August 13, 2026
Host
Alright, so, you know, we're both cyclists, and we talk to cyclists all the time, but there's this event coming up that is, honestly, kind of terrifying. The Cadence Collective Classic. Have you been following the buzz around it?
Guest
Oh, absolutely. I mean, I've been seeing the chatter on all the ultra forums, and it's like nothing else. Fourteen hundred kilometers, women only, and it's this weird hybrid of a race and a randonneuring brevet. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole thing.
Host
Right? And the time limit is 105 hours. That's just over four days to cover 870 miles. For context, that's like riding from Los Angeles to Portland, but with mountains and desert thrown in. It's not just long; it's brutal.
Guest
Yeah, and the fact that it's a brevet means it's unsupported, right? No follow cars, no mechanics handing you a wheel. You're out there on your own, fixing flats, navigating, managing your food. That's a whole different mental game compared to a supported race.
Host
Exactly. And it's happening September 23rd through 27th, so it's not far off. The organizers anticipated several hundred women, but from what I'm hearing, it's turning into this international summit of the most hardcore female ultra cyclists on the planet.
Guest
I know! The roster is insane. You've got Meagan Killinen, the Tour Divide record holder. Jana Kesselhaur, who just won the 24-hour time trial at worlds and the 2026 Transcontinental. Fiona Kolberg, another Transcontinental winner. Rinko Soma from Japan, who crushed that Shizuoka 1000k up and down Mount Fuji. It's like the who's who of ultra racing.
Host
And it's not just the pros. There are riding crews coming from France, Germany, Spain, South Korea. Local randonneuses from Southern California, women who've done 1200k and 1000k rides and are stepping up to this as their next challenge. It's a mix of elite racers and incredibly tough amateurs.
Guest
So, basically, if you're a woman who thinks a 600k is a casual weekend spin, this is your party. I love that the Cadence Collective started as just an online community before the pandemic, connecting women over 45 in SoCal who wanted to ride long. And now it's this global phenomenon.
Host
Yeah, the backstory is really cool. During the pandemic, suddenly fifty-plus women were finding ride partners for these epic distances. And post-pandemic, they're just dominating ultra racing. It's like a quiet revolution happened while everyone was locked down.
Guest
But here's the thing that gets me, and I want to push back a little on the narrative. We keep hearing that older women are faster at ultra distances, that the gender gap flips after 48 hours. Is that really settled science, or is it more about experience and pacing strategy?
Host
That's a fair challenge. I've seen the studies, though. As women age, they actually shift to a higher percentage of slow-twitch muscle fibers, which are more fatigue-resistant. And they have denser mitochondrial networks that get even denser with age. So, biologically, there's a case that they're built for multi-day efforts.
Guest
Okay, I'll buy the mitochondrial density part. But I still think a lot of it is that older women have learned to pace themselves better, to eat and sleep strategically. The mantra of this event is literally 'Ride Slow, Bring Snacks, Take Naps.' That's not just cute; it's a proven ultra strategy.
Host
Absolutely. And they've got that mantra translated into French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean. It's on a banner at the hub. 'Roule doucement, apporte des snacks, fais la sieste.' It's like the universal truth of ultra cycling. You can't hammer for 105 hours; you have to manage your effort.
Guest
Right? Meanwhile, the pro peloton is all about three-to-six-hour hammerfests with team cars and soigneurs. These women are out there for four and a half days, fixing their own bikes, eating gas station food, and still beating men's times in comparable events. It's a totally different sport.
Host
And that's what makes this event so scary and so fascinating. It's not just the distance; it's the self-reliance. The cloverleaf format they're using—four loops returning to a central hub at Bonelli Bluffs RV campground—means you can resupply, maybe grab a nap, but you're still covering these brutal loops through San Bernardino National Forest, high desert, mountains, and coast.
Guest
I didn't realize it was a cloverleaf. That's clever because you get that village atmosphere at the hub with meals, snacks, drop bags, but each loop is a fresh kind of suffering. You're not just doing one giant loop; you're coming back to base, which mentally might be easier, but physically you're still wrecked.
Host
Exactly. And the hub is at a lake near San Dimas. So you finish a 350-kilometer loop through the mountains, roll in at 2 a.m., grab some soup, maybe sleep for an hour, and then head out again at dawn. It's relentless. The qualification is no joke either: you need a Super Randonneur series or a comparable ultra resume.
Guest
That weeds out anyone who isn't serious. A Super Randonneur is 200, 300, 400, 600k in one season. So everyone on that start line has already proven they can suffer for long hours. But 1400k in 105 hours is a whole other beast. I'm genuinely curious how many will finish.
Host
Me too. And the corporate sponsors are interesting. You've got the usual cycling brands—Campagnolo, Profile Aerobars, Pearl Izumi, Muc-Off, Park Tool, Continental—but the platinum sponsor is Lifetime TV. They're doing a documentary. So we're going to get these heart-wrenching interviews about being told it's not safe to ride at night, or that women aren't tough enough, while the camera pans over a rider spinning through a forest at sunrise on day three.
Guest
Oh man, that's going to be compelling. Imagine the stories they'll capture. These women have probably all faced that 'you can't do this' attitude. And here they are, doing something that most male cyclists wouldn't even attempt. The documentary could really shift perceptions.
Host
Definitely. And the finish celebration is going to be huge—a live band, a big party. After 105 hours of riding, you roll in and there's a festival waiting. That's a nice touch. It honors the accomplishment, not just the race.
Guest
I just hope the band plays something slow and snack-friendly. Maybe a ballad about napping. But seriously, the contrast with the pro peloton is stark. Those riders are incredible, but they're specialists in short, intense efforts with full support. These women are generalists in survival. And at the really long distances, they're consistently faster than men. That's a fact that doesn't get enough attention.
Host
It's true. Look at the data from races like the Trans Am or the 24-hour world championships. After about 48 hours, the top women are beating the top men. It's not a fluke. And this event is going to showcase that on a massive scale, with an all-female field pushing each other.
Guest
But here's my challenge again: is it purely physiological, or is it also that women are better at the mental game of pacing and self-care? Because I've seen plenty of fast guys blow up at 600k because they went out too hard. The 'ride slow, bring snacks, take naps' philosophy might be the real secret weapon.
Host
I think it's both. The physiology gives them the engine, but the strategy makes it work. And the Cadence Collective has been cultivating that strategy for years. They're not just training legs; they're training minds. That's why this event is so scary—it's a convergence of all that knowledge and toughness.
Guest
Do you think the cloverleaf format will change the dynamics? Because in a point-to-point race, you're always moving forward, but here you keep coming back to the same hub. It might create a different kind of camaraderie, or maybe it'll be easier to quit because the exit is right there.
Host
That's a great point. In a traditional brevet, you're out in the middle of nowhere, and the only way out is to keep riding or call for a ride. At the hub, you could just pack up and go home. But I think the community aspect will actually keep people going. You see your friends, you get encouragement, you refuel, and you head back out.
Guest
Yeah, and the international crews will have their own support networks. Imagine the French team sharing baguettes and espresso at the hub, the Germans with their precision nutrition, the Koreans with their kimchi rice balls. It's going to be a cultural exchange as much as a race.
Host
And the local SoCal riders know these roads. They've been training on the San Bernardino climbs for years. So they'll have an advantage on the descents and the heat management. But the international stars have experience in all kinds of conditions. It's going to be fascinating to see who adapts best.
Guest
My money's on the nappers. Whoever sleeps the most efficiently wins. I'm only half joking. Sleep strategy in a 105-hour event is huge. You can't just ride through; you'll hallucinate. I've heard stories of riders seeing dancing bears on the road after 72 hours.
Host
Oh, for sure. Sleep deprivation is the real enemy. That's why the hub having sleeping facilities is key. You can grab a 20-minute nap and reset. But you have to be disciplined. It's so easy to just keep riding and then crash hard. The veterans know exactly when to stop.
Guest
I remember talking to a randonneuse who did a 1200k, and she said the hardest part wasn't the legs; it was the mental battle at 3 a.m. when you're alone in the dark and every shadow looks like a pothole. Women often get told it's not safe to ride at night alone. This event is a giant middle finger to that idea.
Host
Absolutely. And the documentary will probably highlight that. Lifetime TV knows how to tell those emotional stories. I can already picture the slow-motion shots of a rider silhouetted against a sunrise, with a voiceover about overcoming fear. It's going to be powerful.
Guest
I'm genuinely excited to see how the cycling world reacts. This isn't a niche thing anymore. The Cadence Collective has grown from a small online group to an international movement. And with sponsors like Campagnolo and Lifetime, it's getting mainstream attention. Maybe it'll inspire more women to try ultra.
Host
I hope so. But we also have to be realistic about the technology. These riders aren't on super-aero bikes with disc wheels. They're on endurance bikes with big tire clearance, dynamo hubs for lights, bags strapped everywhere. It's a different kind of tech. Reliability over speed.
Guest
Right. You'll see a lot of steel and titanium frames, maybe some carbon but with relaxed geometry. Wide tires, probably 32mm or bigger. And lighting systems that can run all night. It's function over form. The pro peloton's tech is about marginal gains; this is about survival gains.
Host
Exactly. And the sponsors reflect that. Profile Aerobars for comfort, not just aero. Continental tires for puncture resistance. Park Tool because you're your own mechanic. It's a celebration of practical cycling. And the mantra 'Ride Slow, Bring Snacks, Take Naps' is basically a tech spec for the human engine.
Guest
I need that on a top tube sticker. But seriously, the event is scary because it strips away all the support we're used to. No team car, no neutral service, no soigneur. Just you, your bike, and 1400 kilometers of California's toughest terrain. And a 105-hour clock ticking.
Host
And the fact that it's women only adds another layer. It's a statement. These riders are not just competing; they're redefining what's possible. The older women dominating is a biological reality that challenges the youth-obsessed sports narrative. It's a beautiful thing.
Guest
It really is. And I think the cycling industry is slowly waking up to this. We're seeing more women-specific endurance gear, more representation. But events like this push it further. When you have a 55-year-old woman beating the men's record, it's hard to ignore.
Host
So, as we wrap up, I think the Cadence Collective Classic is more than just a race. It's a summit, a celebration, and a challenge to everything we think we know about cycling. It's scary, yes, but it's also incredibly inspiring. I can't wait to follow it.
Guest
Same here. I'll be glued to the tracker, cheering on every rider who embodies 'Ride Slow, Bring Snacks, Take Naps.' And I hope the documentary does justice to their stories. This is a moment for women's ultra cycling, and it's going to be epic.
Host
Well, that's all the time we have for today. Thanks for diving into this terrifying and wonderful event with me. To all our listeners, keep riding, maybe bring some snacks, and definitely take a nap when you need it. We'll catch you next time.