Elara Vance is an accomplished ultra-endurance cyclist and qualified Mountain Leader. She has completed the Transcontinental Race and the Highland Trail 550, accumulating vast experience in self-supported travel. She now teaches navigation and wilderness survival skills to aspiring bikepackers and gravel riders.
Elara Vance is a pioneer in the world of adventure cycling and bikepacking, with a resume that includes some of the toughest self-supported races in Europe. Her background as a qualified Mountain Leader and outdoor educator gives her a unique perspective on the intersection of cycling and wilderness survival. Elara has spent years refining her kit lists and survival strategies in the unforgiving weather of the Scottish Highlands and the Welsh mountains. She is an expert in route planning using tools like Komoot and OS Maps to find legal wild camping spots and potable water sources in remote locations. Her writing focuses on the practicalities of adventure: from packing systems that keep sleeping bags dry in torrential rain to the mental fortitude required to ride solo through the night. Elara is passionate about responsible access to the outdoors, educating riders on the 'Leave No Trace' principles and the legal differences between camping in Scotland versus the rest of the UK. She empowers riders to leave the tarmac behind and explore the gravel tracks and bridleways with confidence and safety.