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Artwork for Detours: Bikepacking, Ultra-Cycling and Adventures by Bike

Detours: Bikepacking, Ultra-Cycling and Adventures by Bike

Mel Webb
Bikepacking
Ultra Cycling
Silk Road Mountain Race
Atlas Mountain Race
Tour Divide
Cycling
Morocco
Kyrgyzstan
Albion Cycling
Nutrition
Highland Trail 550
Mountain Biking
Mental Resilience
Women In Cycling
Hellenic Mountain Race
New Zealand
Ultra-Cycling
Adventure Cycling
Badlands
Bikepacking Roots

Hosted by ultra endurance and adventure cyclist Mel Webb, Detours brings you stories from inside the world of bikepacking and ultra cycling, featuring racers, community members, race directors and more. This show is about celebrating the journey, and the detours along the way, as much as the destination. We're especially passionate about providing space for folks that identify as women to share th... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes91Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HobbiesLeisureSportsWilderness

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Artwork for Detours: Bikepacking, Ultra-Cycling and Adventures by Bike

Latest Episodes

Racing and riding season is in full swing! This week we hear from some of the women racing Tour Divide 2026, along with Hannah Glatter who is currently riding 5,600KM along the Great Plains Gravel Route.

Follow Mel on Instagram: @melwwebb

Follow De... more

For the first time ever, the Highland Trail 550 has a 50-50 gender split on the startline. For the 14th edition in 2026, 32 women will be racing. Since 2022, Alan has worked hard to build a 50-50 start list, encouraging women that they belong on the ... more

Nutrition is one of the most underestimated parts of bikepacking and ultra-distance racing. We can dial our kit, obsess over our gear, train for months — but if we're not fuelling well, none of it matters. This week, Dietician Uri Carlson is back on ... more

What do you do when things don't go your way? When you're caught in the eye of a storm and unsure whether to continue. When the race you trained all winter for falls apart on day one.

Justyna Jarczok has been cycling for only two years, and in that ... more

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Recent Guests

Paula Gibson
Rider, competing in this year's Tour Divide
New Zealand rider, Tour Divide competitor
Episode: Women of Tour Divide & Hannah's Great Plain Ride
Megan Hackenon
Rider, returning to the Tour Divide after 2024 win
Kelowna, British Columbia
Episode: Women of Tour Divide & Hannah's Great Plain Ride
Hannah Glatter
Rider, Great Plains Gravel Route advocate
Lawrence, Kansas
Episode: Women of Tour Divide & Hannah's Great Plain Ride
Katherine Anderson
Rider, Tour Divide rookie
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Episode: Women of Tour Divide & Hannah's Great Plain Ride
Carly (Oregonian Gal)
Rider, Tour Divide competitor
Oregon
Episode: Women of Tour Divide & Hannah's Great Plain Ride
Rachel Fox
Rider, Tour Divide participant
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Episode: Women of Tour Divide & Hannah's Great Plain Ride
Hannah (Estes Park)
Rider, Tour Divide entrant
Estes Park, Colorado
Episode: Women of Tour Divide & Hannah's Great Plain Ride
Justyna Jarczok
Ultra endurance cyclist featured in this episode
Racer in Dale's Divide
Episode: Justyna Jarczok on Reframing Setbacks and Finding Her Place in Ultra
Gala Giannini
ER doctor, ultra racer, and event organizer
ER Department / Ultra Racing & Events
Episode: Don't Be Afraid to Jump: Gala Giannini on the ER, Life by Bike and More Women on Start Lines

Host

Mel Webb
Host of Detours: Bikepacking, Ultra-Cycling and Adventures by Bike; focuses on stories from endurance cyclists, with emphasis on women's experiences and community building.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 390 ratings
  • Mel hits right on her conversations and she is genuinely interested in her guest. The content is perfect for cycling adventurers. Love the range of guest and the inspiring stories, i always glean great insights into improving my bikepacking. Love the nutrition advice, love to hear how people are packing out. Love the mental insights AND Mels voice. Like crazy comforting to hear her pleasant voice. This podcast has gotten me through January Trainer rides...

    Podcast Addict
    5
    dlm_explores
    5 months ago
  • Must Listen!!

    I’ve listened to quite a few cycling centered podcasts, and this is definitely one of the best! Mel’s skill as an interviewer are exceptional and her interviewees always have great in-depth meaningful conversation conversations about the WHY behind the ride as well as the how to’s and gear talk that we are also there for. It is not to be missed!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fabuliz on the road
    Canada5 months ago
  • Interesting chats with "ordinary" people who do superhuman things!

    Mel is such a skilled interviewer! I love how she and her guests transport you to wild locations and impossible situations, but also casually chat about daily life, to show how "ordinary" people can do extraordinary things. I'm learning a lot about training for ultra cycling, and psychology in particular, from these conversations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    superduperuser
    Canada5 months ago
  • Brilliant Show

    Great host that gets the best out of her guests. Each show gives you another insight or helpful advice.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    xXxRosiexXx1661
    Ireland8 months ago
  • One of my favorite podcasts

    Mel is a gifted interviewer and storyteller. I appreciate the care she puts into sharing such amazing stories. Truly one of my favorite podcasts!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    K N Pfaff
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests consistently highlight practical tips and inspirational stories that motivate training and adventures.
The host delivers thoughtful, in-depth conversations with guests and asks insightful questions that pull out the WHY behind the ride.
Listeners praise how the show makes ultra cycling approachable and emphasizes community and female representation.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fuelling an Ultra-Distance Bikepack Race: Uri Carlson on Nutrition for HT550 and Beyond
Q: What is a good approach to breakfast on race morning and earlier in the taper?
Treat the morning like a long ride: keep breakfast simple, focused on carbs with modest fat and protein, avoid unnecessary fiber, and don't drastically change what you've trained your gut to handle; the goal is consistency and comfort rather than a big, new meal that could upset the stomach.
Fuelling an Ultra-Distance Bikepack Race: Uri Carlson on Nutrition for HT550 and Beyond
Q: How should you approach hydration and electrolytes during a multi-day event with variable weather?
Stay consistent with hydration and electrolytes, using a baseline fluid intake while adjusting for sweat rate and temperature. Carry lightweight salt pills and electrolytes, test tolerance beforehand, and fill up strategically to avoid carrying excess weight while maintaining electrolyte balance.
Fuelling an Ultra-Distance Bikepack Race: Uri Carlson on Nutrition for HT550 and Beyond
Q: What should be the baseline carb intake and how should it be distributed across the hour?
Carbs should be the primary fuel, with fats and proteins added for hunger management and satiety. Aim for a slow, steady drip of nutrients across the hour, with about 60% of calories coming from liquids early on and balancing to include solids as you go, adjusting based on tolerance and access to resupply.
Adventure More: Sami Sauri on Building A Life In The Mountains
Q: How did you discover that you could enjoy racing and taking photos simultaneously?
I found that I could actually race and do photos at the same time, and that made the experience fun.
Holiday Throwback: Alexandera Houchin on Racing with Heart & 10 Years of Bikepacking
Q: How did you find bikes and bikepacking in the first place?
I started commuting on a bike and then got really into the bike culture of Madison, where I worked and made friends.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on bikepacking, ultra-cycling, and adventure racing, with a strong emphasis on storytelling from women and non-traditional routes into endurance sports. Episodes frequently cover race prep, mental resilience, nutrition, equipment, and the joy and challenge of detours along long-distance journeys. Listeners can expect candid conversations about community building, gender dynamics in extreme sport, and practical tips for training, fueling, and navigating remote terrain. A standout element is the host's focus on women's experiences in endurance cycling, which provides a welcoming space for ambitious athletes and curious newcomers alike to learn, be inspired, and plan their own detours into the sport.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Ultrascape Podcast; Bikepacking & Ultracycling news, discussion, chat & rumours.
2. The Mountain Races Podcast
3. Dot Comms
4. With Pace
5. King of the Ride

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 91 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Paula Gibson
2. Megan Hackenon
3. Hannah Glatter
4. Katherine Anderson
5. Carly (Oregonian Gal)
6. Rachel Fox
7. Hannah (Estes Park)
8. Justyna Jarczok

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