"It's a challenge, we'll see if I can do it," Flecha admitted. The Scottish version of Further is a challenge, we'll see if I can do it," he admitted, expectantly in the hours leading up to the successful conclusion of the Scottish version of Further.
"Each one is motivated by what he likes, Valverde likes the gravel world championship, I like this concept, of quieter cycling, of ultra-endurance, of many hours on the bike and the uncertainty of knowing what obstacles the organizer is going to put in front of you".
In bikepacking terms, the Scottish version of Further could be considered a sprint, but nothing could be further from the truth, as it meant a return to the cycling of the roots, to the first Tours de France in history, rescuing concepts of solitude and self-sufficiency.
We are talking about an event created by a romantic," -Flecha continues- that starts from a remote place, from a train station, accessible only by bike or train. You are isolated, it forces you to sleep outside the night before, to make sure you have the right equipment.
At the mercy of the elements
The title of the Scottish version carries the tagline "The elements". On paper, the course and elevation gain don't seem the most complicated: 700 kilometers and 9,000 meters. "The adversity comes not so much from the route, but from the weather conditions in an area badly hit by a storm that knocked down trees, destroyed roads and overflowed rivers".
An experience profile that meets that "adventurous spirit that has always accompanied me. They give you a route, shortly before leaving, and you mark the way, without established stops".
The complexity was in several areas because the test went through some areas in which "the GPS does not solve you and you are forced to use your brain, there comes a time when you have to look up and know how to find the best way, beyond the GPS".
A hostile environment on paper, but which Flecha enjoys to the fullest: "Riding a bike for many hours, calm pace, little adrenaline".
His approach to the event focused on the material: "I go out on my bike as much as I can and I have a very active day-to-day life. But here, the important thing was to prepare the equipment well to sleep three nights outdoors. What bag to use, what mattress, what tent bag. To foresee a little bit the schedules that can fit in and to know where to stock up on food. That's the most important preparation beforehand.
Trying out Gobik winter gear
On this adventure he was able to test several pieces from Gobik's winter collection in the worst of the cold and wet conditions and try out upcoming garments.
"The Deep Winter socks" have served me well in very demanding environments where I had to get wet. With their merino base, they are soft and warm. I also had to take out the gloves with Polartec and got a lot out of the "Envy" jacket, with its new color, as well as the bibs “Absolute" with a nice thermal sensation and, very important, a good chamois.
Hardness, solitude, origin and uniqueness, this is the cycling that Flecha experienced in Scotland, in an environment of exceptional beauty, with adverse weather, but surprises that make you happy, like the rainbow that assaults you after the storm and the almost familiar experience with the other participants.