10 Under the Ben 2025 - midgefest

At the very first 10 Under I was fooled into using Avon's Skin so Soft as someone on the internet convinced me that this was what the SAS used to fight off the little gits. I was scraping black layers of midges off my arms and legs all that weekend. The skin so soft was attracting every midge in the area. Until then, if I was bitten by midges I'd get mildly irritating wee red spots. Since then, every bite I get comes up as a huge week long welt. Now I only use serious chemicals to combat the blighters. If it's not melting the plastic on your watchstrap, it's not strong enough.

I've been to many 10 Unders since then, but that first one was midge hell!

smidge is the answer

This ^ 

Sadly, west of Scotland in warmish, humid, conditions was always going to be midge hell. Smidge is the answer + nets for extra protection when required

Had a headnet and chemicals but completely forgot about Smidge. They were hitching a ride on my face and arms for the downhill sections, I could feel them biting away but I couldn't let go of the bars to brush them off until the bottom! Arg

Friday night and Saturday were really grim until I realised my pit zips were open, that brought the level down to grim!

Sunday was absolutely fine as there was a bit of a breeze.

I've not done it for years as I can still remember trying to brush past the trailside broom at points to try and scrape them off me.  

One of my standout memories from an early 10UTB was puncturing (days before tubeless) towards the end of the lap and using every curse word imaginable as I changed the tube while scraping the little buggers out of my eyes. Grim AF.

Posted by: Beagleboy

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Until then, if I was bitten by midges I'd get mildly irritating wee red spots. Since then, every bite I get comes up as a huge week long welt.

Ha, that's the same as me! Skin didn't react to midge bites that badly until I'd done 10UTB a couple of years. Wonder if it was the same year...

Friday night midges were grim... forced to head into the cafe and drink beer (the hardship). I thought they were not too bad during the event. We were well equipped with Smidge and nets though.

We were doing it as a mixed pair and taking it in a very leisurely manner. I've done it in the past but it was the first time my girlfriend has had a go. The last time I did it was in the NoFuss days. 

I thought the course was great - easy but fun descents, climbs grim enough to make you think you'd earned them. Weather was much better than forecast which helps. I think we'll be back next year :). 

The event seems a lot smaller than I remember - but maybe that's a sign of MTB fashions these days? Not so much demand for an XC type endurance event. The junior event on Sunday seemed to be well attended with loads of keen-looking youngsters messing about on bikes. Great to see. 

The first year I did it (2009?) there was a stunt show, live music etc. I'm sure we got taken up the gondola for a meal in the restaurant at the top as well. That could be rose-tinted memories. (The weather was better too 🤣 ).

They weren't as bad as I've ever seen them, and I can't say I suffered tooooo much with them. Legs are fairly munched but the steroid cream is sorting them out. We did hide in the cafe on the Friday night, though. It did remind me why No Fuss moved it form late May/early June to early May.

I really liked the course this year - that first climb was absolutely savage! I'm a bit out of shape and overweight after a few illnesses but was pleased with how we did - 8th pair overall, 1st mixed pair in our category. Crucially, saw loads of old friends and made plenty of new ones, had a really lovely time catching up and enjoyed riding my bike AND IT BARELY RAINED! Compared to what was forecast, I'll take that and some midge bites any day. 11 laps for us, my legs are sad today but my face on the day says it all-

Ah yeah that 1st climb was brutal! I loved the 2 main descents, the one with the fast little rocky drop offs on it and the last fast bermy one down into camp put a massive grin on my face each time.

Anyone know where the pics will be? Roots and rain? Somewhere else?

Ah, so that is you! Think you helped us take the gazebo down at the end.

I don't think there has been a huge amount of promotion for the event, used to be a real atmosphere in the car park as there was music but it was very subdued.

Seemed brilliant though, but I reckon more numbers would make it even better.

After chatting to all the kids about it, they all want to return next year and bring more from the club. I really hope they do it again next year.

The kids event on Sunday was absolutely brilliant, was great seeing all the kids egging on everyone on bikes - even the chaperones were getting encouragement.

I'm also hoping that it will encourage many of the kids to do some more xc riding in general as they clearly have the skills and legs for it.

Aye, that's me! I've known Richard, Lettie and Geoff for a really long time but hadn't seen them for ages so was more than happy to help. 

I'm looking out for photos too. There are some on the Facebook page but there was definitely someone with a proper camera and flash. Hope they appear on R&R!

Leanachan midges are the worst, like flying sharks. I remember one year the endurance dh ran really late because of a red flag and I came down pretty much in the gloaming, the moment you went into the woods it was like entering a cloud, and the car park was just unbearable. I got in my midge suit and basically walked around hosing down riders with smidge and jungle formula, someone had built a fire in the pits and was throwing citronella candles onto it. 

Pro tip, you can ride in a full midge suit, it feels weird and obstructs vision a bit, but better than the alternative.