Matthias Heil on ultra endurance rides & what keeps him going | ROUVY podcast EP. 4

ROUVY Unchained podcast highlights

From “no resistance, no feedback” to “this is actually brilliant”

Matthias doesn’t romanticize his first attempt at indoor riding. He started with a clunky setup that felt like punishment rather than training – and it left him completely cold. What changed everything was discovering indoor riding that actually responded, felt real, and gave him something to chase beyond staring at a wall. The shift wasn’t gradual; it was instant.

Realism that makes you forget you’re in the garage

One of the most striking parts of the episode is how Matthias describes immersion – not as a feature, but as a genuine emotional effect. He’s ridden many of the routes on ROUVY in real life, and tells host Zach Nehr about that recognition does something powerful: Your brain accepts the experience, even when your eyes know better.

The “secret move” that guarantees 30 seconds of race-day glory

If you’ve ever taken racing a little too seriously, Matthias is the antidote. He’s competitive – but he’s also playful, and he’s not afraid to admit that sometimes the fun is in the silliness. His favourite tactic is basically a joke that’s become a personal tradition: Sprint immediately, take a screenshot while you’re “winning,” and then sit up and enjoy the chaos you’ve caused.

“It escalates.” How one long ride becomes a lifestyle

Matthias doesn’t frame ultra-distance riding as something heroic. He frames it as what happens when curiosity and consistency keep nudging you forward. It starts with one ride that feels big. Then another. And suddenly your idea of “normal” has shifted. The way he tells the story, endurance is less about becoming superhuman, and more about quietly adjusting what you believe you can do.

The 25-hour race (and losing by the length of his garden)

Want a perfect example of Matthias’s personality? He once rode over 600 kilometres in what should have been a 24-hour race – except it became 25 hours because the clocks went back. Then he lost by the tiniest possible amount. And instead of being devastated, he sounds genuinely amused by how ridiculous it was.

Low-tech fuelling for endurance rides

Forget the perfectly measured nutrition plans. Matthias’s approach is refreshingly human: Use what works, keep it simple, and accept that the hardest part isn’t getting calories in – it’s wanting to eat anything at all after hour 12. His list is both practical and oddly comforting: Sweet drinks for quick sugar, rice pudding because it’s easy to swallow, and a savoury meal when the sweet stuff becomes unbearable.

Indoor vs. outdoor endurance rides

Matthias is honest about what makes indoor ultra rides possible: control. No punctures, no weather, no unexpected stops. Everything you need is at hand. It’s not that it’s easy. It’s that the environment removes so many variables. Your mind can focus purely on the ride.

The mental rule that helps Matthias keep going

Some riders say indoor cycling is harder because you can stop at any time. Matthias disagrees. His mindset is brutally straightforward: once the decision is made, the decision is made. There’s no debate, no negotiation, no internal bargaining.

Why a two-hour meltdown doesn’t ruin the day

This might be the most important endurance insight in the entire episode. Matthias tells Zach that long rides fundamentally change how you experience suffering. In short events, feeling awful can make everything feel pointless. In ultra-distance riding, bad patches are expected – and because you expect them, they don’t scare you in the same way. You just need to wait them out.

The simplest advice for ultra-endurance newbies

Matthias’s advice for riders who want to try long-distance indoor cycling is refreshingly unglamorous: Build slowly. No shortcuts. No overnight transformation. Just gradually expand your comfort zone until the ride you once thought was insane becomes normal. And then you go again.

One last tip: Don’t forget the pickle juice

Muscle cramps can hit hard on seriously long rides. The antidote? A stiff drink of pickle juice. Matthias says not to knock it til you’ve tried it!

Don’t miss an episode of ROUVY Unchained

ROUVY Unchained brings you inside the world of cycling through candid conversations with pro athletes, adventurers and industry experts. From training insights to travel inspiration, each episode offers stories that motivate you to ride more – and ride better.

Subscribe on your favourite platform to catch every new release:

• ▶️ Watch the full episode now on YouTube

• 🎧 Subscribe on Spotify and Apple Music to get new episodes every two weeks.

• 🚴🏼‍♀️ Follow Matthias Heil on Strava

Further reading

• ROUVY, “Ep. 3 | Love VELO’S Georgia Bullard On Cycling Holidays In Calpe, Spain”
• ROUVY, “Ep. 2 | Amy & Kyle on Cycling Around the World & Their Record Attempt”
• ROUVY, “Ep. 1 | Juliet Elliott On Her Cycling Adventure In Sri Lanka”
• ROUVY, “Long Slow Distance Training: Build Endurance & Stay Strong”