Michel (aka Mr. Ridearound) - about ultra cycling

After 12 hours of cycling, your head takes over

Michel Reuser has been a cyclist since he was seventeen. He raced at a high level, explored Europe by bike, and delved into cyclocross and gravel biking. But there was one thing he'd never done: an ultra. A ride of 300 km or more. "I'd often done rides of 200 km, but never anything longer. I was curious what would happen if I did go over that."

Last year, he put his plan into action: a complete circuit of Belgium, 550 km with 4,000 meters of elevation gain, within 24 hours. "We left at midnight, on the hottest day of the year: 39 degrees. After 90 km, I punctured my tire. It took five hours before we could ride again. We even used Kalkman food wrappers to repair the tire."

Still, that wasn't the hardest part. "After 12 hours, everything changes. Your legs ache, your back, your fingers. The adrenaline is gone. Then your mind has to take over. If your motivation isn't rock solid, you won't make it."

And yet: "At a certain point, you get into a trance. You don't think anymore. Just your legs are spinning. You're completely in the moment. That's what ultra means to me."

Tour of Belgium in 1 day: 550 km, 39 degrees, a flat tire and pure willpower
Some rides you plan. Others you experience. Michel and three cycling friends' ultra-ride clearly falls into the latter category.

On June 21st, they set off on their bikes at midnight for a tour of Belgium. "550 kilometers, 4,000 meters of elevation gain, and it was the hottest day of the year. Not exactly ideal conditions." Still, they set off. Without sleep, but with a mission.
Disaster struck quickly: "After 90 kilometers, I drove over glass. My tire went flat and kept going flat. We spent five hours trying to fix it." Still, they didn't give up. "At times like these, it's not how fit you are that counts, but how much you want it."
Along the way, Michel collected water at cemeteries, cafes, and fountains. "The trick is to keep eating and drinking, even when you're not hungry. Your body burns slowly, but continuously. I lost energy towards the end because I forgot to drink. I was dehydrated for the last two hours."
Yet he made it. "Not thanks to my legs, but thanks to my mind. At some point, you're in a kind of trance. You don't think about anything anymore. Only the next kilometer matters."
Afterwards, he told his cycling partner: "It wasn't fun at all, actually. But we did it. And that's what makes it unforgettable."

💛 3. Why Michel cycles on the longest day of the year for sick children
Michel loves cycling. But what's even more important to him is why he cycles. "Five years ago, I survived acute leukemia. Since then, I see things differently. When I do something, it has to be right. For myself and for others."
That's why he's organizing two ultra-long rides during the weekend of the longest day of the year (June 22-23): one around Belgium and one around the Netherlands, each about 600 km. "Participants choose their route. We start at midnight. It's not a race, but it is a challenge: who can complete their circuit the fastest?"
But the real motivation is the charity. "Everyone donates to a children's hospital on or near the route. It makes your ride more meaningful. Not just cycling for yourself, but also for someone else."
His experience with illness and recovery also led him to natural nutrition. "I now use Kalkman. Natural, easy to digest, and exactly what you need on long rides. No bloating, no crash."
For Michel, the longest day is more than just cycling. "It's about suffering together, laughing together, racking up the miles together—and all the while raising money for children fighting for their lives. If that's not motivation, what is?"