I finished an hour and a couple of places after you, we set next to each other at the pre-ride briefing. Trust me, for your first ultra, and in general, being in the top 10% is NOT a failed race. Enjoy the recovery!

It’s not a failed race, you finished it which in my book is a complete success! Awsome job 🥳🥳🥳

I love the evolution of Just Ride Bikes, from covering bikes like the Specialized SL8, to riding the Badlands route, I think you underestimate your grit. Love to see these videos!

big respect Dave! you did great! I did my own 800k ultra in 5.5 days and it felt like my limit. hotels each night too. on a full suspension mtb. you're a tough geezer!

Finishing your first long distance ride over multiple days is impressive. You should have qualified for Race Across America!

You didn't see any more Tailfins because they're expensive af.

Nice setup and congrats on the race!

I followed you live on track and understood that something went wrong. But you did it! What a wonderful success! 🤘

Congratulations David, on finishing the race and kudos on recording the recap & equipment check while you were obviously still in the aftermath! Much more relatable that way. The definition of “raw footage”😂

Wow, that’s a very good result! Despite those issues with your bike and neck. I was looking at the finishers and was impressed, who knew that you could seriously hammer an ultra! You definitely earned some new cred,  I hope you’ve challenged Ben across the pond to do the 2026 Edition. Next one you need to attack is the Veneto Trail.

Wolftooth makes smaller chainrings that are compatible for that GRX crank

Fantastic achievement David! Well done 🎉

Congratulations David, a truly impressive performance for a first ultra race. Doubly so considering the Shermer's neck, which sounds horrendous. I wonder if the aerobars and your unfamiliarity with the position they place you in, was the main contributor to your neck issues?

The power-bank failure was likely due to the temperatures you endured, they are notorious for packing up where high - and indeed low - temperatures are involved. Would you run a dynamo in the future? It certainly seems to be the norm amongst experienced ultra riders.

I hope, once the whole thing has had a chance to settle in, you continue further exploring ultra style races, you certainly seem to have the natural talent for it.

Really looking forward to the race video itself.

Amazing! What an achievement. Really good hearing about the setup, and you know David, the way you run through the back and forth decision making of what you took, and showing how you had a full glasses case, freezer bags for chews etc just made it feel more authentic to what a lot of us do. I watch a lot of bike content and all too often it feels like the kit setup and packing is staged for camera rather than just a raw take of the real setup! Shame about the stem. I want to do some longer tours so I’m definitely considering trying some tribars now as my hands go numb a lot on 150k plus rides.

Well done Dave. I feel for your neck

An amazing achievement, David! Glad it went well over all. 😊🎉🎉

Nice effort Dave. In my experience in these events, you have to build up your neck strength over a couple of months leading up to the start. Stretching it out with more and more time on the aero bars. Maybe that would help next time? Great ride and great event. Thanks for sharing

You have every reason to be proud of yourself

Kudos dude! This is incredible. I have only ever cycled about 111km in a single day and was so glad to make it home at the end. I regularly do 50-70km weekend rides so I'm not that conditioned, but 800KM!!!! Holy dying Christ! That's just LUNATIC level. HOW are you ALIVE?

You are certainly made of some tougher stuff to have done this event. It's inspiring to watch your recap. Now I want to push myself more and do a proper century (160km) or (100 mi).

Rest up buddy. Huge respect for torturing yourself as you surely have. I think I would have slept after 250km and would have taken at least 3-4 days to finish. You did AWESOME!

def not a failed race! what an effort to finish!

Well done - you sound and look really tired. Hope you recover quickly.