Dot Comms

On The Dot 001. Lost Dot 101, HT550, Hellenic Mountain Race & More! With Nicky Shaw & Rob Gardiner.

On The Dot is Dot Comms’ brand new race-dedicated show where we review the recent ultra-cycling action and look ahead at dots to watch in the near future. For this first episode Samuel Thompson is joined by Nicky Shaw and Rob Gardiner to provide some expert analysis, hot takes, inside info and occasional wild speculation. Races that are recapped include: * Highland Trail 550 * Lost Dot 101 * Mittelgebirge Classique * Wild West Country And there are dots to watch at: * Hellenic Mountain Race * Trans Balkan Race * Race Through Poland * Kromvojoj * Utrecht Ultra * Aethelred Ultra 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 015 - How Hard is Too Hard? With Co-Host Kirsten Cluley, Nelson Trees, Jenny Tough & Hélène Fromenty.

Dot Comms is the audio home of ultra-distance cycling coverage, in partnership with DotWatcher [https://dotwatcher.cc/]. 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. 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. 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 In this episode’s Roundtable we ask how hard is too hard in ultra-cycling events with guests: * Hélène Fromenty: First female finisher at the Trans Pyrenees Race, finisher of Silk Road Mountain race as a pair, and women’s podium finishes at Desertus Bikus and French Road 66, all in 2025. * Jenny Tough: Adventurer, storyteller and mountain lover. Twice first female finisher at Silk Road Mountain Race (2018, 2021) and first woman in the inaugural Atlas Mountain Race (2020). Author of Solo, chronicling her 2021 challenge to run, solo and unsupported, across a mountain range on every continent. * Nelson Trees: Founder of the Mountain Races series, renowned as some of the most prestigious and challenging ultra-cycling races in the world. Including this year’s new addition, the Taurus Mountain Race in Turkey. On the bike he has finished twice in the Top 10 at TCR and finished 4th in the Highland Trail 550 in 2018. 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 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/]