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Anyone else entered the Dales Divide next month?
https://bikepacking.com/event/dales-divide-2022/
I have and now wondering what I’ve let myself in for.
I haven’t got much bikepacking experience but kind of thinking “how bad can it be”. I suspect it’ll be pretty tough…
I think I’m going to choose the MTB (full suss 100mm 29er) over my gravel bike and probably stick a silly small chainring on it.
Anyone else entered or done it before (or anything like it) and have any words of advice? I’d like to get around it in 2.5 days if possible but we’ll just have to see what happens…
How much climbing does it come with?
Not sure yet as the final route hasn’t been published. I think last years route was around 8,000m.
It's a tough route - 8000m of climbing and 600km. However, despite the hills (and gates), there are plenty of opportunities for resupply so carrying loads of food is unnecessary. But you have to time it as Sunday opening times are shorter and obviously places are closed at night.
The scenery and riding are (mostly) excellent. Some damp slow patches but overall an excellent route. There is a fairly flattish roady section on the way into Scarborough - this is a welcome respite from the hills, but after Scarborough it soon gets remote and hilly.
2.5 days is good going - the fastest time is around 48 hours (might have been faster last year?), and that involved only a 3 hour bivvy. If you plan on going for 2.5 days then definitely fast tyres and packing light is the way to go.
Good luck - and enjoy it!
Thanks @large418 that’s good to know that there’s plenty of resupply points. I’m hoping to get through York and as far towards Scarborough as possible in the first day but that could be a bit optimistic, especially if there’s a head wind. I’m planning a Bivi stop for 4 hours or so and then trying to cover as much ground as possible on day 2 back towards Arnside. I don’t fancy pushing on right through the night and will be happy if I’m left with a reasonably short day 3 to finish things off. In all honestly I’ll be happy to get around it full stop… I’m glad it’s a bank holiday Monday that weekend too, just in case.
Just waiting for delivery of a 28t chainring…
I think last years quickest time was around 39 hours but conditions were really good (apart from those that got stuck out in some bad weather later on).