Dot Comms

Episode 014 - How Many Races Are Too Many? with Co-Host Amanda Wishart, Rich Rothwell, Chris Mehlman & Gail Brown.

Welcome to Dot Comms: The audio home of ultra-distance cycling coverage, in partnership with DotWatcher [https://dotwatcher.cc/]. This month’s episode is supported by Acier who provide ultra-distance specific coaching and consulting services. Go to Acier.cc [http://acier.cc] to find out more. Each month we bring you all the latest racing news and goings-on from the ultra-distance self-supported cycling world, and a Roundtable discussion where prominent characters of the community share their opinions on pressing issues in the sport. Presented & Produced by: Samuel Thompson of Acier Coaching & Consulting (@touriste.routier [https://www.instagram.com/touriste.routier/?__pwa=1], @acier.cc [http://acier.cc]) Co-hosted by: Amanda Wishart, Web Editor at DotWatcher In this episode’s Roundtable we ask how many ultra-cycling races are too many with guests: * Rich Rothwell - One of the most experienced endurance riders there is, at times accompanied by his teenage son, James. He is also a coach with Advance Cycling Coaching and organises The Land Between, a 320 mile self-support ultra-distance bikepacking event from Northumberland, UK. * Chris Mehlman - Endurance MTB and gravel rider who has gradually shifted towards longer events, achieving impressive results such as 4th in Unbound XL, 3rd at Badlands 2025 and 4th at AMR 2026. * Gail Brown - A physio who works with the GB Olympic team and accomplished ultra-distance rider having completed events such as the Transcontinental Race, Tour Divide and was 3rd overall in the fully self-sufficient 2020 version of GBDURO in 2020. Get in touch via our Instagram page: @dotcommspod [https://www.instagram.com/dotcommspod/?__pwa=1]or via email: dotcommspod@gmail.com DotWatcher website: https://dotwatcher.cc/ [https://dotwatcher.cc/] Acier Coaching & Consulting website: https://www.acier.cc/ [https://www.acier.cc/]

Episode 013 - Do We Need Mandatory Sleep Periods? with Co-Host Nicky Shaw, Rémy Hurdiel, Ana Orenz & Juliana Buhring.

Welcome to Dot Comms: The audio home of ultra-distance cycling coverage, in partnership with DotWatcher [https://dotwatcher.cc/]. This month’s episode is supported by Acier who provide ultra-distance specific coaching and consulting services. Go to Acier.cc [http://acier.cc] to find out more. Each month we bring you all the latest racing news and goings-on from the ultra-distance self-supported cycling world, and a Roundtable discussion where prominent characters of the community share their opinions on pressing issues in the sport. Presented & Produced by: Samuel Thompson of Acier Coaching & Consulting (@touriste.routier [https://www.instagram.com/touriste.routier/?__pwa=1], @acier.cc [http://acier.cc]) Co-hosted by: Nicky Shaw, Contributing Editor at DotWatcher (@nicky_._shaw [https://www.instagram.com/nicky_._shaw/?__pwa=1]) In this episode’s Roundtable we ask whether there is a requirement for mandatory sleep periods in self-supported ultra-distance events with guests: * Rémy Hurdiel: PhD in Sports Science and researcher at the Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale in Dunkirk, France with more than 15 years experience in the field of sleep and fatigue risk management for ultra-endurance athletes. * Juliana Buhring: Organiser of Two Volcano Sprint, Guinness World Record breaker as the fastest woman to circumnavigate the globe in 2012 and bestselling author. * Ana Orenz: Experienced ultra-distance rider with an impressive palmares including Top 10 overall finishes at 2VS, Transiberia and Transpyrenees. Get in touch via our Instagram page: @dotcommspod [https://www.instagram.com/dotcommspod/?__pwa=1]or via email: dotcommspod@gmail.com Links: DotWatcher website: https://dotwatcher.cc/ [https://dotwatcher.cc/] Acier Coaching & Consulting website: https://www.acier.cc/ [https://www.acier.cc/]

Episode 012 - Do Sponsored Athletes Receive an Advantage? With Co-Host Millie Gibbons, Jana Kesenheimer, Jack Howker & Jan-Willem Bobbink.

Dot Comms is the audio home of ultra-distance cycling coverage, in partnership with DotWatcher [https://dotwatcher.cc/]. This month’s episode is supported by Acier who provide ultra-distance specific coaching and consulting services. Go to Acier.cc [http://acier.cc] to find out more. Each month we bring you all the latest racing news and goings-on from the ultra-distance self-supported cycling world, and a Roundtable discussion where prominent characters of the community share their opinions on pressing issues in the sport. Presented & Produced by: Samuel Thompson of Acier Coaching & Consulting (@touriste.routier [https://www.instagram.com/touriste.routier/?__pwa=1], @acier.cc [http://acier.cc]) Co-hosted by: Millie Gibbons, Web Editor at DotWatcher In this episode’s Roundtable we ask whether sponsored riders receive an advantage in ultra-distance events with guests: * Jana Kesenheimer - Two time fastest women at The Transcontinental Race (6th overall in 2025), brand ambassador for Specialized, Rapha and others. * Jack Howker - Co-founder of Albion and veteran of events such as HT550 and Fat Viking. * Jan-Willem Bobbink - Organiser of The Unknown Race and experienced ultra-distance rider. Get in touch via our Instagram page: @dotcommspod [https://www.instagram.com/dotcommspod/?__pwa=1]or via email: dotcommspod@gmail.com DotWatcher website: https://dotwatcher.cc/ [https://dotwatcher.cc/] Acier Coaching & Consulting website: https://www.acier.cc/ [https://www.acier.cc/]

Episode 011 - The Dot Comms Alternative Awards with Co-Host Kitty Dennis, Niel Copeland & Mel Webb.

Welcome to Dot Comms: The audio home of ultra-distance cycling coverage, in partnership with DotWatcher [https://dotwatcher.cc/]. This month’s episode is supported by Acier who provide ultra-distance specific coaching and consulting services. Go to Acier.cc [http://acier.cc] to find out more. Each month we bring you all the latest racing news and goings-on from the ultra-distance self-supported cycling world, and a Roundtable discussion where prominent characters of the community share their opinions on pressing issues in the sport. Presented & Produced by: Samuel Thompson of Acier Coaching & Consulting (@touriste.routier [https://www.instagram.com/touriste.routier/?__pwa=1], @acier.cc [http://acier.cc]) Co-hosted by: Kitty Dennis, Managing Editor at DotWatcher In this special episode we bring you the Dot Comms Alternative Awards, highlighting those who may not get the attention they merit, giving recognition for performances and gestures that don’t fit into the typical awards boxes and just recalling some amusing anecdotes. Bringing their dotwatching expertise to assist with handing out the awards are: * Niel Copeland - coach with Turn Cycling, athlete who has done pretty much every ultra-distance event out there, bike fitter, race reporter and recipient of the DotWatcher Best DotWatcher award in 2024. * Mel Webb - Host of the Detours podcast, official roving race reporter for the Mountain Races, previous participant at SRMR, AMR & HMR and winner of the DotWatcher 2025 Documentation Award. Get in touch via our Instagram page: @dotcommspod [https://www.instagram.com/dotcommspod/?__pwa=1]or via email: dotcommspod@gmail.com Links: DotWatcher website: https://dotwatcher.cc/ [https://dotwatcher.cc/] Acier Coaching & Consulting website: https://www.acier.cc/ [https://www.acier.cc/] Acier article on Chewing the Fat: https://www.acier.cc/savoir-faire/fat-the-ultra-distance-fuel-part-three-c [https://www.acier.cc/savoir-faire/fat-the-ultra-distance-fuel-part-three-c]

Episode 010 - US vs Them: Who Does Ultra Better? with Co-Host Kirsten Cluley, Brian Alder, Hannah Simon & Adrian O'Sullivan.

Welcome to Dot Comms: The audio home of ultra-distance cycling coverage, in partnership with DotWatcher [https://dotwatcher.cc/]. This month’s episode is supported by Acier who provide ultra-distance specific coaching and consulting services. Go to Acier.cc [http://acier.cc] to find out more. Each month we bring you all the latest racing news and goings-on from the ultra-distance self-supported cycling world, and a Roundtable discussion where prominent characters of the community share their opinions on pressing issues in the sport. Presented & Produced by: Samuel Thompson of Acier Coaching & Consulting (@touriste.routier [https://www.instagram.com/touriste.routier/?__pwa=1], @acier.cc [http://acier.cc]) Co-hosted by: Kirsten Cluley, Race Coordinator at DotWatcher (@kirstencluley [https://www.instagram.com/kirstencluley/?__pwa=1]) In this episode’s Roundtable we compare and contrast the two main ultra-distance bikepacking worlds - the grassroots scene originating from the US or the European-style formally organised events with guests: * Brian Alder - Creator of Tour Te Waipounamu and experienced cyclist having ridden events including the Tour Divide, Silk Road Mountain Race & the Trans Pyrenees Race. * Hannah Simon - Ultra-distance athlete with prestigious results worldwide including first female at Silk Road Mountain Race in 2024 (9th overall) and completing the US Triple Crown Challenge in 2023. * Adrian O’Sullivan - Organiser of the TransAtlanticWay and veteran of the Transcontinental race & Trans America Bike Race. Get in touch via our Instagram page: @dotcommspod [https://www.instagram.com/dotcommspod/?__pwa=1]or via email: dotcommspod@gmail.com Links: DotWatcher website: https://dotwatcher.cc/ [https://dotwatcher.cc/] Acier Coaching & Consulting website: https://www.acier.cc/ [https://www.acier.cc/] Acier article on year-round heat training: https://www.acier.cc/knowledge/should-you-be-heat-training-year-round [https://www.acier.cc/knowledge/should-you-be-heat-training-year-round]