RRI.CO.ID, Yogyakarta – The Ultra Wisata community is a road bike group dedicated to ultra-long-distance cycling journeys, born unexpectedly from a group ride from Yogyakarta to Dieng. "Ultra" refers to the cycling distance category, while "Wisata" reflects their practice of admiring natural beauty during rides.

Founding members Dedi Setiawan and Irvan Setiawan have nurtured the community from its inception, boasting around seven years of experience in road biking.

“My first event was a 500-kilometer ride with 5,000 meters of elevation gain,” Dedi said on Tuesday, January 29, 2026.

This experience fueled Dedi’s drive for tougher challenges. To date, Dedi and Irvan have completed a 600-kilometer ride from Yogyakarta to Malang in the Yogyakarta Ultra Cycling Challenge.

In this event, cyclists must cover the designated distance independently, without external assistance.

“In this event, we truly cycle alone, with no help from anyone. Even at rest stops, we cannot stop at places connected to people we know,” remarked Irvan. 

This format demands self-reliance, requiring riders to solve problems independently. Consequently, long-distance cyclists always carry personal toolkits for bike repairs.

“For long-distance rides like that, you must bring everything yourself, like tire pumps, spare tires, and especially small-denomination cash to speed up transactions,” advised Dedi.

Dedi and Irvan aim to tackle the Bentang Jawa event, a grueling 1,500-kilometer route from West Java’s western tip to East Java’s eastern end.

They emphasize that aspiring cyclists should prioritize acquiring a suitable bike. Dedi adds that road biking offers diverse and enriching experiences. (Annaila Azzahra/Bambang MBKA)