First, tell us a little about your adventure:
Where did you ride, and what was the goal of this race?
In July 2025, I participated in Bright Midnight, an ultracycling event in Norway organized by ultracycling legend Justinas Leveika. The route covers 1,100 kilometers and involves climbing approximately 20,000 meters in elevation. The start and finish are in the small village of Tolga, in the middle of nowhere in Norway, a good 300 kilometers north of Oslo. From there, the route takes you in a large loop westward down to the fjords and then along Norway’s highest mountains back to Tolga. Along the way, you ride on some of Norway’s most beautiful gravel bike routes and coolest mountain passes.
What made you decide to take on this particular adventure?
It all started during a bikepacking tour through Denmark on my veloheld.iconX in the drizzle, when I listened to a podcast by Martin (aka www.biketour-global.de) about the first edition of Bright Midnight—and I thought it was so cool that I wondered if I could do it too. Above all, the fact that this gravel bike challenge took place in Norway, my favorite country, gave me extra motivation to dive deeper into it.
If you had to describe the race in three words, what would they be?
Challenging – Tough – Beautiful
Was there a moment along the way when you briefly doubted whether you could make it?
Not really, but when we got caught in a thunderstorm on the evening of the third day and misjudged the remaining distance to our lodging by a few kilometers and a hundred meters of elevation gain, I was definitely in a very dark place mentally. Giving up wasn’t an option, though, but staying motivated in that situation was definitely difficult. You really have to be that Type 2 Fun kind of person and know how to handle it right so that a situation like that doesn’t break you. The beauty of it: You’re fully in the here and now—the downside: You’re fully in the here and now. But eventually even the greatest “suffering” comes to an end, at the latest when you’re sitting in the warmth of your lodging, staring blankly, soaking wet, and completely frozen, holding a Coke in your hand and feeling utterly spent. You’ve got to like it, otherwise it gets tough!
What moment has really stuck with you?
There are perhaps two moments that come to mind. On the one hand, the less pleasant side of such an event, when—as I mentioned earlier—after a long and already very exhausting day, we rode into a thunderstorm with rain and got soaked to the skin, facing an unexpectedly steep climb just to reach our lodging; and second, the cool side, when we were riding late in the evening in absolutely perfect weather on the Sognefjellveg Pass Road, the highest mountain pass in Norway, with a fantastic view of Norway’s highest mountains—what a reward for all the effort up to that point!
How important was your setup for this race?
Very important, I’d say. With a good, well-thought-out setup, you can avoid a lot of problems along the way. Starting with a reliable bike, a gear ratio that suits your needs, and a good riding position, all the way through to the gear you bring with you. That way, you can focus on cycling while on the road and don’t have to deal with minor or major problems. Test rides and packing lists helped me find my setup. When you cross the finish line without any mechanical or physical issues, you know you had the right gear from the start. Three cheers for good preparation and planning!
When people think of adventures like this, they often think first of speed or performance: What’s most important to you personally when you’re out on these kinds of routes?
Basically, my top priority is to finish the race safely and in good health. Since I can’t make it into the top 10 at such events anyway, it’s important to me to have a good time within my capabilities. By that, I don’t mean that I’m just having fun along the way; it’s more about getting through it well and making it to the finish line within the time limit. There are also factors along the way, like the weather, that you can’t control, so all plans can quickly go out the window if the weather doesn’t cooperate. On the other hand, good weather can let you ride much longer. Especially in the summer here in Norway, it hardly gets dark at all, and you can ride almost around the clock without lights. And then your head has to be in the game too—without that, nothing works. Even if you’re in top shape and have the best gear, if your mind isn’t in it, you’re going to have a really tough time out there.
How do you prepare for an adventure like this?
I think preparation is key for events like this. That includes proper training, a well-thought-out setup, and, above all, familiarizing yourself with the route and the conditions on the ground. That can save you a lot of trouble along the way. It also requires experience and knowing how to manage your body and mind—but that also means you really need to think through what you’re planning; otherwise, you’ll be more focused on problem-solving than enjoying the ride.
Was there anything along the way that went completely differently than planned?
Not really. We had put together a solid plan and followed it in a structured way—in other words, we divided the “race” into stages from the very beginning, and that worked out perfectly. This allowed us to avoid completely exhausting ourselves or, in my view, taking unnecessary risks (which are not uncommon in ultracycling) due to things like microsleep or hypothermia. As a result, although I was pretty beat at the finish line and we ended up near the very back of the pack, I was able to get back on my bike right away afterward and didn’t have to spend weeks or months nursing my wounds.
What was the biggest challenge on the route?
Hard to say—everything went pretty well. What probably got to me the most this time was the sun and the heat at certain points. Sure, good weather is great for events like this, but when you’re constantly getting roasted by the sun on some of the biggest climbs with no shade in sight, that’s really tough for me personally—I don’t handle extreme heat very well. And in Norway in the summer, it takes a while for the sun to set. 😉
What role does cycling play for you personally?
Being out on my bike gives me a great sense of freedom. I experience that especially with the gravel bike. You’re always moving quickly, can get almost anywhere, and if needed, you can easily bring a full bikepacking setup along—simply perfect! I also love being part of the gravel bike scene and can get lost in the details of riding—but for one thing, I currently live in Norway and cycling is only possible here for a maximum of 6–7 months a year, since the rest of the time is winter, and for another, I really enjoy other outdoor sports too! I absolutely love skiing, cross-country skiing, hiking, or even going on tours with Nordic backcountry skis, camping in a tent or staying in huts. So yes, cycling is very important to me, but there are so many other cool things out there!
If you had to give one piece of advice to someone who dreams of embarking on an adventure like this—what would it be?
As with any major adventure, the rule is: take it slow, gain experience, build up your skills, and prepare thoroughly—then eventually you’ll be ready to stand at the starting line yourself. Good preparation is more than half the battle; there are plenty of other adventures to be had along the way!
Has this race changed your perspective on cycling?
Not fundamentally in terms of bikepacking tours. Above all, though, my perspective on my own capabilities has changed—in the sense that I’ve realized what I’m capable of, and new goals and possibilities have emerged from that. I’ve now participated in two ultra-events and have learned an enormous amount about myself and my own capabilities since then. I know now that I can do it, and now it’s a matter of fine-tuning the details along the way—the setup and the training—so that I can potentially get even more out of it.
And most importantly: Where is your next adventure taking you? 🙂
It’s winter here right now, and cycling isn’t possible until at least mid-April—except on a trainer—so I’ll be heading out on a winter tour soon with skis, a pulak sled, and a tent. I’ve planned one or two longer rides for June, and by mid-July I’ll be back in Tolga, where I’ll try to unlock my next personal ultra-level.
Done. And ready for more.
Simon has crossed the finish line. 1,100 kilometers, 20,000 meters of elevation gain through Norway—done. And by his own account, he was ready to set off again right away, which we can totally understand.
His next adventure kicks off in mid-July, when he’ll be in Tolga. That’s where he plans to reach his next ultra-level. We’re already really excited to hear what he has to say about it.
It’s exactly for moments like these and people like him that we build our bikes. Thanks, Simon, for hitting the road. That’s what it’s all about.
If you want to follow Simon on his next adventures—he’s regularly posting on his blog, his podcast, and on Instagram. Check it out; it’s worth it.
