brake pads, tires, and cables if needed. I definitely didn’t want to risk scratching because of something I could have renewed or maintained before the race. 
• Double-check your packing system: make sure everything fits, nothing rattles, and essentials are easy to access. 
• Test ride with race setup fully loaded. Even a short spin can reveal issues like rubbing bags, slipping straps, or having no access to things you need. 

Nutrition & hydration prep

• Stock up on your preferred fueling items in advance, especially those that might not be available near the race start. 
• Hydrate well in the final days, but don’t overdo it — balance fluids with electrolytes. 
• Avoid radically changing your diet the week before. Stick to what your body knows and trusts. 

Mental and logistical preparation

• Plan travel and rest: Arrive at the start rested, not rushed. Stress before the race can drain energy reserves. 
• Know the start routine: Understand registration, mandatory gear checks, and start times to avoid last-minute panic. 
• Visualization: I didn’t do this myself, but many riders I met spent time mentally walking through the race. Things like gear setup, imagining the first few hours, tackling steep climbs or hike-a-bikes. 

Night before the race

• Run through a final checklist. Lay out and pack all gear, food, and clothing so nothing is forgotten. 
• Charge all devices (bike computer, lights, phone, power banks). 
• Eat a balanced dinner (carbs, protein, healthy fats), but not so much you feel heavy. 
• Get to bed early. Even if you don’t sleep perfectly, resting your body counts.
  

Race day

The months of training, planning, and preparation all come down to this: the start line. Cliche: Ultra gravel races are marathons, not sprints. Your success comes from smart pacing, steady fueling, and managing both body and mind. Race day tips comes down to sort of a summary of all of the above:

Pacing strategies

• Start easy. The adrenaline of the start can trick you into going too hard. Ride at a sustainable pace that feels almost “too slow.” You’ll thank yourself later. In hindsight almost everyone I met talks about starting to fast on the first day. 
• Think in segments: Remember eating the elephant not at once, but in pieces. Break the route into manageable chunks and focus on reaching the next target, not the finish line. 
• Ride your own race: Don’t get caught chasing others. What works for them might burn you out. You may be on totally different schedules. 

Nutrition and hydration

• Eat before you’re hungry, drink before you’re thirsty. When you feel empty don’t feel bad to take a one hour break and replenish. At the moment this may seem long but it really is nothing if you ride for days. 
• Rotate between quick fuels (bars, gels, chews) and real food (sandwiches, wraps, rice cakes) to avoid flavor or stomach fatigue. 
• When you go into remote areas, keep at least one bottle filled and some backup food. Grab your chance when you come across streams of fresh water. 

Managing fatigue and discomfort

• Micro-breaks work wonders: A few minutes to stretch, refill bottles, or eat can reset your energy. 
• Check your contact points: don’t forget to cream up at every stop. Vary in positions you use on the bike and steering. 
• Sleep when needed: Some riders push through, but I found even short power naps can dramatically improve performance and safety. 

Staying motivated and focused

• Expect highs and lows: Your energy and mood will swing. Remind yourself that all you need to do is eat, drink and keep pushing the pedals. Total kilometers to finish need to come down. That’s all there is to it. 
• Mental resets: A snack, a song, a quick stretch, or a conversation with another rider can shift your mindset. I found I always felt more upbeat after sugar and gels. So that became a default first try fix. 
• Remember why you’re here: Whether it’s adventure, personal growth, or simply finishing, reconnect with your motivation during tough times. 

Enjoy the journey

• Ultra races are as much about experience as competition. Take in the landscapes, the solitude, and the camaraderie when paths cross. 
• Don’t let the pressure of finishing overshadow the adventure itself. The memories of the journey often outlast the result.