There is a very specific kind of freedom that comes with having a cyclist boyfriend. It usually starts with a sentence like: “I’m just going for a ride. I’ll probably be back around 11.” Great! A few hours to myself. No plans. No questions. No one asking what
I never planned on becoming a cyclist. In fact, I still don’t think I am one. I don’t own a road bike. I don’t know my FTP. And I have never voluntarily gone out for a ride before breakfast. But somewhere along the way, something changed. I
Statistics: Furka Pass from Andermatt, Switzerland Length: 7,18 miles / 11,55 km Elevation Gain: 2799 feet / 853 m Average Gradient: 7,4% Strava Segment: https://strava.app.link/4ZZ9biu240b Hotel Recommendation: https://thebaseandermatt.com Best time to go: June to September/October Starting in Andermatt and finishing in the
At 2802 m / 9193 ft, the Col de la Bonette is France's highest paved Pass and one of the highest paved roads in Europe. There are two main ascents to the Summit of the Bonette. The southern ascent pictured above from Saint Etienne de Tinee is around 26
Training partners are arguably the most important element in becoming a stronger cyclist. In my opinion, a good training partner is far more important in cycling than a dedicated training plan. So what makes a good training partner, and most importantly why should you ride with cyclists much stronger than
Today, I am very proud to announce the Gipfel Collective's first partnership with dunatura! Dunatura is a German health and nutrition company that focuses on personalized vitamins and supplements. In collaboration with dunatura, the Gipfel Collective and I have created a "Radpack" or Cycling Vitamin Pack
I’ve said it before: Nobody prepares you for dating a cyclist. You expect early alarms, Sunday Mornings alone at home, and hearing the phrase “It’s an investment” every time another suspiciously identical black bike part arrives at your front door. What you don’t expect is becoming an
As the peak of Summer nears and the year's highest temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere approaches, I thought it would be fitting to discuss the benefits of training in the heat. Not surprisingly, there is now compelling evidence that suggests that training in the heat (> 90F / 32C)
Every year the Berchtesgaden Bicycle Association hosts an Everesting Event on Germany's highest Panoramic road, the Roßfeld Straße. This year's event is taking place tomorrow on the 13th of June. In cycling terms, an "Everesting" means riding repeatedly up and down a chosen climb
Statistics: Passo Giau from Pocol, Dolomites, Italy Length: 9,8 km / 6,1 miles Elevation Gain: 923 m / 3028 feet Average Gradient: 9,5% In honor of Stage 19 of the 2026 Giro d'Italia today, and the highest point of this year's race (the Cima Coppi)
Today’s internet is unfortunately inundated with cycling training information. With that being said, training based on power and lactate threshold is a relatively new phenomenon in cycling. I believe and have always believed in hard consistent training to become faster on the bike, rather than taking a highly structured
Statistics: Albula Pass from Tiefencastel, Switzerland Distance: 22,5 km / 14 miles Elevation Gain: 1360 m / 4462 feet Average Gradient: 6,1% The Albula Pass sits in the heart of Switzerland's Graubünden Region connecting St. Moritz and the Engadin Valley to the Northern Grisons. The Albula is in
News
An observational study from someone who gifted the wrong things too many times. Buying gifts for a cyclist boyfriend seems easy at first. They have one very obvious interest. One clear hobby. An entire personality built around riding bikes up mountains for fun. How hard can it be? What I
Climbs
Statistics: Timmelsjoch from St. Leonhard (Merano), Italy Distance: 29,1 km / 18,1 miles Elevation Gain: 1806 m / 5925 feet Average Gradient: 6,2 % Timmelsjoch or Passo Rombo historically linked the Ötztal Valley in Tyrol with the Passeir Valley in South Tyrol. Today, Timmelsjoch is considered to be one of
News
A completely accurate, only slightly concerning inventory (now much more realistic than I ever wanted) At some point early in this relationship, I believed cycling was something people did. Like, occasionally. On weekends. When the sun is out. For fun. That version of reality lasted about three weeks. I knew
News
Whether I am commuting or passing time on the bike, I always enjoy listening to cycling inspired Podcasts, and of course, I have a few favorites I would like to share with you. The majority of the Podcasts shared in this Article have been created by ex-Pros, who share
Climbs
Statistics: Col de la Madone from Menton, France Distance: 14,5 km / 9,1 miles Elevation Gain: 915 m / 3001 ft Average Gradient: 6,7% The Col de la Madone is one of the most famous climbs in the Côte d'Azur. The Madone first became famous as a
Performance
I will be the first to admit that I am not the fastest descender. Race situations are of course different, but after many high-speed crashes, the descending risks in training with roads that are not closed are simply not worth it to me. However, what goes up must always
Climbs
Statistics: Sa Calobra in Mallorca, Spain Length: 9,41 km / 5,85 miles Elevation Gain: 660 m / 2165 feet Average Gradient: 7,2% Sa Calobra is the most famous climb on the island of Mallorca. It first became famous as a climb where the best cyclists went to test themselves
Performance
Proper recovery is the single most important aspect in cycling training. Without recovery, the body cannot adapt to higher-intensity training, and ultimately does not become stronger. As mentioned in Cycling Training 101, training to become a stronger cyclist is a continuous adaptation to higher stress, load, and fatigue. In
Climbs
Statistics: Passo Stelvio from Prato, Italy Length: 23,6 km / 14,66 miles Elevation Gain: 1840 m / 6038 ft Average Gradient: 8,2% When I think about cycling in the Alps, I think about Passo Stelvio. The climb's 48 switchbacks, its steep 8,2% average gradient, and its
Performance
The mountains have always been my favorite terrain to ride a bike. Growing up in San Francisco where flat roads don't exist and training predominantly on Mount Tamalpais in my earlier years means climbing is in my DNA. Climbing in the mountains is undoubtedly what I love to
Tech
Before cycling became inundated with carbon, cyclists rode beautiful metal bikes made of steel, titanium, and more recently alloy. Feel free to call me a cycling romantic, but these were the glory days of cycling when we rode hand-made metal bikes with feedback from the road that just doesn&
Climbs
The Swiss Alps are home to some of the highest Cycling Passes in Europe, and from the Swiss Town of Andermatt, there are 6 accessible Passes all above 2000m / 6562ft. Many of the Passes need no introduction as they are all famous in World Cycling, and are also featured regularly