What do adventure racing and ultra cycling have in common? More than you think.
This week on The Dark Zone, Brian sits down with David Ayre of Lost Dot — the organization behind some of the world’s most demanding ultra cycling events. What starts as a conversation about bikes across continents quickly reveals something familiar: dot watching, control points, self-sufficiency, volunteers as the backbone of the race, and a community built on the same ethos we live by in adventure racing.
David walks us through the Lost Dot race portfolio, the legacy of TCR founder Mike Hall, the nuanced world of self-supported racing ethics, and the organization’s newest initiative — a race designed specifically for women, trans, and non-binary riders that drew more than a hundred applicants for its inaugural edition.
If you’ve ever wondered what racing looks like on two wheels across an entire continent, this episode is your answer.
Shownotes:
Lost Dot Racing – https://www.lostdot.cc/tcr
Lost Dot Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thetranscontinental/
Sponsor Links:
Adventure Addicts Racing’s Brake The Habit AR – https://www.adventureaddictsracing.com/copy-of-brake-the-habit-1
Photographer Nic Wynia – https://www.storycityfilms.com/new-gallery-3
The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast 