OKT: Only Known Time

How do you come back down to earth after completing the kind of ultra-distance ride you’ve been dreaming about forever? For Gustav Thuesen, the answer was simple. You start planning the next adventure and dreaming about what destination you’re going to point your bike towards next.

A to B, East to West.

For Gustav’s previous endeavor, ‘How To Eat An Elephant’ – also captured as a documentary - he and his friends found themselves drawing a 2,000km line with their bikes, heading on a week-long odyssey south, from Copenhagen to Nice and the Mediterranean.

This time however, they would be planning on heading East to West, while taking in two different seas entirely while they were at it.

Starting in Stockholm on the edge of the Baltic, Gustav and his friend and co-pilot Emil set their sights on Bergen and the dark waters of the North Sea. But, to give this ride a little added seasoning, they also set the goal for themselves to get there fast. In under 72hrs to be precise.

“As nobody had seemingly done this route before, we saw a great opportunity for an OKT – or an Only Known Time as we like to call it!” says Gustav.

Capable co-stars 

For a ride with a goal and target pace like this in mind, Gustav and Emil got serious about what they wanted from the bikes they would choose for this mission.

“72 hours or less was always going to be a tall order, so we took great pleasure in nerding-out on everything from drive train efficiency to tire choice for this challenge.”

With the varied route including everything from super-long, fast paved sections to what the Swedes call “Sport Grus” - Champagne Gravel for the rest of us - the duo wanted a bike and set-up that could capably handle it all.

So, opting for the ready-for-anything Cannondale Synapse and a do-it-all 35mm tire gave them the best chance of tackling this all-road odyssey in fast-yet-compliant comfort.

While selecting Synapse as their bike of choice also came with the added bonus benefit of riding with the latest generation of SmartSense lights and radar onboard. Meaning they could ensure they would see and be seen from start to finish.

And, if you’re feeling inspired by Gustav and Emil, check out the Cannondale Synapse range and dream about drawing your own adventurous line for a ride to remember.