In this article:

• Route builder Erwin Sikkens shares the ins and outs of his REBOUND route.
• Learn more about the ‘perfect’ REBOUND ride.
• Find out, finally, what “Genieten” means to Dutch gravel riders!

Meet Erwin Sikkens, the Dutch gravel rider who just nailed REBOUND. 

“When I rode UNBOUND in ’22, I wasn’t the fastest. It was dark when I got in, just before midnight. And yet I was welcomed as if I’d won the event. Music. Fanfare. Someone handed me a beer right after the finish line. It was like I’d come home. That’s what I wanted to achieve for REBOUND. I wanted everyone to get that experience.”

And did you succeed?

“And then some.” 

It was a two-year journey that led to this point. When Sikkens’ REBOUND 2024 was abruptly cancelled, he turned the negative around and packed two years’ worth of fun into his event. As a location, he selected De Meet, a Shimano Service Center along the IJssel River—which the group crossed as they sped into the picturesque Veluwe, Erwin’s backyard.

“I’d put this route together last year, and have been building bits and pieces of it since then. There’s so much nature around. What I do is select a far-off point we want to arrive at for our official 100-mile distance in Komoot. Then I see a bunch of pretty spots, building the route until I feel it offers something unique for everyone. Whether you’re local or coming from afar.”

Like a frame around a photo can transform a picture into a work of art, so too can a route into a neighboring forest transform the ride into something magical. Sikkens’ route had a bit of everything. A lush terrain through a calm forest, a stellar mid-way break arranged by Shimano Service Center Stappenbelt—with snacks and coffee for all—a grand finish with a DJ, burgers, and local craft beers.

“Let me start with this. We had locals and people from all over who joined. People booked hotels, and there was a man with a van who parked right outside the Service Center the day before REBOUND. When I arrived first thing Saturday, a half hour pre-race, he emerged from his van like a legend, gnawing on a modest breakfast bun, changed at the Service Center’s changing room, and he was ready to roll.

“We had 45 participants in all. Some fast, who finished the 100 miler around noon—we started at six a.m., the UNBOUND starting time—others at a more leisurely pace. The thing is, no matter how fast everyone was riding, we all relaxed at the rest stop halfway. Even the racers took a nice half-hour break.

In the half-light of morning, the group of riders set off. Crossing the river and riding into the forested lowlands of the Dutch East. The morning light set on, blue skies overhead, and soon they were four hours into their ride, no punctures, just smiles. When a group was splintering, they adjusted their pace. Even though most were strangers to each other, this group of REBOUND riders found a kinship in their pursuit of the ultimate gravel experience. 

We know you as someone with a Can-Do mentality. From mapping 300-km routes through the tiny Dutch woods to hopping islands in the north. How do you think your positive mindset impacts the adventures you find?

“I think the cliché that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take applies. Things may be challenging to start, but there are experiences out there that, however unlikely, can lead to absolutely new ways to celebrate life. You can do it today. Just by heading out. That’s what this event shows.

“Gravel is something magical; it is uplifting. You discover something beyond speed and performance. Or as the Dutch say: “Genieten.” The fact that so many people ride the Green Divide, 300 km and do it, means that the absence of time pressure leads to something more profound. If you can do that, there are no limits.”

How do you think modern technology impacts the way you enjoy the ride?

“You know, it’s not about watts or performance. It’s not in the margins. I don’t think technology serves to minimize your effort but rather brings you closer to nature. That’s true for route building, and I feel the same way about electronic shifting. Di2 helps to make life that bit easier.”