almost there. arrival in Erfurt, Thuringia's capital - Markus Stitz

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New book - Gravel Rides Loch Lomond & The Trossachs

Browse: Home / 2010 / December / almost there. arrival in Erfurt, Thuringia’s capital

almost there. arrival in Erfurt, Thuringia’s capital

markusstitz / December 23, 2010 / Comments Off on almost there. arrival in Erfurt, Thuringia’s capital / Cycle Trips

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reizkultur

Sooooooo looking forward to see the first proof fo

Sooooooo looking forward to see the first proof for Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & The Lothians. The book is already listed & pre-sales will open next week. Three books in a year was a push, but I can’t wait to share this one with you. Official launch date is the 21 May. All pics are taken from the gravel routes in Fife in the book, 2 easy, 2 straightforward & 2 advanced. To shorten the wait, you can watch my latest film ‘Roughstuffing in Fife’ now on YT. #Gravel #Fife #LoveFife

🚵 Dirt Dash Season is GO! The countdown is on for

🚵 Dirt Dash Season is GO!The countdown is on for another epic season with @dirtdash_cc 🙌It all kicks off with the Cateran Dirt Dash in Alyth — expect big views, proper gravel, and that unbeatable Dirt Dash atmosphere.Then we roll into summer at the Yorkshire Coast Dirt Dash in June 🌊And we wrap things up in style at the Dunoon Dirt Dash in September 🍂Three stunning locations. Three unforgettable adventures.Who’s in? 👊Link to join in the bio

Some frames from the new🎬 project I have been work

Some frames from the new🎬 project I have been working on with @welcometofife - Roughstuffing in Fife will premiere on Monday at 7pm on my YT channel - taking you on a 243km ride very close to my home. I can spot the big antenna on the other side of the Forth almost every day when I commute to my co-working place. The route is the bonus route in my next book Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & The Lothians - more about this soon!

New film alert 🎬 - Roughstuffing in Fife portrays

New film alert 🎬 - Roughstuffing in Fife portrays a new 243km bikepacking route through the Kingdom of Fife in Scotland. Premiering Monday 2 March 7pm GMT on youtube.com/reizkultur The route will go live on @bikepackingscot at the same time 👀#gravel #bikepacking

Exploring home. I have worked with Pindar Creative

Exploring home. I have worked with Pindar Creative on updating Edinburgh’s cycle maps & just finished researching & photographing Gravel Rides Edinburgh, the Lothians & Fife. Josh & I explored some of Edinburgh’s excellent quiet cycle routes & added bits of the routes from the upcoming book in - and added on a low tide cycle to Cramond Island. Edinburgh is a wonderful city to explore!

Dig Day with @lochaber_trail_association at the @m

Dig Day with @lochaber_trail_association at the @mountainfestival - what a joy. I loved talking about how bikes have connected me to so many people around the world - so this was the perfect opportunity to connect with local riders & get stuck in. Thanks heaps to Mark for inviting me along - on tools & camera. A few hours to give back to those amazing communities without Scotland wouldn’t be such a cool place.

Looking back to exploring Halifax in Nova Scotia o

Looking back to exploring Halifax in Nova Scotia on a gravel bike last October. Hundreds of km of great trains & great autumn colours. Looking forward to spend next week writing features - so you can get a good idea where to explore.#canada #novascotia

What does it mean to document a race while you’re

What does it mean to document a race while you’re still racing it?My latest short film, Still A Race, supported by @schwalbetyresuk explores exactly that.At the 2024 edition of @mothernorth.cc in Norway, I decided to take the idea of race documentation a step further. Instead of following the event from the outside, I filmed it from within — while racing the full unsupported route myself.That meant carrying all camera equipment on the bike. Managing batteries, sound and storytelling in between resupply stops. Filming in real time, often at the end of long days, deep in the Norwegian mountains. No crew. No second chances. No separating athlete and filmmaker.Ultras are already a balance of physical effort, logistics and mindset. Adding documentation into that mix changes the dynamic completely. You don’t just ask, “How do I go faster?” You ask, “Is this moment worth stopping for?”In the end, I finished Mother North in 5 days, 5 hours and 55 minutes, in 28th position — with enough film material for a 10-minute film that captures what it feels like when racing and storytelling collide.Still A Race is now available to watch on YouTube - enjoy the film.These are frames which take you behind the scenes, my equipment, and those small encounters along the way while taking time to stop. #gravel #cycling #norway

Launching 18 Feb 8pm GMT - My latest film ‘Still A

Launching 18 Feb 8pm GMT - My latest film ‘Still A Race’ documents my journey racing @mothernorth.cc in Norway - filmed by bike, without any outside assistance.I premiered the film at the Fort William Mountain Festival as part of my talk at People Power - enjoy the full film on my Youtube channel -link in bioThe route of Mother North takes you through the stunning landscapes of Norway on ca. 1,000km - including great routes like the Mjølkevegen, Rallarvegen and Grimsdalsvegen & I loved combing being immersed in those places while at the same time having the focus the race provided. Supported by @schwalbetyresuk #gravel #bikepacking #ultracycling

Fort William Mountain Festival - I ❤️ it. Sadly a

Fort William Mountain Festival - I ❤️ it. Sadly a shorter visit this year, but I made to most of the great festival, the people I met & the wonderful setting of Lochaber. The weather played ball as well. The theme of my talk was People Power - and it was a great inspiration to rework my talk based on that theme - the people that enable my adventures, the bikepacking family, bikes which are so capable these days & finally the communities we build. And it was great to share the stage with Katie, Anna, Alex & Matt.One of those communities which I like supporting is the @lochaber_trail_association - I loved my second dig day, riding trails on an unsuitable bike & the chats.And I might have two book projects inspired by the weekend - a gravel guide for Lochaber - there’s so much amazing riding here. I loved the alternative route to Spean Bridge passing two derelict bridges, and the joyful ride along the Caledonian Canal. And someone asked me about a narrative book - something I’d love to do in the future. Thanks to all the volunteers - the @mountainfestival is my favourite festival! And some background on the music choice - Burning Spear’s ‘We are going’ is the opening song of ROAM by The Collective - a film that inspired my riding & storytelling - released in 2006 - the year I discovered Scotland for mountain biking 20(!!!!!) years ago & Fort William was one of the stops on that tour.

A quick update - I meant to post this last week. I

A quick update - I meant to post this last week. If you are lucky enough to live in Edinburgh & buy my books, they arrive by bike. The quickest, environmentally-friendly way. Most times I can beat Amazon Prime easily.And as Gravell Rides Cairngorms & Perthshire has been very popular, we not only re-printed it, but also updated the public transport information. @rideember has added new routes to their network, which are all referenced in the book. I’m always happy when a new book order arrives - all books are back in stock - the order form is linked in my bio or simply go to my website or the @bikepackingscot website.

I arrived in Edinburgh for the first time on a dre

I arrived in Edinburgh for the first time on a dreich day in Winter 2003. Despite the weather, I instantly fell in love with the city. Studying in Sunderland as an exchange student, I returned a few more times that winter and spring. When the chance arose to work at Underbelly, one of the venues for the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe, I jumped on the opportunity and returned for three more seasons. Even though I made New Zealand my home from 2007 to 2009, I visited for the festival season each summer.Finally returning from the other side of the world, hugely inspired by the guidebooks by the Kennett Brothers, which had encouraged my rides across Aotearoa, I made Scotland’s Capital my home in June 2009. And never left.In my almost 17 years in Edinburgh, only interrupted by a one-year trip by bike around the world, I have seen cycling becoming more visible and used my hometown as base to explore the rest of Scotland, the UK, and the world. Most recently I took inspiration from the Oslo Dawn Patrol and founded a similar social ride in Edinburgh.Researching this book was in equal terms easy and very challenging. I want this guide to be relevant for you if you are lucky enough to call Edinburgh, Fife or East Lothian your home. Almost all my book deliveries in Edinburgh are done by bike, and I wanted to write a book for all the people I have met on those journeys and through the Edinburgh Dawn Patrol.But I also wanted to create a book which is a useful companion if you just visit Scotland’s capital for a few days. Edinburgh is my favourite city in the world – welcoming, buzzing and steeped in natural and architectural beauty. I can’t think of any other city that is home to three UNESCO world heritage sites and hosts some of the world’s most inspiring artists each summer. All routes in this book are accessible by public transport. That is a first, certainly for my guidebooks. Edinburgh is well connected, and so it made perfect sense to include my favourite routes in East Lothian and Fife, and two of the routes that take you further into the Scottish Borders and West Lothian.The intro to Gravel Rides Edinburgh, East Lothian & Fife. Written. Out in May 26.

Dunoon – Welcome to Scotland’s gravel heaven. If y

Dunoon – Welcome to Scotland’s gravel heaven. If you needed convincing… #gravel #dunoondirtdash

Singletrack Issue 165 is out soon, and I am very m

Singletrack Issue 165 is out soon, and I am very much looking forward to seeing those frames in print. A magazine that allows me 3,500 words to write is a rare find these days, but good stories need space. I was moved when I arrived in the Arkansas Delta & loved the riding there, but beneath the pretty pictures is a much more complex past. The beauty of riding bikes is that it allows me to dig much deeper into the history of those places whilst I travel through, with good time to reflect & put things I discover in perspective. Here’s a teaser of the land of the Delta Blues, for an in depth read I’d be happy if you get issue 165 of a great magazine. #gravel #cycling #arkansas

January is nearly over already. Time to share a bi

January is nearly over already. Time to share a bit more about the Dirt Dashes - which I love organising. They are small, fun events to bring people together in some of my favourite locations to ride bikes. Two events in Scotland, one in Yorkshire. There’s no racing involved, you’ll get a well-planned route that is challenging but enjoyable, nice local food & campsites with views. I love welcoming people back year on year, and it’s always wonderful to see new faces. What makes the Dirt Dashes special is to see how they bring people together - at the end of each event pretty much everyone knows each other. First up is the Cateran Dirt Dash on 23/24 May, followed by the Yorkshire Coast Dirt Dash on 13/14 June & the Dunoon Dirt Dash on 26/27 September.See you there - join us on dirtdash.cc

Last Friday, Josh and I got to sample parts of the

Last Friday, Josh and I got to sample parts of the Gralloch Ultra route.Despite being initially put off by the forecast, the weather turned out just right — capturing the true essence of the route. We spent the day riding, talking strategy, and sharing lessons learned from our longer days on the bike.If you’re curious about stepping up to longer distances, this route has a brilliant mix of landscapes: the stark, barren beauty of the north, scenic woodlands and lochs, and iconic forest roads like Raiders Road.We turned the day into a short film too — here’s our experience, told through a selection of still images.#gravel

❄️ The Best Season New film from 🇳🇴 — now live. En

❄️ The Best SeasonNew film from 🇳🇴 — now live. Enjoy the frost. #winter #norway

The Best Season | A Cargo Bikepacking Journey in N

The Best Season | A Cargo Bikepacking Journey in Norway 🇳🇴Launching 20/01/26 9pm on my YT channel #winter #cycling #cargobike

Launch Day 🎉 The book is out! I poured my heart an

Launch Day 🎉The book is out! I poured my heart and soul into this one and hope it inspires some amazing journeys.Huge thanks if you’ve picked up a copy—and yes, the next book is already almost 50% done 👀Gravel Rides Loch Lomond & the Trossachs - Out Now#gravel #cycling #scotland

New book. New routes. Big scenery. Gravel Rides:

New book. New routes. Big scenery.Gravel Rides: Loch Lomond & The Trossachs launches 15 January — from easy spins to challenging adventures across the national park and the Argyll Coast.Available in bookshops & online.Signed copies via the link in my bio.Happy gravelling 🚵‍♀️

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Check out the route details: https://bikepackingscotland.com/fife/ This film is inspired by George Berwick, a Fife-resident and one of the longest-standing members of the Rough Stuff Fellowship, whom I met in early 2025.More about cycling in Fife: https://www.welcometofife.com/ Check out the interactive cycling guide for Dunfermline: https://www.welcometofife.com/fife-cycle-park-routes/Cycling-Around-Dunfermline-Guide-Final-Version.pdf Enjoy a ride on this circular route which links the East Neuk of Fife with sections of the Fife Pilgrims Way and Coastal Path, as well as Tentsmuir and Pitmedden Forest, the Lomond Hills and the outcrops of the Ochil Hills — showcasing the region’s diverse landscapes in a single journey. There are further entry points along the way, like Rosyth and Dundee, connected by Ember’s intercity electric bus services as well as North Queensferry, Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay, Aberdour, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Leven, Leuchars, and Cardenden, all connected by regular rail services.The route is included as bonus route in Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & The Lothians - a new book by Markus Stitz out in May 2026 - For pre-sales go to: https://markusstitz.com/books/

Roughstuffing in Fife - A 243-kilometre bikepacking journey In Scotland

Tired legs. Big climbs. Bigger smiles.That’s what Dirt Dash looks like.Would you take this on?Join us now: https://dirtdash.cc/#DirtDash #BikepackingLife #GravelGrind

Dirt Dash in 20 seconds - will you join us this year? #gravel #bikepacking

Launching Monday 2 March 7pm GMT my new film takes you on a 243km journey through Fife in Scotland

New film alert 🎬 Roughstuffing in Fife #gravell #bikepacking

Some scenes from a nice loop around the Outdoor Capital of the UK

#Gravel #riding around Fort William

Picking up the tools & improving trails - always a great time!

Dig Day at the Fort William Mountain Festival #localtrails

In my latest short film, Still A Race, supported by Schwalbe UK, I document the experience of racing an unsupported bikepacking ultra through Norway’s breathtaking landscapes. Mother North is an unsupported bikepacking race across the rugged terrain of Norway, starting and finishing in Lillehammer. The route takes riders across three of the country’s most iconic gravel cycling routes: Mjølkevegen, Rallarvegen, and Grimsdalsvegen.Still A Race forms part of my ongoing work exploring landscapes and human resilience through cycling, combining storytelling, photography and film to capture places at their most raw. More information about my work can be found at https://markusstitz.comFurther details about Mother North are available at https://www.mother-north.com

Still A Race - Racing & Documenting Mother North - 1,000km through Norway

In my latest short film, Still A Race, supported by Schwalbe UK, I document the experience of racing an unsupported bikepacking ultra through Norway’s breathtaking landscapes. The 10-minute documentary, filmed at the 2024 edition of Mother North, is available to watch on YouTube from 18 Feb 8PM GMT

Launching 18 Feb 8PM GMT: Still A Race: An ultra from a rider’s perspective #gravel #bikepacking

A short clip from the Edinburgh Gravel Dawn Patrol - join us each Wed at 5.40am at Cairngorm Coffee #gravel #edinburgh

The lights of Edinburgh dancing in the rain

In my latest film I discover the joys and challenges of winter bikepacking. I throw all my gear, experience and resolve at enjoying a sub-zero, 680-km tour of Southern Norway in January on the Tern Orox S12 from Eidsvoll to Gjøvik, Lillehammer, Ringebu, Dovre, Folldal, Alvdal, Budor and back to Eidsvoll in Southern Norway.Check out the route here: https://www.komoot.com/collection/3259404/-tern-orox-winter-norway

The Best Season - Winter bikepacking in Norway on an e-cargo bike

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