Winter blowers, rain riders. # klnd500

Winter blowers, rain riders. # KLND500

On December 1 of 2021, nine brave ultracyclists set off from Buda Castle to cover 500 kilometers as part of the seasonal #festive500 challenge. The determined team undertook no less than to complete the challenge in 24 hours without sleep, while tackling the December weather and the 14 hours of darkness.

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It is often said that ultra-type accomplishments are more of a mental game rather than a physical challenge. It is a quest for the mind on how to deal with the physical ordeals of the challenge and find a path to get to the finish line. Physical and technical preparation cannot be underestimated, yet the key for real success is the hardest to learn, perseverance – and some good experience does not hurt either.

I first heard the idea of the challenge, which was later renamed KLND500, from Marcell Gangel back in August 2021. We were at Lake Hársas, waiting for the full distance finishers of the Hungarian Divide 2021. During the sometimes long but excited breaks, we talked about how much Marcell wanted to do a # festive500 challenge and to complete it in one day. The idea was vague at the time, and in the thirty-some degrees and in the midst of beach noisiness, the thought of a cold and foggy December seemed rather tempting.

The idea came to fruitition just when the usual smog and fog arrived in November. By the time the city got dressed up in beautiful Advent lights, the small but determined group of riders got ready. On the first of December, shortly before noon, nine ultra-cyclists, accompanied by their companions, rolled into Szentháromság square in the Buda Castle. Their aim was to ride to Szeged, and ride back to Budapest via Szolnok. The route was 500 kilometers, the time limit was 24 hours. In addition to the usual cold at the beginning of December, the participants had to prepare for the wind typical of the Hungarian Great Plain. The rain was guaranteed.

The photo report below, is the chronicle of their challenge.

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Bikers were preparing in the company of friends and some tourists near the Fisherman’s Bastion.

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The nine brave ultra-cyclists (l-r): Levente Bagoly, Zoltán Zóka-Újhelyi, György Bánfalvi, Zsolt Boruzs, Tamás Király, Marcell Gangel, Márton Kauker, Erzsébet Pénzes, Lajos Köves.

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Just outside Budapest, between Dunanagyvarsány and Délegyháza, the first (and only) gravel section awaited the riders. By the end of the muddy part, the team had already lost one person. Due to mechanics, Lajos Köves headed for Mesterbike (a bike and cofee shop in Budapest) soon after the start. Although he tried hard to continue the challenge, he could not catch up the time he lost.

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Before the evening came, the December Sun showed up for a brief moment. Said goodbye to the riders and left a huge void behind. The bikers were facing the December darkness, and it was not an attractive prospect at all.

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The first planned stop was in Szabadszállás. The Ibis bakery at 104 km provided a suitable stop to recharge batteries and prepare for the 14-hour night shift. Erzsébet Pénzes and Márton Kauker did not reach the bakery, because they had to give up the challenge around the 100th kilometer.

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Szeged was the imaginary halfway point. The Christmas market at the Dóm square was still open when the riders arrived. Seasonal meals, such as sauté onion with liver and fried sausage filled the emptied tanks along with hot drinks. The city’s cosy Advent lights made it hard for the guys to get back to the saddle, but the idea of “ we’re already halfway there ” set off the second half of the challenge in a hopeful mood.

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On the long roads of the Great Plain, not only the darkness meant a challenge, but also the water supply was an issue. The blue colored public fountains typical of Hungary, are not operating during winter, and 0-24 shops are not common in the area either.

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Levente Bagoly and Tamás Király were riding their own pace during most of the challenge. For the KLND500, we didn’t use a tracker , a usual feat at our other events, so we often didn’t even know where the riders were. It was a great relief for us in the support-car ( Ádám Coates , Zoltán Petes , Bence Szabó video and Tivadar Domaniczky photo ) when the beam of a bicycle light showed up in the night.

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Arriving in Szolnok, a heavy silence of fatigue filled the local gas station when György Bánfalvi , Zsolt Boruzs , Marcell Gangel and Zoltán Zóka-Újhelyi arrived. The guys showed clear signs of a significant low point. We were close to 4 o’clock in the morning, and the railway station at Szolnok was seriously tempting. The situation was simple – either dig deep for the last reserves and wrap it up by riding into the morning wind and rain, or the adventure stops here and all go home by train. Everyone dutifully put on their rain pants in silence.

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Levente Bagoly stopped at the gas station only for a brief moment, and Tamás Király closed the line in Szolnok. Tamás, who was the first finisher of the first Balaton Bike Derby in the Tour category, was pushing his limits during the night of the KLND500. We were concerned when he left the gas station alone, because the closer the riders get to the capital, the more traffic they would meet on the roads, and we were not sure, if he was ready to tackle this alone. Tamás’ perseverance lasted to the very end, and it was inspiring to everyone.

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The riders were already passed 400 kilometers when the light of a new day appeared on the horizon near Zsombok. The lineup hasn’t changed since the night. Leading the group was the quartet of Bánfalvi, Boruzs, Gangel and Zóka-Újhelyi. They were followed by Bagoly and Király in an hour distance, but the two were still riding apart. The weather forecast was on point and the rain had arrived on time. Thanks to the amazing pace dictated throughout the night, to complete the challenge within 24 hours seemed a goal that can be reached.

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Moments of arrival, soaked in rain and champagne. Like the start, the finish also was at Szentháromság square. The biggest climb of the route was waiting for the riders here, as they pedalled up to the Buda Castle. Finishers arrived in the same order as they rode all night. Lajos Köves was fighting hard with the mechanicals he suffered throughout the challenge. He got back to the finish line in time, but since he had to make a shortcut, for him the successful completion of the KLND500 challenge will remain for another time.

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Finishers of the KLND500 challenge (l-r): Zoltán Zóka-Újhelyi, György Bánfalvi, Zsolt Boruzs, Marcell Gangel, Tamás Király, Levente Bagoly.

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We celebrated in the arcade of the Fisherman’s Bastion, and like the rain, the storytelling didn’t want to stop. Eventually, the December cold and the exhaustion prevailed, as by then both bikers and support staff had been awake for almost 36 hours. As we said goodbye, we knew the next adventure was not so far ahead.

Text and photos by Domaniczky Tivadar

A video of the KLND500 challenge is on the KLND YouTube channel .