Bright Midnight Bikepacking Race: Cycling 1100km Non-Stop Across Norway (Ultra Race Film)

Forget everything you know about ultra cycling… because you haven’t seen it all. Join me for my solo, non-stop journey cycling 1100km across the brutal, beautiful expanse of Norway, where the sun never goes down.

Racing the Bright Midnight Bikepacking Race means battling sleep deprivation, crushing mountain climbs, and endless gravel roads. This self-supported solo bikepacking adventure was the ultimate test of endurance.

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And that’s an adventure. Just when I thought it could not get worse, it did. I’m terrified. The hiker bike next to a waterfall and there’s no path. Forget everything you know about longd distanceance cycling. This is an adventure where the sun never goes down through some of the most beautiful and roughest terrain in Norway. 1,100 kilometers. Can I make it? This is the bright midnight race. [Applause] Bright midnight race. Here we go. Trying to get uh there. So, how do you do it? Well, taking a train from Oslo to Tolka. Hopefully, we can get on the train with the bikes and then uh the race starts there. The race takes place north of Oslo in the village of Tolga. From there, the riders will tackle 1,100 kilometers with a whopping 20,000 m of elevation, heading east to west before taking a ferry that is going to be tricky. And turning south through the Fiors and even passing the highest peak in Northern Europe through the SE fior. It’s a mix of gravel, road, and even trail surfaces, taking riders through some of the most amazing and remote areas in Norway before going back to Tolga to Tolga from Oslo. So, we are here all together in the train with the bikes now switching in Hammer and then one to Toga. It’s around 4 hours. We bump into some riders from the race. So, we made it to Toga. They let our bikes in the train. That’s an achievement. Now to the bike shop. [Music] [Applause] So, made it to the bike shop in Tolga. My tire got unseated during the flight, so they added some sealant. I hope it’s okay now. And 22k to the cabin. [Music] So, we are here at the checkin. Time to pick up the cup and the trucker. It’s been raining quite mild enough. [Music] got the cup 91. Let’s see. Will I survive or not? This is my setup for the bright midnight race. In Norway is a mixed terrain race, so you have some gravel and tarmac. That’s why I chose my Ros back road bike with a Pirelli Chinato gravel tires 40 mm. So not too white. Then I have as RAM mallet setup AXS Eagle XS1 with the Kogel cage. Some Shimano XTR pedals. Then I have the Tin Ato pack, the Telfin top tube back, a frame back for the electronics. And I wanted to switch out my cockpit just for the race because I wanted to mount some Aerob bars. And I use the Red Shift suspension stem with a normal handlebar to be able to mount the control tech bars because it’s good for comfort and also speed for this fast gravel and tarmac. I got a lot of questions about how I managed to mount a bar on my Ros back road. It comes with an integrated handlebar, but the cables are not routed internally. It’s a very smart system, so the cables are actually externally routed, but super well hidden, so it keeps it clean. But you can easily swap it around without taking any cables out. You just lose the levers and that’s it. You can do it in minutes and then choose whatever handlebar and stem you want. In this case, I took the Red Chief suspension pro stem in 80 mm because I wanted to have some suspension for the rough descents and terrain. This worked really well in previous races like Badlands. And then I had a handlebar with ergonomic gripping, but then a clamping area for the Aerob bars. It also comes in different versions. I use the Pro, but there’s also the normal version in different sizes. This one is 55 mm. and how it works. It has some elastimemers inside with different strengths that you can switch around. It’s very easy and super lightweight. And remember to check out the description to find the links to all my gear and exclusive discounts. Then Garmin computer, Insta 360, Supernova Light. Then I have my Albon kit including rain pants because you never know in Norway and Quark hooks for comfort. Ready for the race. Let’s see how it performs. So, pre-race dinner. I like to have carbs with some protein, not too much fiber. So, some rice with egg gluten-free. The night before the race, I like to do the final gear check and pack everything inside my bags. I have some Albon burners, rain pants, bath, rain jacket, precision fuel and hydration gels, 300 gram, 90 grams, shoes, of course, electrolytes, Garmin computer, emergency blanket, some toiletry, sunscreen, sila wiping gear pump, Insta 360, Supernova lights, [Music] So, it’s the start of the race. We are staying in a cabin and now we cycle 20k to shake up the legs to the start line. We are in Tolga. The race starts here and then we go uh more to the I think towards the west like up the west. Then we go to like a mountain hut. So after 200k it might be cold there and there is a ferry so you have to time it. I think it runs from uh 6 to 11. Uh so yeah, definitely have to make sure to ride consistently and make it to the ferry. After that, it’s kind of uh some tricky parts before like uh something like of a hiking and a bit of a a tricky part and I think after the ferry things get easier hopefully. So we are here at the start line of the bright midnight waiting for night and then rolling out. The weather is a bit tricky. You don’t know what to wear. Rain gear or not. Have to make it in 3 days and a half. Can I make it? Leave a comment below. And everybody follow Andre. [Music] Let’s go. Starting [Music] start off the race with a little climb. Let’s do it. Rain saving the day. [Music] [Music] So, we are 10k in into the race. Mostly gravel and a lot of up. It’s more like rolling hills. It’s not like a big climb but more like rolling hills. So definitely takes up uh some energy. So better to pace yourself at the beginning otherwise you might pay for it later. Muddy already. [Music] The pace at the beginning of the race was super hard. Everybody was going full gas and then the smooth gravel turned into rougher terrain and even trails. I was getting dropped. People were going full gas on the steep hills. But I decided to pace myself and save some energy for the night as I knew it will be an advantage for me. So 80king very steep. I rather not burn my legs. have some riders. [Music] More walking already than expected. In brightly time, you find everything slow. Parts of the trail were difficult to find through some dense forest and you had to open some cheap gates to find it. I got lost several times, but finally found the way. And then the light rain transformed into a storm. I got full of mud. So, here I am. 136 K in. It rained. It was super muddy. And now there’s a bit of dry. That’s nice. I’m pushing through the night. [Applause] [Music] The landscape is worth it. You wonder sometimes why you sign up for those things. Well, that’s why. Okay, we are 212k in. I guess this is the climb to the hut. It’s going to be chilly. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Right. Midnight. Is it true? It is. It’s 12 and it’s still daylight. That’s amazing. I mean, that’s really nice because you can actually sit during the night. Planning to ride through the night and see if I can make it tomorrow to the ferry. Ah, so turns out you need a bank card to get in here and it’s self service. Interesting. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] I resupply in the supermarket for the night and continue towards the ferry. The first one was at 6:00 in the morning and then every half an hour. I hope to make it there for a early morning one. I guess this is the MO experience. Mother. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] So the bus is closed. Because the road is not ready. So you have to take a hiker bike. This is going to take a while. And I came from there. I’m terrified. The hiker bike next to a waterfall and there’s no path. Day one was really fast rolling and I managed to make a lot of progress riding more than 300 kilometers. I decided to continue riding into the night as it was clear, but I lost a lot of time in the m and also in the hiker bike. Day two of the bright midnight. My race plan to make it to an early ferry went to the garbage after the haiko bike took me hours to get out of there. But finally, I reached the road. The trolls stinger. The road of the trolls was amazing. One of the highlights of the race, riding through the fjords with all the snow and the sun was epic. But I had to make it to the ferry. Things came together there. There were more riders waiting. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Made it to the ferry in Russian. So you can take it for free for cyclist. Runs every half an hour, I think. So here we are. Riders to the ferry. the shopping. Quick supermarket break. [Music] Having a snack and enjoying the views before the hike. Uh-oh. [Music] up and down. Thought the wars was over, but no, there was another hike bike. It was too steep to ride up and also too steep to ride down. I could have fallen, but the views were amazing. And it was a old road constructed in 1938. [Music] My legs are very cooked. I’m also walking today. [Music] So another mountain pass 200 no 543 kilometers in. Climbing, climbing. Have to make it to the hotel. 640 kilometers, so still a while. [Music] In the afternoon, I started to make my way up through a scenic mountain road through the Fiors leading to probably one of my favorite spots, the Lavaknet lake up in the mountains. It was full of snow. Wow. It’s like from a movie. Insane. And so cold. I mean, look at the snow. Wow. Proper no way. [Music] It was getting dark and cold, so I decided to stop and book a hotel farther up in Lom at 636 km. There was one that had 24 hours reception, so I was sure I will make it. Good morning. Day three of the bright midnight. I think currently 650k in at the supermarket. Warming up and having breakfast. And now the big time. [Music] Making progress. Ah, the sleep really helps. had like four hours was good. Yesterday I was cooked. I encountered some cows along the way. I must say were the biggest cows I ever seen. They were really marking the territory, but I didn’t mind. I was really happy and energized after a night of sleep. I felt super good, ready to tackle the day. The first challenge will be the highest pass in Northern Europe and also in Norway. The landscape is in nowhere. It’s like a mirror. Wow. And I say this race is so beautiful. Here we have it. The pass 1,160 m. Making progress. It takes a while to get to the top, but this epic road connects the long and ga through high altitude landscapes of the national park, offering views of glacier, peaks, and valleys. High up in the sky, we are [Music] I thought was the top, but no, it continues. Wow. [Music] So I think I reached the top now hopefully. Wow, this is like from another planet. [Music] Yeah, cherry in the bright green light and Norway is beautiful. Look at this. Yes, I agree. Don’t watch her along the way. I think it’s found in Norway. See, look. Went up a gravel climb. Huh? Oh, it’s nice. Update. Day three. So, up in the mountains. A gravel road. Warmer than expected to be honest. Uh, pretty nice gravel roads. Amazing views. Having a snack. So, the race is really beautiful. There’s a lot of climbing. Some hiker bike yesterday. Today rolling a bit more. some cyclist. I’m currently in a popular route for cyclist. So, I will link the location below. Yeah. So far so good. Yesterday I was cooked, but today I feel better after a night of sleep. Tusen Metaren is a thousand me gravel road that starts near the town of Ardan. It climbs up 42 herping corners until you reach an impressive viewpoint overlooking the town and the Fior of trouble staying awake. So taking a break. Oh, you have this deep of sleep. But uh yeah, found a nice spots. got very sleepy at 400 p.m. So, I decided to take a nap and then clean my chain using the Silka wipe and then topping up with some lube. And in bright midnight, you are never alone, huh? The chip, of course, always there. Hello. They’re looking at me. Am I in trouble? The goats. The goats are not like the cheap, huh? Look at them. Huh? Oh, yeah. Yeah. This climb is just a straight line. Nothing. No switchbacks, nothing. I was tight on time. All the hiking of the second day made me delay on my schedule. So I decided to ride through another night to make up time and try to make it in 3 days and a half into the night. It’s like nearly 10 here in the mountains. Just had a snack and put the layers on for the night because it’s getting chilly. [Music] Wow, the colors. I only had one more day to finish the race. I was running out of time, so I decided to ride again through the night. This area was much more humid and cold and I was freezing. Running also out of food and water was a critical time. Morning. Day four. I don’t have water anymore. It’s 3:00 in the morning and everything is closed, but I found a bathroom that is open. So, I’m going to refill my bottles. In no way you can drink the water from the tub. It’s quite chilly here more than up in the mountains. It’s 3:00 in the morning and it’s so cold and I don’t have water anymore. Lifesaver. Good morning. Day four. Chilly. Sleep deprived. Tricky. Tricky. Not making progress. Just have to keep on moving. I’m really tired. Feeling really bad. Was a very tough night. And look. Oh my god. While horses, I don’t know. They’re coming towards me. We Oh [Music] 1,128K. [Music] The landscape here is insane. Looks like from my favorite table all the time. I don’t know. Wow. [Music] Okay. Got uh the water from the stream, but it’s not clear. So, I’m going to use the aquataps not to get sick. Wait 30 minutes. I’m dehydrated. Haven’t had water for hours. You are surrounded by water, but you don’t find water. Like, uh, that’s the most There’s chip everywhere. I don’t I’m desperate. [Music] Let’s see. [Music] [Music] here eating uncooked. have not did them for hours. Ultra life. These breasts are good. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] I I’m fixing your mask. You’re back here. You did it. Oh, How are your lungs? Get back your breath. Don’t breath. Come on. It was so cold this morning. Yeah. But you’re here now. I made it for your birthday. And I didn’t crash a single time. You didn’t? I didn’t crash a single time. You were close. It’s my It’s my first race without crashing. This is to keep it. Yeah. Huh? You were going to h Yeah, I walk. I I was like watching, you know, the cycle bike and people were descending it. I was like, [Laughter] what am I doing with my life? They were just like, oh, and the guy overtook me and he was like, oh, this is super fun, right? I was like, what? This is so scary. Tell the body, hey, it’s not over. So, right midnight post race, right? I don’t feel that bad because I walk a lot. So, good for the saddle source and the hands and everything. I always end up walking a lot cuz I’m so bad my skills. But it was super fun. And this is so beautiful. I love it. So, recovery food tacos. Leard leers. So dinner time we are in Roros and they even playing Spanish music. [Music]