About Refuel & Reboot - The Tech and Bikepacking resupply Podcast
A podcast that blends bikepacking and technology with a distinctive flavour — Rugged adventure meets sharp digital insight with host Mark Gilmour.
markgilmour.substack.com (https://markgilmour.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
In this episode, I recorded some footage from my gravel bike ride this week to scout the area affected by the New Forest Wildfire started by the vehicle fire on the A31 two weeks ago.
Thanks to the amazing work of the combined emergency services response the damage to the Forest is not worse than it could so easily have been.
The fire was started on Sunday 9th August by a vehicle fire on the A31 which quickly spread to the nearby verges and then into the forest. It took over a week for the fire to brought under full control and a further four or five days to continue with the damping down process to make sure no fires were reignited.
The A31 was finally opened again on Saturday 22nd August, the impact of closing a major arterial road for so long was massive on the whole area. I had never seen so many cars on the quieter rural roads of the forest. I avoided the area on my bike during the disruption, venturing only to the south of the forest. Thankfully the area has started to get back to normal again.
The footage from my ride showed the effect in the Forest on both sides of the carriageway. Amazingly, and thanks to the efforts of the emergency services the fire did not spread further north, the footage shows how the clear demarcation of the fire break along the gravel path.
It is also incredible that the damage on the south side of the A31 was not worse.
This video episode contains some comparison footage shot by Mike & Julie Wheeler https://www.youtube.com/@WheelersAtLarge (https://www.youtube.com/@WheelersAtLarge) from earlier in the year. Check out their channel for loads of great footage of riding around the New Forest and Dorset.
Watch this short episode on my YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/gPvSINtxTmQ (https://youtu.be/gPvSINtxTmQ)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markgilmour.substack.com (https://markgilmour.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
18 Aug 2026
Ep24 Bonus Episode - Dotwatch the Silk Road Mountain Race
Even though the pod is currently on a season break, while I pull together new interviews and discussions ready for season three, which will begin towards the end of September, I thought I would record a brief episode and share a few thoughts on the ongoing Silk Road mountain race, which started last Saturday on the 15th of August in Talas in Kyrgystan and is currently underway. Now, the Silk Road mountain race is widely regarded as... If not the pinnacle, one of the major bikepacking ultra races of the season.
And as part of the organization of that, there is a group of dot watchers that are based all around the world, across multiple time zones, keeping an eye on riders as they make their way through the 2050 kilometre course across the country. The high peaks in Kyrgyzstan ranging up to over 4,000 meters.
I'm one of those dotwatchers who is assigned a group of riders to keep an eye on their security, their safety, and we're tracking those riders as they complete the course.
Official Race Website & tracking Silk Road Mountain Race — The Mountain Races: Silk Road, Atlas, Hellenic (https://www.themountainraces.cc/silk-road-mountain-race)
Tracking: https://srmr2026.maprogress.com/# (https://srmr2026.maprogress.com/#)
Official Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/silkroadmountainrace/ (https://www.instagram.com/silkroadmountainrace/)
Official Podcast with daily updates : The Mountain Races Podcast - Podcast - Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-mountain-races-podcast/id1407424948)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markgilmour.substack.com (https://markgilmour.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
7 Jul 2026
Ep. 23 Changing the Dream: Matt Rowe- Rowe & King Coaching
This episode of the Refuel and Reboot Podcast is an interview with former cycling professional Matt Rowe, founder of Rowe & King, older brother of the Team Sky /Ineos Grenadiers legend Luke Rowe and husband of Olympic champion and former professional cyclist Dani Rowe (nee King)
His story of racing bikes as a junior and pro and having to give it up all because of illness is a fascinating story. Especially when he talks through the massive decision he had to make at just the tender age of 18. Matt is open and brutally honest about that time and what lead to him studying, working in the corporate environment before making the decision to start his own business with his wife and found Rowe & King Cycling coaching.
I really wanted to hear Matt’s story which can be overshadowed by the public successes of his famous younger brother Luke and Olympic Champion wife Dani. His story is relatable to all those who have chased a dream only to have that dream shattered and have to find a new path.
To connect with Matt and Rowe & King coaching, check out their website roweandking.com (https://roweandking.com/)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markgilmour.substack.com (https://markgilmour.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
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