Experience Balutia Year Round
Although Balutia was born as an ultradistance event, and we want that event to remain at the heart of the project, we have always recognised the route’s potential as an open bikepacking journey.
The landscapes and communities along the route are more than capable of welcoming cyclists throughout the year. That has the potential to bring meaningful benefits to small villages and hamlets facing depopulation and increasing isolation, often with little effective action from public institutions to reverse the trend.
From Ultradistance Racing to Bikepacking
With the first edition of Balutia now complete, and with all the documentation and route verification already in place, releasing the route and adapting the Rider Guide to the basic needs of travelling bikepackers felt like a natural next step.
In doing so, we also help protect the integrity of the route. Instead of being passed from rider to rider and gradually altered through everyday navigation, the original Balutia route remains openly available in its official form, accessible to everyone.
Keeping the Route Up to Date with the Help of Other Riders
Another advantage of making the route available to everyone is having a small army of sentinels riding it throughout the year, helping us identify and report any problems, closures or damage they may encounter along the way.
After all, the route crosses countryside, tracks and rural paths that are naturally subject to all kinds of changes, from floods and roadworks to temporary closures and other unforeseen circumstances.
We also hope that local communities become accustomed to welcoming cyclists, trusting in their respect for the places they pass through and in the kindness that travelling by bicycle so often carries with it.
Bikepacking as a gateway to ultradistance
While bikepacking is the natural choice for those who have no desire to chase the pace and demands of ultradistance riding, it is equally true that many cyclists discover ultracycling through bike travel.
We have experienced that feeling ourselves. Even while immersed in an unforgettable journey, there are moments when we miss the adrenaline of covering long distances with the clock ticking, surrounded by other riders, each chasing the same horizon at their own pace.
That is why we believe that slow travel can also become the perfect springboard into ultradistance events. It is a way to lose the fear of long distances, riding through the night, and dealing with mechanical problems before taking on the challenge of a race.
A dedicated page for the Balutia route and Rider Guide
You can find everything about Balutia 365 in the website menu. We have also made the route available on the main navigation platforms, including Wikiloc and Komoot.
In addition, you will find it on Ride with GPS, our official mapping partner, where we have created a dedicated collection for Balutia 365.
