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9. December 2021 by kollektiv_twar
Endurance, How to...

How I rode 400 kilometers long distance for the first time – four first-time female riders report on this year’s MB 400

How I rode 400 kilometers long distance for the first time – four first-time female riders report on this year’s MB 400
9. December 2021 by kollektiv_twar
Endurance, How to...

The Maurice Brocco 400, short for MB400, takes place annually, on the longest day of the year and in honor of the cyclist Maurice Brocco. On this day, cyclists* compete to ride a course with 4 designated checkpoints.

In a period of 24 hours, the 400-450 km must be mastered and the deposited checkpoints are approached. At each checkpoint, a stamp in a small pink box awaits the riders.

checkpoint-mb400-2021
Until 3 years ago, there was still a common, fixed start in Leipzig. That’s why it was a challenge for both the organizer and riders when the schedule was adjusted because of Covid. For 2 years, the route is now driven in a period of one month within 24 hours. The difficulty: food at the checkpoint and the rescue “broom wagon” are eliminated. The riders are on their own. Also the family atmosphere at start and finish did not exist in the last 2 years as a saving motivator. But still, the Maurice Brocco 400 is still there. Many people made themselves also this summer, again on the way.

400 KM on the bike. 4 women. 4 stories.

What struck us as a collective: In this year’s variant of the Maurice Brocco, particularly many long-distance beginners started in our environment.

Each had her very own approach to experience the 400 kilometers for themselves.

Ann-Kathrin started with long-distance expert and collective member Eva. Susi started alone. Rebekka and Lotti started together to their first 400 adventurous kilometers.

Of course, there was nothing more natural than to ask the four how they fared on the road, before and after, and what they took away from these 24 hours with countless kilometers in their legs.

Have fun reading!

Road-of-MB400-Eva-Ullrich
Others don’t even drive 400 kilometers at a stretch – why did you take on such a distance? LOTTI That’s exactly what I thought until the last second…. I had actually planned to drive only a small part and then it was suddenly almost done. SUSI The Maurice Brocco was buzzing around in my head for quite a while, but it always seemed unthinkable to me to make it. However, when the Corona edition came about, a completely new opportunity presented itself. The fact that one could choose the day freely, it went to Brandenburg – to the homeland – and even in the place of residence of my parents, let me find no more excuses. Besides, even the height profile sounded doable. Unfortunately, since my companion ended up dropping out, I decided to go it alone. Date chosen, everything prepared, hardly slept and off we went. REBEKKA Good question. Or also: why not? It’s not like I had anything to lose by doing it. I guess I just wanted totest my limits and have a new experience. And that sounded like a fun action. ANN-KATHRIN Basically, I am super curious and like to face new challenges, also and especially in sports. How far can my strength carry me?What is probably the biggest challenge on a course like this? What will be particularly hard? These were all questions I just wanted to answer for myself, especially the first.

SUSI: 400 KM on the bike alone

My name is Susi (she/her), I am 36 years old. The road bike love has grabbed me when I bought a friend in Berlin her Achielle and have noticed how a different frame geometry feels and how very fast driving shreds.

Just as quickly, the idea to buy a used racer was put into practice and my KTM Strada moved into our student flat. First conversions were tackled and kilometers were collected. That was in 2015.

After moving to Leipzig two years later, I realized that you are rarely greeted by other road cyclists with baskets and mudguards. The ambitions and the desire for a new bike grew. The choice was huge and the overload also.

Susi-vor-Radstadion-Cottbus
Susi at the Checkpoint Radstadion Cottbus

A little trip to the next biggest bike store was actually just to look around and bang I was standing at the checkout, driving myself to ruin for once and already seeing the rest of the month’s groceries disappear into the afterlife.

That was at the beginning of 2019. From then on, everything went very quickly, the love grew steadily and new challenges were mastered. Meanwhile, the still manageable collection was expanded by a gravel bike and the gravel passion ignited.

How did you come up with the Maurice Brocco 400 in the first place?
ANN-KATHRIN The Maurice Brocco buzzed already in recent years always times through Twitter, where I am quite active in the cycling community. Until the beginning of 2021, I had the long distance for me personally not yet on the note, but found the postings of other athletes* charming. When it became clear that I would not have to ride the whole thing alone, but would get support from Eva, it was clear: I want to try it out..
LOTTI To ride the MB was a spontaneous decision. Rebekka had told me about her plans and fittingly my new racer had just arrived from the bike district…. so I test rode 30km and two days later it started.

ANN-Kathrin: 400 KM together with long distance expert EVA

Frankfurt and cycling – that fits me like a glove. I am Ann-Kathrin Ernst (she/her), born in 1991, and have been cycling since 2012. Originally, because I was infected with the triathlon virus. At first, only a road bike belonged to my small fleet, quickly came the passion for cyclocross or gravel.

I prefer to ride alone or in company – it has always been a colorful mix with a tendency towards groups.

In the past I often rode alone, because I didn’t know many other cyclists or groups with my level of performance.

For the past three years, I’ve been connecting my sporting passion even more with my home: I’m involved with the (female) cycling community in Frankfurt and offer monthly rides for women, the so-called “Girlsride”.

ann-kathrin-at-the-checkpoint
Ann-Kathrin (Pic: Eva Ullrich)

Up until the MB400, my longest distance was 204 kilometers, since then 437 – completely insane to this day.

Most of the time you will find me accompanied on the bike. The beauty of cycling in general and Girlsride in particular: We are all incredibly different, but find a common level right away, share memories and moments and grow together and beyond ourselves.

How did you prepare for the 400 KM long distance?

LOTTI More badly than right I was probably prepared, but that has Rebekka with her frauvorragenden setup, such as a roadbook, again compensated.

I was more for fun and entertainment responsible and have our tour with the best hits of my youth, maybe a little techno at one or the other place, colorful background.

Otherwise, I’m over the summer just really cycled a lot.

REBEKKA Better not need than not have!
Especially since I rode the MB for the first time, the preparation was essential for me. I wanted in no case fail, or me the already exhausting ride unnecessarily harder make, just because I something had not thought through properly or had forgotten a little something.

Proper preparation ensured that I could sleep peacefully the night before and that I feltsafe at the start.

Basically, my motto in preparation was:No experiments. I knew all my equipment, from the powerbank to the tools to the Bib. I applied the same to the food.

Before I did orderly carb-loading, just didn’t drink any alcohol and went to bed early.

On the day of the MB, I slept in, had a leisurely breakfast, and left at noon.

Lotti & Rebekka: Their first 400 KM "Intimate as a Team"

LOTTI (she/her)

Round seven years ago I put my first steel racer on the road – a Francesco Moser.

A crazy mix of road bike and courier bike, which to this day shimmers on my closet in blue-pink.

Courier riding is my passion. Actually it is more, much more! First it was a job that grew into a passion and then into a lifestyle.

In addition to my studies and various office jobs, I have always given a lot of space to this part of my life. So I traveled to courier championships around the world and got to know a huge and lovely community. One bike quickly turned into more…

lotti-rebekka
Lotti & Rebekka (Pic: David S.)
Before I started the MB400 my longest distance was a little over 160km – so not really much in comparison.

My favorite thing to do is ride in company – I love it when this driving group dynamic develops, everyone is fully aligned and the concentrated power rolls through the streets – BALLERN4LIFE.

Off the bike, I’m into any outdoor shenanigans, love painting, and am currently learning to play the cello. In addition, I am currently working extensively with sustainable, alternative nutrition and life concepts.

REBEKKA (she/her)

I like to organize ‘bike stuff’: workshops, alleycats and such.

I’ve been cycling more sporty for about three years. 2018 came then the courier job to it. Then it became clear pretty quickly: I need a second bike, for longer tours, mountains and any terrain.

Last summer I then dared to the ‘Sachsendreier’, 300 km in one piece from Leipzig via Chemnitz to Dresden and back to Leipzig.

lotti-rebekka-vor-dem-roten-stern
Lotti & Rebekka (Pic: David S.)
Actually, my pact was with myself: If I successfully complete the Sachsendreier (spoiler: yes), I drive the MB400. But then the route from the MB last year was so hard that I decided against it. My first MB400 should rather seem a little more feasible to me in advance.
Shortly before the MB, Lisa secretly told me that she would also like to try the MB. But I should not tell anyone, because she does not know whether she can do it, and the pressure would be too high. Since Lisa and I have already been cycling together and not only tempo-wise fit together perfectly, I have chosen her as my MB partner. That was THE best decision!
To travel such an insane distance for the first time alone with myself and my thoughts, when I can also have a good friend by my side? Since I did not have to think long!
400 KM in 24 hours: How did your environment react to this idea?
LOTTI Of course you have proper jitters before such a plan, but since I did not really have time to tell anyone about it or even spread fear or anxiety, the whole thing ran quite unexcited for me. I went without claim or goal to the thing, my only credo: fun! Mom stayed awake all night as emergency pickup service mobile – Thank you MAMA at this point! So there was less pressure to compellingly finish the course. I would also call this secret recipe number uno: take the pressure out, no matter where it comes from! As it turned out in retrospect, the mommy backup was absolutely not necessary.
ANN-KATHRIN My environment I have for the most part nothing told before. Only a few knew about what I was up to. I wanted on the one hand no pressure, which would have been unnecessary from my point of view. On the other hand, I also did not want that, for example, my family fears has. Over 400 kilometers at a stretch and driving through the night are not necessarily things that everyone can understand. You can imagine the reactions afterwards: Above all astonishment, incredulity and respect, because such a distance is not imaginable for the vast majority. At least not on the bike.
sunny-road-mb400
What were your highlights on the road?
LOTTI A big highlight was that Rebekkas better half David has supplied us from circa 300km with fresh snack and change shorts. However, it should not remain with snacks and change clothes… after 350km I was now also a fan of David’s ass cream. Madness what one shares in the “survival mode” so everything. Now you know where the name “Team Intim” comes from 😉

ANN-KATHRIN My highlight was my companion Eva, whom I met on this day in the first place.

I had previously expressed doubts about whether I could drive it alone, since I myself have no experience at all. After a short time to think about it, she contacted me and offered her support.

On the road it was, at least for me, as we would know each other for years.

Eva Ullrich and Ann-Kathrin Ernst
Eva & Ann-Kathrin (Pic: Marie Beulig)
It has well harmonized, we had exciting conversations and it has proven to me once again: Riding a bike always brings me great people into my life.
SUSI My highlights were actually the beautiful nature and the people on the way. Many had seen different cyclists* heading for pink metal boxes in the past weeks and the reactions moved from skeptical, to incredibly friendly, to curious. Another highlight was the nice snack bar owner in my hometown, who made me happy with the most delicious Fanta I had ever drunk in my life (could possibly also have been due to the 260 km and over 30 degrees). In Cottbus I was received at the bike stadium with applause and shouting and covered with a layer of sweat and dirt also immediately photographed. At the station then shortly shown the parents, that I am well. That I do not recommend because parents tend to want to prevent one out of concern to continue 😉
When we set off I really didn’t know if I would be able to meet this challenge, but the moment we left most of the track, any mountains and the darkness behind us, I knew: nothing could stop me now, the ‘point of no return’ had been reached.
.
After the 400 KM on the bike: Which expectation or fear was fully realized? Which not at all?
checkpont-stampcard-mb400
Checkpoint & Stampcard

REBEKKA I had a lot of respect to drive through the night. But since getting up early and shooting through was out of the question for me, I’ve decided to approach it classically and to go at noon...

So I inevitably had to go through the night. I was worried about getting tired in the dark and not knowing what to do when thoughts went in circles.

That’s why I had packed caffeine and agreed to get picked up, which I kept up despite Lotti’s company.

So we came at night at 12 to fresh cold fries and a new supply of rolls.

In the light of three headlights the night was surprisingly funny and entertaining, and the next day I wrote in my Strava activity: If you play loud techno in the dark forest, it’s almost like festival.
SUSI I had no great expectations.I wanted to drive as long as it felt good. Great respect I had for the night ride, because I have never driven longer distances in complete darkness before. For this reason, I wanted to start very early in the morning with fresh legs and as much sleep as possible. The excitement and multiple bags packing and unpacking, however, kept me from getting even close to 3 hours of sleep. Now I had the choice between sleep longer and more night drive or completely destroyed over 400 km to tackle. I decided to sleep and that was good. During the day I memorized everything beautiful around me and told myself that at night everything would look exactly the same as it does now. That actually helped a little. Then, when it was pitch dark, I just stupidly focused on the cone of light from my lamp.
checkpoint1-mb-400-2021

Did you ever have a low point on the long journey? How did you experience that, how did you deal with it?

SUSI The last 50 kilometers were really hard. That’s when I counted every kilometer. The fatigue announced itself very clearly, so that I almost drove twice in the ditch..

LOTTI Besides a short low point at nightfall, there was never a moment when I regretted my decision to accompany Rebekka.

Not even when it rained for 3 hours at a time twine and I had to realize that there are also ass rockets, which are not waterproof.

Second secret recipe: music and good company.

REBEKKA Naturally, no 24-hour ride is just sugarcoating, and the high was then still caught up by an absolute circulatory low when I no longer expected it at all.

At 10 o’clock in the morning, virtually on the home stretch, I was suddenly ultra slow, and the body just did not want more, I was dizzy and nauseous.

But giving up was now really no longer an option! If 50 KM elsewhere would be insurmountably far, they were here only a cat’s jump, and it was a matter of simply biting through, no matter how slowly. And so it came that the last two hours were the longest of the tour.

At the finish line, pretty much 24 hours after departure, then relief, tears of joy, pride, hugs, finish line photos, beer at the Späti and an extended nap.

In the long run, what did you take away for yourself from your first long-distance ride?
ANN-KATHRIN What I learned in the long term is that I would do it again anytime and that challenges are there to be faced and believed in. The body can do much more than we can imagine. Sometimes we just need to be more courageous and just do it instead of always talking about it or doubting if you can do it.
mb400_ontheroad_ann_kathrin_01
Ann-Kathrin at the gasstation (Pic: Eva Ullrich)
SUSI Of course I am, like probably every*r other*r also, incredibly proud to have pulled it through. This experience showed me what is possible when you don’t put any pressure on yourself. Great is also the connection, which creates this small border experience among the cyclists. You exchange ideas, you rejoice, you share stories and learn from them. You just have to try and not think too much. REBEKKA I can create so much, which I would never have imagined before! By the way, I always find that out. And that is damn good for self-confidence!
I am looking forward to a ‘real’ MB400 with manned checkpoints and other drivers* on the road. Then I would also munch diligently cake and eat something warm
.
What would you do differently at the next Maurice Brocco 400 and what would you do the same as this time?
LOTTI What would I do differently? Not so much! In any case test whether the bike bags are waterproof – everything else was perfect. Also human we have, physically and psychologically, like ass on bucket to each other fit. Not only that I owned my Renner only 3 days, also Rebekka and I knew us only a few months.. Since it is not self-evident that such a blatant cohesion exists. The ride has welded us firmly together, today we are closer than ever -. THANK YOU CYCLING!
Sight-of-mb400
In conclusion, I came back from this borderline experience as the strongest and most radiant version of myself and I can only encourage every person to participate in the MB400 2022!
SUSI Next time I would sleep more before and take less food, because you can buy well on the road. However, what I would not do without are boiled potatoes, they were the best snack.. A powerbank is also essential to charge lamps, wahoo or cell phone. Also, I wouldn’t pack right the day before and take one day off after.
REBEKKA May sound weird when you look at it from the outside, but I really had such a good time and so much fun! I would do everything the same again! And I will hopefully have Lisa by my side again. Team Intim 4 ever! Any concerns about getting on each other’s nerves after 22 hours when we are both at our limit were unfounded and I was very happy to have her as my partner in crime.
Ann-Kathrin-sleeping-in-a-sparkasse-at-mb400
Powernap in Sparkasse: Ann-Kathrin sleeping (Pic: Eva Ullrich)
Last but not least: What are your tips for those who want to ride the Maurice Brocco 2022 for the first time?
REBEKKA Dare to ask. Go into the exchange with others who have already driven and will drive. The individual MB had the advantage for me that I could benefit from the experiences that others had already had on the same route. I had been given a list of gas stations along the route, and already knew which ones were tried and true and definitely open at 5 in the morning. But also Tips regarding food or power naps in Sparkassen I could pick up.

And: Always think in stages. Focus on what you have already accomplished. When I was at a checkpoint, I didn’t think: ‘still 250 km’, but ‘already 190 km’.

I rode less by kilometers than by hours. I knew I wouldn’t get there today. I focused on being on the road instead of arriving.

ANN-KATHRIN In advance check the route extensively: Where are gas stations or supermarkets? When are they open and what are the alternatives?

But also pack sufficient food, such as potatoes, and drinks and fill them up as soon as they come close to running out.

Also plan on warmer clothes for the night and don’t even think about if and when you might hit a low.

It comes anyway, but you will also master it 🙂

We could not express that better! Thank you so much for your thoughts and words, Ann-Kathrin, Susi, Rebekka and Lotti – see you on the bike 🙂

You can also find the four of them on social media:

Ann-Kathrin

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Susi

Instagram

Rebekka

Instagram

Lotti

Instagram

Curated by: Eva Ullrich, Marie Beulig

Edit & Layout: Marie Beulig

Header-Pic: Eva Ullrich

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