Diasporal Alpen Challenge: Training, bike fitting and a taste of competition

BIKE and Magnesium Diasporal are joining forces to fulfil a team's dream of riding the BIKE Transalp. Mona and Philipp take on the challenge. Mona Schick is studying law in Munich, Philipp Weiß is studying dentistry in Innsbruck. More about Mona and Philipp - the team for the Diasporal Alpen Challenge.

However, the package that we put together with Magnesium Diasporal for the Diasporal Alpen Challenge is bigger than the team starting place. There were performance diagnostics, a resulting training plan and a bike fitting. Of course, there is also a team outfit. From the We have already reported in detail on performance diagnostics. Now there's an update on the bike fitting, we report on how the training is going and last but not least: Philipp's test race on Lake Garda.

Bike fitting at ergonomics specialist SQlab

SQlab supports the Diasporal Alpen Challenge project with bike fitting, trousers and saddles. After the two of them Specialised Epic 8 Evo Pro bikes which were provided by the manufacturer for the event period, we met up at SQlab in Taufkirchen. The unridden bikes now had to be adjusted. Firstly, cleats were screwed onto the shoes, which were also new, then the saddle model, saddle height and saddle position were adjusted. Finally, the handlebars were also adjusted. In both cases, we were advised to shorten the handlebars slightly. For Philipp, 78 cm would be good, for Mona a 74 cm handlebar. The experts at SQlab know that wide handlebars provide security on the downhill, while narrower ones are better on the uphill.

After the fitting

After the fitting, Mona and Philipp cycled home heavily laden. It was not yet possible to come to any conclusions about the seating position. They had too much luggage on their backs for that. After the first few rides, they both feel comfortable on their bikes - the only thing they haven't adjusted is the handlebar width, as these aren't their bikes after all, they have to go back to Specialized after the BIKE Transalp.

Training plan & study

As students, Philipp and Mona have to complete their training alongside their everyday university life. This requires planning and structure, but then it works well. The team spent a long weekend at Lake Garda to show the bikes the destination of the BIKE Transalp.

In addition to cycling on road bikes and mountain bikes, the training plan also includes running sessions, strength training and stretching. The running units in particular are also due to the fact that the Diasporal Alpen Challenge team is already versatile and also likes to lace up their running shoes. In the meantime, training has become more bike-specific and running sessions have become rarer. Both report longer and longer training sessions, Philipp quotes the figures: In total, it's now 15 to 18 hours of bike training per week, plus one to two hours of stabilisation and the like. For Philipp, it fits in well at the moment, as he doesn't have so much to do at university at the moment. Nevertheless, you have to squeeze all these training hours into a week.

Mona talks about a real juggling act, but is happy about every session she can tick off - be it a training session or a study session. For her, it often means that she has to train either early in the morning or in the evening after the last class. It's not unusual for her to still be on the trainer at 9pm in the evening.

Lake Garda the second - test competition for Philipp

Philipp travelled to Lake Garda again at the beginning of May, where he visited the Bike Festival, strolled around the festival site and took part in the bike marathon. Naturally, he opted for the Ronda Extrema - around 83 kilometres and 3400 metres in altitude. "It was great fun and I really enjoyed the race character," he reports, beaming with joy.

Next up is Willingen

There are still two months to go until the BIKE Transalp. And as luck would have it, Philipp has won a VIP package for the BIKE Festival in Willingen won. The journey there was actually a bit too far for them. But of course they won't miss out on the BIKE Festival in Sauerland. Mona will also get a taste of competition air there. What distance is involved in the Specialised Bike Marathon the longest! And both will ride together to "practise" for the BIKE Transalp. We will report back and meet them on site.

The challenge partner: Magnesium-Diasporal

Together with Magnesium-Diasporal, we, i.e. BIKE, are realising the Alpen Challenge. Magnesium-Diasporal is a brand of Protina Pharmazeutische GmbH. Protina develops, distributes and manufactures high-quality mineral preparations as medicines and food supplements.