DotWatching in 2024
24-04-18How do you follow ultra distance racing, in often remote parts of the world? Unlike world tour cycling or televised sport that involves huge media crews, ultra distance sport is at its core, a solo pursuit. Self-supported, riders often want to enjoy the freedom and self-discovery that these races provide. A helicopter flying overhead to reach the action on top of a mountain doesn't feel like the solution to bring the action to more people.
This is where DotWatcher comes in. The home for 'dotwatchers' globally to follow ultra-distance cycling, from 300km off-road races to 4000km races like the Tour Divide in the US. Watching a dot on a map doesn't sound exciting on the face of it, but spending a weekend following a race unfold via DotWatcher can feel like a mix between watching a multi-day race and being part of a reality TV show. Commentators layer in rider insight, social media updates, course information and all the drama that comes with long distance races. Whilst there is always a balance when it comes to race coverage, the combination of dotwatching and updates from riders means 500 miles in the Scottish Highlands or traversing Arizona is accessible to people from the comfort of their home.
Whilst these races are mostly solo, self-supported experiences, there is a tight knit community that surrounds the races and the commentary. DotWatcher embodies this, with race commentary often covered by racers and organisers who are close to the races. At the heart of it though, is a tight team who provide commentary, insight and editorial content that helps newcomers and experienced riders navigate the ultra-cycling world.
In 2024 Albion is partnering with DotWatcher, with the aim of bringing the excitement of ultra-distance cycling to more people. As the season gets underway, we caught up with the team behind the action. Managing Editor, Kitty Dennis, and Contributing Editors, Beccy Waters and Nicky Shaw.
What is DotWatcher?
Kitty: DotWatcher started in 2018 to help bring together DotWatchers globally. In a nutshell, it’s the home of ultra-distance cycle racing. For a long time, the best bikepacking coverage has been found in the forums and Facebook groups of avid dot watchers, who would scour social media and tracking maps and share their thoughts with the community. DotWatcher is a place where racers and fans can continue this conversation alongside tracking data and social media, making it easier to follow races and for newcomers to discover the sport.
People rarely see behind the scenes at DotWatcher. Tell us a bit more about the team?
Kitty: The content team consists of Beccy, Nicky and me (Kitty). We also have a web developer, Alex, who is also an ultra-cyclist. I tap away full-time keeping things ticking over and Beccy and Nicky work around their amazing cycling adventures. We have a great dynamic and all share a love for the sport, granted in different capacities. I don’t think I could keep up with Nicky on a stroll and Beccy is a little more adventurous than me!
The best word to describe Beccy is tenacious! She’s currently touring around South America whilst simultaneously handling most of the race commentary and holding a big bit of the fort here at DotWatcher. She’s done plenty of epics including the Transcontinental Race and the Highland Trail 550, both times getting around in a cracking time. Beccy isn’t one to shy away from a challenge and loves dogs. In another life, she was a speedy road racer but has since swapped her lycra for gravel gear.
Nicky is a force to be reckoned with. She has a lot of race wins under her belt and performed exceptionally at last year’s TCR. With so many miles covered a week, I don’t think there’s a road in Yorkshire she hasn’t ridden on, bridleways included! Starting from touring and Audaxing Nicky has a heap of knowledge and experience in the ultra-cycling world and provides some key insights for us. It also helps that she's a whizz at graphic design.
I’m a cyclist with many passions (I can’t pick a bike). I used to race fixed crits and road races a heap but after moving back up North, I’m glued to the mountain bike a little more. Before working at DotWatcher I’d only had a stab at All Points North and then entered this exciting and loving community. There’s space for everyone in ultra-cycling and I think that’s what makes it so fantastic for the rest of the cycling community.
What has been your highlight of working at DotWatcher?
Kitty: Seeing the rise in radical women racers and POC racers. Since I’ve started working at DotWatcher the race starts are becoming more balanced, organisers are making a huge effort to achieve gender parity which further encourages women to get on the start line! I’ve made a few efforts with my riding community, Steezy Collective, to entice more women as have many other groups. Another great initiative is the Ultra Distance Scholarship, which Albion also supports. The UDS is getting more and more POC into ultra-cycling and the ripple effect has been unreal.
What’s the best part of the job?
Beccy: Nothing beats going to a race. Writing the commentary from a media car is an utter privilege. I’ve worked alongside some of the finest photographers in the sport, been privy to race director’s mid-event decisions, and, most importantly, witnessed riders throw down some inhuman physical efforts. I’m immensely grateful for all riders who allow us to document these endeavours as I know how much these rides mean to all the riders. I just wish the winners would stop finishing in the middle of the night!
Most recently, I went to Across Andes in Chilean Patagonia and was blown away by how strong a community the race has built. Being at the end of the world, most of the riders are Chilean and it’s seen a lot of repeat business since its inaugural race in 2019 which has all helped foster a very welcoming atmosphere. Very few Chilean racers left before the party which meant most of the mid-pack and final riders were welcomed by some very merry fellow racers, especially as the foul weather finally broke and gave way to some sunshine. This all meant the party really started days before Saturday night came around!
What do you enjoy most about working in this world?
Beccy: Working remotely in a small team often makes the social event of standing amongst 100+ bikepackers at races somewhat overwhelming but the community’s arms are always open and there’s no such thing as a misfit in bikepacking; Camille McMillan’s Further events are a perfect example of this. Each event attracts a motley crew of non-conformists who would otherwise never cross paths out in the real world, but in the environment’s he’s cultivated, all are welcome and there's no such thing as fitting in when everyone's so unique.
Nicky, you're a race winning ultra-cyclist training at 300-400km per week whilst working full time. How do you balance this with DotWatching?
Nicky: Quite often there aren't enough hours in the day, so it comes down to a case of priorities. For me, training on the bike is high priority because I know how important it is for my physical and mental health. Therefore it usually gets done unless I have a good excuse! I would say that hitting 400km+ would be a great week, 300-400km a good week, but 200-300km is also a decent week if I have a lot of other stuff on, and some of those kms might be on the turbo especially if the weather is bad. I've managed to carve a lifestyle that allows lots of flexibility around when I fit my other commitments in. I work four days a week for Mandarin Stone; my commute is a 20 minute walk, which means I have plenty of time in the morning or evenings for a training session or DotWatcher work. This still leaves three full days per week at my disposal, and the time is divided between long endurance rides, DotWatcher work, flat renovations or otherwise. As a part time freelancer at DotWatcher, I love the flexibility that it offers, and how it integrates into my lifestyle.
What is your favourite type of race to race, and what is your favourite type of race to commentate on?
Nicky: My favourite type of race would be a free route with checkpoints. I'm a total perfectionist when it comes to route planning, so for a race such as All Points North I have probably spent days planning the route in order to have complete confidence in my route planning decisions! I'm certainly not the fastest rider, however a free route race requires a lot more than physical prowess for success. Race strategy, efficiency and route planning are all crucial. A free route with checkpoints gives the opportunity of advantage, depending on how much focus is given to all the variables.
My favourite type of race to commentate would be the opposite - a fixed route race! Trying to follow All Points Points is as much a mission as racing it. The easiest races to follow are those where you can clearly see the leaderboard just by looking at the map. Despite this, races throw up different challenges depending on the terrain or environmental conditions. Those which have particularly challenging conditions can be the most interesting to follow and commentate on, as mental stamina and strategy also comes into play.