[Closed] Dirty Reiver 2021 (with Best Bike Split question)

I did the first two Reivers and a lot depends on the weather. First year we had four seasons in a day - including snow - and my time was about an hour more than I'd anticipated (including 30 minutes defrosting in the Alpkit teepee). Second year was pretty balmy and I finished well within my target of 10 hours. 200k is a long way, but the terrain in Keilder is not too challenging (the course was a lot easier in year 2). I'd recommend just breaking it down into 20k segments and try and keep an even pace.
As for tyres, bigger will be more comfortable over the distance, but maybe at a cost of some speed. I used 43mm Panracer Gravelkings both times with no troubles and are a good compromise tyre.
Good luck!

Tyres. Go big and go tubeless. I've done it 3 times and punctured every time.

Route has changed a little bit over the years but I'd budget at least 10 hours unless you're a fast rider. Profile doesn't look like much but the climbing combined with the gravel feels pretty relentless after a while. Harder than any sportive I've done.

I’ve also done it three times.

First time on 40c on one gravel tyres which had an unnecessary tread and the rest on 35c gravelkings or whatever they are called. No punctures and totally fine I definitely wouldn't get bigger tyres just to ride it.

Also I did no thinking and the first time I did it on a bike which I hadn't ridden before and was fine (and a totally untested brand new saddle)

You get a food drop off so you take food for what you think will do you half way then adjust your expectation there and decide what to carry forward from your resupply.

Cool thanks all!

I’m hoping to do a Salisbury Plain training ride in the next couple of weeks so will throw the Pathfinders through some sharp gravel and see if I get any issues before I waste money on an upgrade.

Ah yes- that’s a good point about the food drop off. Looking at vids and how busy the stops are (especially as they’re saying the selection will be limited and stops may take longer cuz covid) I’m tempted to take enough to not have to stop.

not going this time as the multiple date changes buggered me up, but will be back next year. ive ridden the last 3.

tubeless is a winner, make sure bottles are well secure in cages as you usually see them accidentally ejected all over the trail for first 20 miles or so.

dont forget something savory in your trail snacks as too much sweet energy stuff gets grim after a good few hours.

go as big as you are comfortable with or fits in the frame. for me 3" rubber is amazing and leaves narrower tyred bikes in its dust on descents and they have to pick lines and get sketchy in fast loose corners...3" rubber is also a dick on long road climbs 🙂

if singlespeed choose a good ratio for the rolling hills and flatter bits, then just maul and gurn up the bloody bombtrack climb.

main thing is have a jolly time and on the whole folks are friendly. although its getting more roadie over the years with the courses getting easier from a bike skills point of view.

I'm in and frankly, just hoping to get round. When i signed up I was a lot fitter than I am now. Infact, I've barely ridden at all.

One saving grace is that I'm quite good at talking to myself and turning pedals slowly. That might be negated byt he fact the only chainrings I could find were 52/34 :'(

More roadie sounds good for my lack of skillz 🤣

Fitness isn’t a problem as such but weight is. I’m still 15.5 stone so the amount of climbing is worrying.

I did a Zwift century on Sunday because of the minging weather, hopefully do an outdoor one this weekend and then stretch for a gravel one on the Plain the week after. That will be my shakedown ride to properly test everything and choose whether to go camelbak or not.

I’m still not sure on nutrition for such a long event. I did a 5hr MTB ride fasted the other week and felt fine so I’m not convinced I need to be jamming 80/90/100g carbs an hour in. Somewehere around 60-80 maybe should get me through the extra hours provided I pace properly I reckon. It’s either that or eat the extra and try and up the power a bit.

I think you're overthinking it @crosshair Just shove a load of haribo and pork pies in your saddle bag and get down to the start line.

Anyone else camping? I'm booked onto the kielder campsite with the family for our first ever camping expedition, what could possibly go wrong?.

Yes 😞 Overthinking is what I like to do 🤣🤣🤣

I love it up there and love the look of the event so I’m hoping to set a good benchmark for future races against virtual me 🤣🤣

the feed strategy for me has usually gone every hour have a cube of a shot block, every couple of hours snaffle a minni sausage roll. celebrate each climb with a nip from the hip flask loaded with a caffine gel dissolved into either spiced rum or absinthe. im not a waiflike figure either and my chubby little legs will get around it, so im sure you'll be fine. as they say "party pace, wins the race"

Awesome thanks! I like the sound of that strategy 😎 🤣

Yeah tazzy has it nailed I reckon. I'm pretty sure I saw him stopped at the bottom of the second ascent one year having a swig presumably as a prereward?

Although why he added caffeine gel to rum when he could have carried a bottle of buckfast I have no idea.

Don't over think it. It's just a long bike ride it's not special in terms of difficulty or anything.

My approach has always do no training for it and carry way to much food with a little bottle of rioca just in case.

Admittedly the last time I did it I didn't actually finish because I couldn't be arsed and they removed the hands down best bit of a rough descent.

The worst bit of the ride is the bloody lap of the reservoir.

🤣

That’s the only piece I’ve ridden. I did the lap around the reservoir on my road bike in May.

Well that tucked on the end of the previous 100miles suck major balls.

I did it singlespeed (39x20) a few years ago. This was on an On-One Pompetamine. Had WTB Riddler 37c tyres set up tubeless. I also double taped the bars which worked really well.

I ended up rolling back to the finish in 11hrs45mins, riding time was 10hrs so a fair bit of time at the food stops.

Singlespeed, but not the above ratio(!), is a pretty good way to do it: you are out of the saddle for most of the ascents and most of the descents so little chance of a sore arse! I got to around 100k before I came across a climb that I had to walk. Then some of the long drags towards the end became a bit much. Again a more suitable ratio would mean more likely to ride those.

Make sure you sort your bike out before the event - at least 20% were having drivetrain problems when I did it.

I was in ... but can't make it now.

Did the first 3...pretty much agree with most of the above.

Rode the first one on tubes+33mm tyres. Big mistake. Rode the next two on 40c Nanos, they were about right for the grav/rock mix, although I hear the latest route is a bit more mellow so 38s would be fine I reckon.

2nd year the food was far too sweet at the stops, my stomach revolted eventually so I had to slow to a fat burning crawl for the last 30 miles or so. 3rd year I took my own savouries along. Two 600ml water bottles were fine for me.

Time...well, it depends doesn't it? I went from just over 11hrs, to just under 11hrs, to 10hrs. Most of the variation was weather and stop related I reckon. Certainly the just over 11 and 10 only differ by 15 mins moving time on Strava. Lot of stops on the first one as the weather was nasty at times, and the fire in the Alpkit tent was hard to leave.

Bigger volume tyres are mostly for comfort - drop the pressure a little without risking pinch flats. You are, as others have said, over thinking it. You've obviously never done such a long off road ride and success/failure isn't in your power metrics, but in your head. You know you can ride all day at a suitable pace on normal food, so pack a bag with goodies and listen to your body. Some people love that last section around the reservoir because they have a bit left in the tank and it's smoother. "To finish first, you have first to finish" See you on the finish line 😉

Some people love that last section around the reservoir because they have a bit left in the tank and it’s smoother.

Boxelder you are one of the organisers aren't you? I hope you don't think it's a criticism. I think it's a great route but the lap is yucky mainly because I had to do it in the dark once after a loooongg day with an asthmatic that had me coming in third last. It's surprisingly undulating when you are at your lowest ebb.

The best bit was the descent before the old alpkit stop. Rocky double track as fast as possible on 35c was ace fun. No idea where it was though.

@joshvegas - that descent is here http://streetmap.co.uk/map?X=359592&Y=576717&A=Y&Z=120 heading west down to Crossgreens. You did need to pick your line on it when on skinnier tyres.

Thanks guys! Yes Boxelder, I’ve never ridden more than 70 miles off road. Although I’m clearly not going to be troubling the leaders, I do want a finish that’s worthy of the effort I’ve put in to training this year (after breaking both my legs in 2020). It will likely be my only event this season too.

It’s also on the 20th anniversary of when I broke more bones 🤣 When the planes were hitting the twin towers- I was in surgery having my hip plated up, wondering if I’d ever walk again!
So it’s going to be quite a fitting event in a few ways.

If bike and body are able- there’s no question about finishing or not, it’s just whether I explode spectacularly and limp in or execute a realistic plan to the letter. That’s where the maximum enjoyment is going to come from for me- beating an ambitious stretch goal. After all, these events are basically a long TT.

That’s why I’m curious about the accuracy of a best bike split prediction. It’s giving me under 8hrs for 215w normalised (which should be in reach) but that seems ridiculous for how fast I seem to go on gravel around here 🤣

Hmm, you ain't going to be doing the Reiver in 8hrs @ 215W whether that's normalised or average!

Just go and ride it - so long as you can chat you are going at the right pace. I'm assuming it's still a mass start in which case you'll be in masses of traffic for the first 5-10km and won't be able to blast along unless you are right at the front.

Not if you go fast enough Whitestone. That's the one.

Crosshair finishing will be worth it regardless of the outcome it is an enjoyable day out.

When you've finished.

I know- that seemed way to fast. I’ll try the full off-road setting rather than gravel.

220w (normalised) on Salisbury Plain for a few hours on the MTB normally gets me 13-15mph.

I did it in 2019 in 11h30m, but I probably wasted 40 minutes at the last food stop queueing for hot food, I think it was cheesy potatoes or something but obviously I got colder waiting in the queue and then they were undercooked and barely edible!

Be prepared for any weather, I wasn't too bad in 3/4s, winter socks, long sleeve base layer and a proper waterproof, but I think a lot of people got cold who were relying on a shower proof top, someone even got carted off in an ambulance from the campsite as they couldn't warm up that evening.

Plus I had a stiff headwind that really slowed me down.

Finally, you can avoid some of the swearing/utter dispair of the other riders by keeping your cycle computer on the elevation profile so you don't get caught out, especially the extra ones snuck in around the lake which I could see on the computer as I approached the dam.

That’s a good idea about the profile. Never really ridden with a map going so ought to practice 👌🏻

I’m hoping it will be in the next wave of summer we must surely still be due 🤞🏻 ☀️

I've done it 3 times first year I kept a mate company and we bailed onto the 130, second year I put an effort in and done the 200 in 8 and a bit hours. 3rd year I was supposed to do the 200 but had a silly over the bars moment about 80km in and really hurt my hand so bailed onto the 130. This year I'm not as fit so instead of trying to go fast I'm just trying to make sure my mate does the 200 and I'll be on a ss mtb for a different challenge. Looking forward to just plodding along.

Is there a Gpx file out for the route yet?

First timer at this event

Is there a Gpx file out for the route yet?

First timer at this event

You really don't need one I have just followed the signs. Despite my complaints boxelder and the Gang do a great job of set up.

Alternatively just follow the trail of bottles.

It’s more a case of loading the route so I can count down the hills and see what’s coming up next.

Oh Christ don't do that you'll not get half way before you give up cycling

Will be there, staying at the camping too, looking forward to it and hoping the weather Gods play nicely. Reilly Gradient and 45c tyres will be bike of choice...

@joshvegas - no apologies needed. I'm with you on the rocky descent over the lakeside way. Problem with that rocky track is the casualties (bikes and bodies) it created, which are then an hour's drive from the finish. We had loads of complaints about it, or about that draggy climb back over along Kershope water. Much easier/safer event to manage when it stays within the watershed.

I'm going on my own, will be camping. 45mm x 700c front and rear should be comfy.

I've trained a fair bit, was regularly hitting 300K per wk, but struggled for time over last few weeks. Hope to pick up momentum again over next 2 weeks.

I did the old K100 Mtb event a couple of times and remember lots of long draggy climbs.

Had a bad couple of days training in the week. Felt awesome on Tuesday’s intervals after my Sunday Zwift century but then Thursday and Saturday, I had no legs at all.

Went out yesterday to put some hours on the gravel bike and did a 6h road century (threw in a lap of Greenham Common at 75 miles to get some gravel in 🤣).

I had 70g of carbs in each of three 750ml bottles plus jelly babies, a couple of peperamis and some flapjack bites and it’s way too much for me still. For the last two hours I craved plain water so I think one more concentrated bottle of sugar and two plain bottles would have been better.

I also didn’t eat most of the food. Although the peperamis went down a treat at 90 mins and 3hrs.

The worst problem I encountered was my Sidi shoes. I’ve never really liked them and they made my feet ache really badly with two hours to go. They’ve been bad before but nothing like this. So they’re being replaced for some Giro’s.

I had also changed my position beforehand and that made a big difference- it felt like some of my missing watts were back.

Power was 192w average and 221np. Had my feet not hurt so much, I think I could have stayed over 200w average no problems- at 3hrs I was still at 220.

Hopefully do some more interval work this week and then I’m hoping to spend a day on Salisbury Plain next weekend doing a sim. Will aim for 200k of gravel with as many hills as I can find (not hard- the plain is surprisingly hilly in parts.).

Turned out this week was recovery week which was nice- so just a couple of endurance rides midweek. Then we had a work bbq to organise last night so I skipped yesterday’s session and did a shakedown ride on Salisbury Plain today for 83 miles in 6h30.

Shakedown was the operative word! Some of the gnarlier gravel was pushing the tyre limits really. Being so heavy at the minute, I didn’t dare drop the tyres below 35psi. Most of the time they were great but I really longed for more volume! Sections that I don’t even notice on the Scott Spark were a struggle to stay on the track at 25-30mph.
With the added fatigue the smaller tyres bring- it did make me wonder whether in fact the MTB might be the better choice for Dirty Reiver 🤔
But that’s unfair on the Diverge really as most of the rest of the time it was awesome. The future shock did help a lot- as did the confidence inspiring Geo and all the regular gravel was a breeze.

I wasn’t pleased with my own performance though- I had to get up at first light and do all my work before I could leave so I was up against the clock a bit and already quite tired.
I ended up doing 83 miles with about 60+ of them on gravel. Power was down to 175/210np as I was expecting it to be 8 hrs for a full century.
So actually it was less kcals than the road ride last Sunday.

Fuelling went better- obviously it’s harder to eat and drink to a routine off road as it may take a mile until the terrain allows. I had plain water too this time which made a massive difference. I forgot Peperamis so I had 4 rice crispie squares, a bag of haribo and a bag of winegums.

That was the best test yet for whats to come and I think hauling my fat ass around the long course at all is going to be a great achievement 🤣 I think holding the power is going to be easy enough- especially with the event day buzz. But it’s just not going to buy me the kind of speed BBS says it will.

I *may* dig the MTB out and do a ride just to double check which is the right choice but the Diverge is better at load carrying- so I would have to switch to a camelbak if I went for the MTB option.

It was a cracking day out in its own right today mind you- the weather was a nice change and the Plain views were great in the sunshine.

That Diverge looks ideal - just don't tow the trailer bag behind it.

Well this race has taken me a bit by surprise! I had signed up for the Frontier 300 so when it got cancelled I joined the waiting list for this, not thinking I’d ever get a place. Suffered a knee injury that stopped me running but luckily I could still cycle. I haven’t really trained since May though have managed some long rides. Imagine my shock when I get an email offering me a place a few weeks ago!! I’ve been out every weekend since but still can’t run to improve my overall fitness. Managed my first ever 200km yesterday in 9hrs 15m with 2000m of climbing but this was all on roads! Will I die?

Managed my first ever 200km yesterday in 9hrs 15m with 2000m of climbing but this was all on roads! Will I die?

If you've got what it takes to stay in the saddle for 9 hours then you have what it takes to finish the reiver (even if it takes longer).

Did the last one, 2019 i guess if 2020 was covid'd. Used 650b Maxxis Ikons 2" which were excellent on the comfort factor and the grip factor.

I ended up missing the 200km cut off by 1/2 hour in the end because of chatting and stopping to enjoy the scenery etc. Turns out I'd totally misinterpreted the 'vibe' of the ride when everyone turned up in full in lycra. A fun inclusive crowd mostly it was not, quite a few people didn't even reply to hello's or starting a chat on the route or at the food stops etc. That's on me though really for not checking what sort of event i was entering! The friendliest people i met were the people riding and walking around on their own adventures.

Great area, really lovely, did an OMM there too a few years back. Make sure you take a bit of time before or after the ride to checkout the trails up past the observatory, and enjoy a nice walk around the lake, it really is beautiful. Hadrians wall isn't far away either, Homesteads is well worth a visit if you get the time.

Bit of a ramble, sorry, but i'm sure you'll enjoy it, like i said its hard not to in such a cracking area.

Well m, with a fairly good calibration yesterday to work off of, I used the best bike split sliders to match the data with the time I actually did on Salisbury Plain.
That brings my DR time to more like 10h which sounds far more realistic. Possibly the race day vibes and company will mean I improve on that but 10 is now my target and 9 a stretch goal.

Cheers @crosshair you've scared me into some 'training' I rode manchester to leeds off road on saturday on a bowl of shreddies, an out of date energy gel and a satsuma. Topped up my water bottle from a kindly chap watering his front garden with a hose and actually felt alright.

The worrying thing is the prospect of doing it twice, and with more hills.

First time doing Reiver this year and really looking forward to it. I have a question on pedals - I would like to run a power meter but I only have Garmin road pedals with PM. For those that have done it before, are there any sections that would need to be walked (excluding just blowing up and crawling to the finish!)?

Nice work 👍🏻

I’m training but wondering what the point is. I don’t seem to adapt anymore- just get tired and cranky 🤣

Hopefully as I cut back on hours these next two weeks, some kind of form will arrive.

Welcome to middle age. Was easier 5 years back when you were a youngster

Yes- stopping all activity for a year with two broken legs didn’t help mind you.
I guess I keep forgetting I’m only four months in to riding again and have re-added 112w to my ftp 🤣

... are there any sections that would need to be walked...?

All rideable, for sure, no crazy hike-a-bike.

I’ll not be taking my Garmin pedals - flat soles for me

Anyone want to predict midge activity?

Was always hideous when I did the K100 - felt sorry for the poor bastards camping but that was earlier in the year.

I’m camping this time - wife may come but I can’t see her enjoying it if the midge are out

Tyre Time!

What’s everyone’s thoughts on tyres? Looks like it’s going to be dry so I’m thinking of using my GravelKing semi-slicks 700x43. I’ve got a set of 650b wheels with 47mm WTB Senderos but think they might be a bit draggy! What ya got?

I’m too tight to upgrade from my Pathfinder Pro’s in 38mm so going to run those.

Anyone want to predict midge activity?

We have skin so soft, jungle spray and midge nets for all the family!

Midge net is a good call.

re tyres - Swapped over to Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M Classic in the 45mm 700c/29er version.

Prioritising comfort and grip but they also seem to roll quite well too.

Pondering singlespeed gearing for my mtb. 29er any ideas? Currently 34-18

GravelKing semi-slicks 700×43

Probably about right for most of it. I'd prefer a bit bigger personally but one of my main concerns would be punctures. I've heard GK can be a bit fragile, although I've no experience of them myself.

Cheers, I was leaning towards the GravelKings.

I’ve heard GK can be a bit fragile,

I took them on a 100 mile bikepacking trip round Pitlochry and they held up well. The gravel up there is made from boulders 😳. I was more concerned about grip levels but I probably won’t be going fast enough for that to be an issue 🤣

How much food is everyone carrying? I'm stocked up with more stuff than I expect to be able to eat - gel 'sweets', proper gels, bars - all stuff that I regularly use but much more volume. Filled a small frame bag (plus waterproof and other compulsory gear. Wasn't going to bother with a drop bag. Aiming to do the 200k.

Probably take 4 rice crispie squares, jelly babies, wine gums and a couple of peperamis and then have sugar in 1300ml of bottles, plus 1300ml of water.
I’m aiming to get to at least the last aid station without stopping although I do quite like the challenge of riding any long event without stopping at all.

I’ve got the rest week blues at the minute but hopefully that will translate into some kind of performance on Saturday.

It will be my longest ride full stop let alone on gravel so I need to concentrate on finishing at all first and be pleased with that before I get too carried away with power and pacing targets.

I’m taking as many clif bars and blocs as I can manage! Probably 6 bars and 2 or 3 packets of blocks. I’m liking the idea of pepperami so might take some of them and also some rolls for later. As above I have a tendency to keep going as I hate stopping! I’ve never done anything like this so I’m open for better suggestions!

Think I have 9 packets of blocs (too many)

Also not riding much this week. Just done one 45 min session with a few efforts. May repeat tomorrow.

Never ridden 200k before, let alone on gravel. Did a couple of 100 milers on the road - Bank Holiday weekend. Hoping for a ballpark time of 10 hours but I'd be happy to complete. Weather looks OK which will be important (for me).

Think I have 9 packets of blocs (too many)

Right well, i'm unpacking my bags, what bike are you riding? I'll just follow you around 😀

I'm on an Orange Crosslight with completely mismatched bags, Staying at the Kielder campsite with the family, pop in and say hi if you see us!

That is insanely hard that thing 🤯
Would be fun a couple of stone lighter.
Garmin battery died as I was saving so I need to try and rescue the file.
But I must be around 10h dead for the timed section (minus neutral start).
My Garmin is showing 10hrs including the neutral bit but I think it was 3 minutes longer elapsed time. Sadly I missed my goal of riding the whole thing without unclipping. (Once to retrieve my bottle up a slow steep climb, when it popped out of my back pocket and once at some ruts around a puddle where I had a pee and swapped out my bottom bottle.)

Last time I looked, I was at 176w/219NP but I ramped up the pace in the last five miles so it may be a tad higher.

Bike was insanely good. Literally perfect for that event. Even the 38’s were spot on at 32/35psi. The confidence I had downhill was amazing- that Diverge geometry is very clever!

My body held up well apart from sore feet. I decided to ignore them for 50 miles instead 🤣

I took all my food and drink and skipped the aid stations. I had 1x750ml of red bull, 1x750ml plain water, 1x750ml of 100g sugar, 1x550ml of 100g sugar and 1x550ml of plain water.

In hindsight, I should have stopped at the last aid section for plain water but luckily someone gave me some.

With 5x rice crispie squares, 1 jelly babies, 1 haribo star mix and 1 bag of pork scratchings (they were the BEST choice ever!) my food weighed 1200g 🤣

All in I dread to think what the bike and food/drink/tools weighed- 18kg maybe.

Being fat and riding to power was hilarious. I was literally a rolling roadblock up the early hills but then would reel everyone back in at 240w on the flats and be doing +15mph down the hills. A few miles later, you’d end up alongside the same folk. That’s why I’m not group riding at the minute- it’s impossible to pace nicely alongside regular folk.

It is pretty “roadie”- I struggled to get too much banter going but given how hard we were riding, it’s hardly surprising.
One poor guy was slumped over his bars, saying he was cracked at mile 73!! But he made it to the finish so I made sure I congratulated him for his crazy effort!

At times, the headwind made going downhill on gravel a 240w, 10mph slog but overall it could have been worse.

Weather was great- too hot at times! With just enough early rain to dampen the dust.

I think I’ll go back in the spring- IF I’ve lost weight. And I’ll probably go lightweight on the bike and raid the aid stations just to mix things up- although they all looked congested.

That’s certainly my hardest day on the bike- I just hope I retrieve the file.

When I did it you were not allowed liquids in the drop bags incase they leaked over other people's gear.

So be prepared to take sachets and mix your drinks when you refill at the food stops.

I just used two bottles and as I didn't want a bag I took a small bikepacking style seatpack, I didn't need it but I was glad knowing I had a warm insulated jacket stashed in there had I needed to stop for a puncture or worst case walk/wait for help due to mechanical or an off. (It was cold and windy)

09:55 official time.
Fastest was 06:44 🤣🤣
That’s 18mph which doesn’t surprise me- it is a fast course.
His power was 246w/275np which isn’t other worldly apart from relative to his weight.
Also, it becomes a completely different event as duration increases. A 7hr effort and a 10h effort are worlds apart.
It’s why the old adage about ‘it never gets easier, you just go faster’ isn’t true when applied to a fixed distance course 🤣

I had a mechanical nightmare and slipped my chain about 10x in the first half. Managed to get it to sort of work in most gears although my BB from my spares box that I was forced to put in the day before turned out to be very worn and the bike started to make a lovely rasping nose with turning the cranks that got louder as the ride went on! I had 10'45 riding time overall including a last minute wrong turn in the dark that added another kilometer 😀 The last climb was horrifically brutal and one I will remember for some time.

Was so glad to get in and drove home to a warm bed which was luxury. See you next year?!

Are the results available somewhere? Can't see this year's on the official website yet.

Moving time of about 9.20 for me. Guess might have stopped for about an hour all in.

Results

Am I right in thinking it’s back to April next year?
That’s a much better time of year for me- I can enjoy it rather than rushing up and back 🤣
And plenty of time to shift some weight 🤣

Let's hope so for less midges 🤪 I don't know how folk do it with almost zero stops?! I needed 2L water from every feed stop...

As above- I carried a lot of extra weight! 3x750ml bottles and 2x550ml
I had three bottles in cages, one in a frame bag and one in my back pocket.

Fair enough, I guess that would allow me to only stop once as I would take less time too theoretically. Will need to think how I can fit all that fluid on my bike and person!

Marshall 12 here...

I'm not quite sure what all this fascination with times and watts is. It's not a race, never has been and there's no prize. Its just a big old ride in great countryside with like minded people. Slow down a bit, chat, enjoy the views, look at the "stuff" around the place. Normally I'd say chill back at the food stations for some snap and a banter, but I understand things were a bit different this year thanks to covid.

It's interesting - the first one I worked on 3 years ago was about a 50/50 split of gravel bikes and assorted old MTBs and weirdo bikes where the challenge was just to finish, but this year it definitely had a very roadie feel to the whole thing and it was all very serious and sufferfesty and having fun was verboten. (definitely some very honourable exceptions to this!)

<<tongue in cheek>> As for all those complaining that the corner I was on was a bit rough - it's a *in' gravel ride. Its supposed to have *in' rocks in it!!! Get some handling skills if you want to go fast! <<tongue out of cheek>>

First time I’ve ever done an event like this and only recently started doing long distances so I’m well chuffed I managed it in 10.46 which is over my target of 10 but at one point I thought I’d take about 12!! The next 30km from the last feed station was a slog for me but managed to get round the last 20k fairly fast (for me). I carried four clif bars and ate 15 clif blocs and stopped at the last 2 feed stations. Loved the event, hated the midges! Definitely going to try it again now that I know what I’m in for!

@JonEdwards I think gravel is going that way unfortunately. Tbh it seems every cycling specialty goes that way sadly. I guess if you weren't given an official time then it might limit it a bit but the world of ego is well and truly in gravel now. MTB events have gone the same way eg. Glentress 7 used to be about turning up and getting round while having a laugh. These days I'm not certain I saw a single person smile all day 🤣 Not sure there's an answer tbh

@JonEdwards Respectfully- no 😀🤣🤣🤣🤣

It’s non-technical gravel and the scenery is epic but repetitive.
(And I say that as someone who hopes to move to Northumberland in the near future as we love it so much). The challenge, the motive for inflicting the suffering on yourself, is the urge to keep pushing on the pedals beyond your normal limits.

I’m not treating it as a race against anyone other than myself. But I wouldn’t pay the entry fee if it wasn’t timed.

It’s based on the USA gravel scene and that’s exactly what they delivered- a race at the front, a party at the back and everyone else in the middle chasing their best time.

There is nothing to stop anyone completing it. You could ride it on any Halfords hybrid.
But by having a time to try and improve on, you generate an incentive to return.
I now have motivation to train harder, kick start my diet and test and improve my fueling strategy.
Without the simple time chip in the number- I’d have none of those things.

(And if you don’t ride to power- did you even ride at all 🤯🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣)

Thanks for your support by the way- all of you marshals were super friendly 😀

Marshals were all awesome. Cheers Jon. Out of interest how much climbing was involved? I though I’d read it was about 2500m but my computer recorded just under 4k! No wonder I was slow 😂

I got 3500m of ascent. I was 7th from last in the 200km. Clearly partying at the back 🤣

The toughest day I've ever had on the bike. The midges were a welcome distraction!!

Enjoyed a great day out on the bike. Switched the bike stats off after feed 1 (as I was so slow) and chatted/ looked at views/ enjoyed descents. Got round without any mishaps. Just under 10 hours.

Bike setup vid in case you’re struggling to sleep 🤣🤣

I had a hard old time, entered the 200km, but i had too swap to the 130km as my left achilles tendon started really hurting randomly.

I was one of about 8-9 i saw on MTB instead of a gravel bike, very different to the first two years which is when i had last done it.

Event has become very roadie, you can tell as they go fast up the ascents, then on the descents they slow right down, spread across the whole trail, then get annoyed when you get off the brakes and go past them! Saw a lot of people with punctured inner tubes too.

But overall, a great even, really well organized and great atmosphere in general

Had some good banter repeatedly passing riders on descents/ rolling trails only for them to get me back on the next [long] hill. Saw the same folk over and over again. I thought it was a nice atmosphere, with relaxed chat at feeding zones. All in the same boat, trying to get around reasonably quickly in one piece.