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1000-kilometre ultra bike tour

Sebastian Brust

 · 28.11.2016

1000-kilometre ultra bike tour
1000-kilometre ultra bike tour
From Lake Constance to Lake Geneva, through Switzerland without assistance - on the Navad-1000 self-catering tour, the participating mountain bikers only know the start, finish and the 1000 kilometre route in between.

The Navad-1000 is not a classic stage race. Rather, it is a great adventure for mountain bikers looking for a special challenge: At the third edition of the 1000-kilometre self-supported race, everyone has to ride as they please. No support cars, no mechanics, no helpers, no barriers, no marshals, no signposting, no catering.

The route from Lake Constance to Lake Geneva runs right through the Swiss Plateau and along the northern slopes of the Alps, past countless well-known and hidden natural beauties. Here is the panoramic view from the Große Scheidegg.Photo: Veranstalter The route from Lake Constance to Lake Geneva runs right through the Swiss Plateau and along the northern slopes of the Alps, past countless well-known and hidden natural beauties. Here is the panoramic view from the Große Scheidegg.

And because there is no award ceremony and therefore no prizes to be won anyway, there are no entry fees. This is why the Navad-1000 is not a race in the true sense of the word, but a "bikepacking tour".

In the style of legendary self-support races such as the Tour Divide from Banff (CAN) to Antelope-Wells USA (4400 km) or the Boundary Stone Trophy (1240 km) along the former inner-German border, the bikepacking guidelines also apply to the Navad-1000. This means that every rider is completely on their own for the entire tour.

As the name of the bikepacking tour suggests, it is mostly on unpaved roads over 1000 kilometres. Over this distance, participants will cover around 30,000 metres in altitude.Photo: Veranstalter As the name of the bikepacking tour suggests, it is mostly on unpaved roads over 1000 kilometres. Over this distance, participants will cover around 30,000 metres in altitude.

A small all-clear: the route does not run through the wild bush country of an African steppe or through the icy cold tundra, but right across fully developed Switzerland. A real adventure, an expedition into the unknown darkness of finite planning. On the contrary: too much planning is even forbidden! Booking hotel rooms in advance, for example.

No entry fee, no fixed stages, no assistance

Because the Navad-1000 is not a race in the true sense of the word with timekeeping and a prize-giving ceremony, the usual organisational framework is also missing. How long will the stage be today? What will I eat today? How will I spend the night? Will I sleep at all? These are questions that every rider has to answer for themselves every day.

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The most important thing: all the equipment required for the tour must be carried on your own bike. A little help from the organiser is provided by a luggage exchange station halfway along the route. The only requirement for participants is to follow the specified route. To check your position, your own position is regularly sent to a publicly accessible route portal via satellite tracker.

The route of the Navad-1000 2017 leads from Romanshorn on Lake Constance in the far east of Switzerland to Montreux on Lake Geneva. You have a maximum of 14 days to cover the 1000 kilometres and just over 31,000 metres in altitude. After all, it's not a race.

On 17 June 2017, the Navad-1000 long-distance tour starts in Romanshorn for the third time. The destination is the statue of Freddy Mercury on the lakeside promenade in Montreux. This will honour the late Queen singer for providing the perfect soundtrack to biking with songs such as "Bicycle Race", "Don't stop me know" and "We are the Champions".Photo: Veranstalter On 17 June 2017, the Navad-1000 long-distance tour starts in Romanshorn for the third time. The destination is the statue of Freddy Mercury on the lakeside promenade in Montreux. This will honour the late Queen singer for providing the perfect soundtrack to biking with songs such as "Bicycle Race", "Don't stop me know" and "We are the Champions".

For all those who can't get the idea of competition out of their heads: There will always be a first-place finisher in the Navad-1000. The Czech Martin Vit was the fastest in Montreux in 2016 - after 5 days, 9 hours and 45 minutes.

The Navad-1000 at a glance

The digital route data in the form of GPX files will be sent to the registered participants approx. 20 days before the start.

Switzerland-Cross: Here is the approximate route planning of the Navad-1000. Only the participants will know the exact route data.Photo: Veranstalter Switzerland-Cross: Here is the approximate route planning of the Navad-1000. Only the participants will know the exact route data.

If you want to take part in the next Navad-1000, you can now register for the tour. Further information and the registration form can be found on the event website www.navad1000.ch.

Sebastian Brust was born in 1979 and was originally socialised on his grandmother's folding bike, but has mainly been riding studded tyres since his fifth birthday. Loves all kinds of bikes - and merging with nature. Believes that disc brakes are much safer today than they were 15 years ago and thinks he has helped with his brake and pad tests. However, the trained vehicle technology engineer very much regrets that the bicycle industry is orientating itself on what he considers to be the wrong ideals of the car industry. At BIKE, he corrects, produces and organises digital content on the website.

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