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Anyone else in? Whilst its a shame it appears to be one of Tweedloves last events , it will be my first time at Glentress, having only ever been to the valley once for the student DH champs at Innerliethen in 2007ish. Entered Solo, first time ever doing something like this alone. With a held for ransom supporting pit crew/family who's only insturction is to keep feeding me, the plan is just to keep going at a steady pace and get through to a strong finish. 7 laps in 7 hours has a nice ring to it, but without knowing the terrain I have no idea how feasible that is for me. Course is all new this year apparently, some people on the socials saying its missing some good stuff from the past but it looks OK to me and basically up fireroads, down the marked singletrack reds and blues with a finish straight at the bottom where the WC was. 9.8km Distance | 336m Elevation they say, so thats going to add up to some big height over the course of a day! I have a nice superlight XC hardtail but for a 7 hour event I think I'm going to ride my trail bike with the light wheels on - at the 6.5 hours mark the ability to sit down and hang on over the rough stuff will be appreciated. Say hello if you spot me on my all-stealth-black Bold Linkin! 
Sadly bowed out and swapped entry to Enjoyro Evo the next day as a summer of illness and complete lack of riding makes me less than enthused than I'd like about a hard day in the saddle, pootle round Enjoyro will be much more fun.
Always a good day so sure it will be fun, though would agree with the slightly underwhelming course comments. If you've never/rarely ride GT you'll enjoy much more though.
I did ask them if I might be eligible for a special prize if I completed the 7 and the Enjoyro, on the same bike, concurrent days, but thought the better of it!
Agreed, it would be nice to have some roots in. My partner is racing it again - we think she might have the most amount of female podiums of anyone (we think, we haven't checked, but no one else will either).
She's looking forward to it although she has chosen her Vanquish over my new ti thing which is a bit upsetting. It has been settled for a few weeks so guaranteed a wash out as well ?
I am.
I think it will be my 4th, Although the first two were 2011 and 12. The last one 2022. Solo Veteran.
I will need to compare the course distance and height to previous events. Obviously terrain and weather will make a difference too. Looks similar to previous years in terms of the numbers and I managed 9 laps. No dedicated pit crew but I'm there with a couple of pair riders so will get hand ups from whoever is around as I pass.
Trails look good, they are easy enough but fun. Some of the rooty ones will be interesting if it's wet. And, everything is hard after a few hours racing, even a fire road.
Looking forward to it. Particularly the cakes. Over 9 laps I got to sample most of the selection.
There will be a few of us in team kit on the course. But this is me!
Does anyone want my solo entry?
I'm in but I've got covid so won't be racing unfortunately
On the course front, are there not still trees down in the falla brae area? May have hinder course selection. Course looks faster than the old one at a glance. Probably a more friendly course for less technical riders. Shame it's going to be the last one!
I did ask them if I might be eligible for a special prize if I completed the 7 and the Enjoyro, on the same bike, concurrent days, but thought the better of it!
My mate is doing just that on a 130mm hard tail. Day 2 he’ll be chasing his wife who’s on a 150mm full sus e-bike, round the enduro course.
I'll be there, racing in pairs on an all black Scott Spark and racing in a yellow Roots Cycles jersey like in the photo below. Course looks like it might play to some of my strengths, but I'd prefer the older rougher course.
No fist fights this year anyone!
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It's going to piss it down, right?
Off to the fracture clinic on monday so I guess I'll know then if i'm allowed to ride! But something tells me we're not going to get a podium this year 🙂
Course was always going to be a big challenge this year with the cabins closure, it looks less interesting/charming to me but I think it's good overall and very different, will be fast if it's dry. And no heart attack hill! I will miss the carnage of the tunnel of love though and that whole endless final descent from the road.
Question will be...would a gravel bike be the weapon of choice....
Thought about it as a solo but swithered but now full. On the solo waiting list in case.
I'll be soloing. Think the course looks OK. Hit squad is getting a bit of love this weekend with the trail faeries so should hopefully ride well. It's one of my favs actually, fast in places and a couple of sections that will allow overtaking.
Climbs look predominantly fire road, for better or worse. Matrix and Lombard St are running well just now, not too wet. Descending the taster trails could be a bit mixed. Not going to be many obvious places to let riders past or over take, without pulling over.
Think I can do 7 laps, but will be pushing for 8.
I rode the majority of the loop yesterday evening. I ride Turn&Burn though to finish the loop.
It was a glorious evening to be at GT. Lots of fireoad climbing, so there will be time to regroup between the descents. Though the fireroad climb from the walkers path to Hit Squad Hill is quite the slog.
The walkers path section is short but it a bit tricky. I can see bottlenecks occuring in that section.
I timed my second loop, 50mins for me at a comfortable pace. So target of 7 laps for me.
Has anyone made a gpx of the route yet? Looking to ride it tomorrow or so!
Heads up for the people who've not done it before - it's not really a 7 hour race, not like most endurance races where it's "most laps in X hours, then you have to be back within the hour". Last time I did it, you have to be done within 7 hours. So if you came back at 6hr45mins, you'd not be allowed out again. Bear that in mind with your pacing.
A few places made available on the 7 and Enjoyro if anyone fancies it!
Lots of rain last night, and more due tomorrow night. I don't think it'll affect too much of the course. The Walker's Path section probably the most at risk of turning into a mud bath, but it's short at least. Toying with sticking a mudguard on though, in the interest of staying as comfortable as possible for 7 hours.
Thanks for the heads up ill dig one out.
Is anyone that is doing solos planning to leave thier box containing food, drinks etc in the pit area overnight on the Friday?
I was thinking of doing it after registration on the Friday and then just riding to GT on the Saturday morning.
Almost race time. And can confirm that the blue taster trail descent has been swept of gravel! A far wider line in the berms now and way less sketchy surface. Obs, don't just go pinning in 110% on lap 1, there is still some gravel, but a far more predictable surface.
Weather's looking, alright. Prob going to get a shower or two, but if today is anything to go by, they won't last long and it's still fairly warm.
Made it! Went for a little explore but decided against a full practice lap based on a preference for eating. Had a little run down the blue taster and it's super fun, can't wait to ride the rest.
Weather will just do what weather does, but it's mild, and we got a brill rainbow a short while ago. Time for a big sleep!
How did it go for everyone? Enjoy the course?
Had a massive crash on my first lap and cut myself to ribbons from shoulder to ankle and down my back but still managed to haul ourselves to 3rd in Male Pairs Under 80 which I am absolutely over the moon about. It only took five visits to the medics tent - they said they'd never seen anyone so much.
Had a distressing shower experience with a toothbrush and some cling film when I got home and gonna have a rough few days of sleep but totally worth it.
Had a massive crash on my first lap and cut myself to ribbons from shoulder to ankle and down my back
Ouch. Where did you bin it?
You know how VWW said they'd swept the gravel of the berms? Someone asked me to pass them on one and I rode straight through where the sweepings ended up!
Looked like a grand day, lots of smiling faces right to the end
Pretty good day out for me. 8 laps. Could have pushed for 9 but I'd been cramping and wasn't convinced I could get a clean last lap before the cut off. Am wondering now if I should have teied anyway, but I was pretty done in.
Really enjoyed it, though I doubt I'll ever ride that middle fireroad again by choice!
Rest up munrobiker! 3rd pair is a bloody good result, especially riding wounded.
Well done @munrobiker tough gig when injured.
Manged 9 laps, has time for 10 but cramp was just starting to set in. Got in the top 20 in my category but looking at the speed of the top 10 I was way off the pace! 40-49 age group.
Good day out. Looking at the number of people who attend it's hard to think there isn't the demand to run this again #endofTweedlove ?
Am wondering now if I should have teied anyway, but I was pretty done in.
Same here. Managed 9, my 9th was 46 mins and I had about 47 mins before the cut off. At the time I was totally spent but now wondering if I should have given it a go... At the time I was convinced I couldn't but from the comfort of the breakfast table I think I should have gone again. Easy to say now though.
At the time I was totally spent but now wondering if I should have given it a go
Easy to think that with hindsight! I finished my last lap well, but the previous two I'd had to stop for cramp part way round. I really didn't want to miss the cut because I'd had to stop and stretch somewhere!
Some photos up on Roots and Rain for those interested. I even have some muscle definition in one of them!!!
I've had "last lap remorse" in the past - you never let it go!
Here's my teammate on his first lap (with his head cut off unfortunately) - shows just how good the weather was compared to the forecast!
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And some of my injuries - there are quite a few more!
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Sore in so many ways today, and covered in steristrips and bandages.
I was the same as VWW, managed 8 laps, might have had enough time for one more but was going to be on the limit of what my legs could do and I was only getting slower. Have rolled the dice in the past and came into the finish as they were counting down and missed the cut off by seconds. Didn't fancy that again! Had a great day, great atmosphere, chatted to quite a few folk who were doing it for the first time and were loving it. Really hope it can continue. Went to the family day with my boys today and was great to see the all kids enjoying the themselves.
Still here for the day, home tomorrow. Didn't do nearly as well as @munrobiker (whom it was lovely to meet and chat with) and some of you lot above though! I called it at 6, with the lap of my life reckon I could have done 7, an old niggle in the knee was just beginning to say hello though!
I did spend about a laps worth of time in the pits eating and stretching out!
My GCSE in French was not required for translating rou de souffrance... What a drag...
Last minute change to 28t on the front was inspired!
Still, it was fantastic. My first ever solo endurance ride, I'm always massively in awe of the older fast guys particularly, and it's spurring me on to put some actual effort into training and getting faster. The big trail bike was absolutely fabulous on the downs though, lots of fun!
Bikes are good : fact.
Such a good event. Great atmosphere. I think one of the best parts of events like this is the constant riders coming through the start/finish. As a spectator/supporter, there's always something to see. And on course, there's always plenty of folk to chat/commiserate with, should you want to. The chance to get better at sections too. The format appeals to me far more than enduro.
Would be really good to see GT7 return sometime. It seems popular enough, but I guess there's a lot more to it than that.
100% on that.
Even tough like many of us, I prefer the downs to the ups, these kind of multi lap long format events are definitely my favourite, as you get the mix of some great descending, and the chance to have multiple runs at sections unlike many Enduro. The climbs are a real test, and you end up pacing off people and racing your peers whether your at the front or the back of the pack.
I chatted with a range of middle-of-the-pack soloists and we shared some smiles and grimaces. I'd love to do some teams entries too if I can find some willing mates one day!
Shout out to the fella on the black ibis (I think) with Orange Crank Brothers wheels. A lot faster than me, but I kept catching him when his wheels exploded... Mech mangled itself... Crank fell off... Crank fell off again... Etc etc.
Seemed to have his bike in the upside down emergency maintenance position at the top of every clkmb, every lap... I've never seen so many mechanicals in one ride. Credit for carrying on to the finish!
I am so sad to see this one disappear. I first did it back in 2011, then again in 2012 before a ten year gap to 2022 and then this year.
I was a bit gutted all the hitters turned out for one last hurrah as I had aspirations for a podium . I gave it everything for 11 laps and 5th V40. Loved all of the descents. I know the man made stuff well which was an advantage. The walkers path was entertaining, changing most laps. Those roots got real challenging when the fatigue set in. The swoopy bit right before the start finish was one to look forward to every lap. A bit of a breather but brought a smile trying to get down without touching the brakes (failed!).
I think I got my money out of the cake feed station - which was great. Switched to gels for laps 10 and 11 but got something each time before that. Desperately trying to shove it in before the decent was a challenge.
Had a really good day marshalling- so many smiling riders and comments about how well run the event was.
I was at the off camber corner into the singletrack final descent, seemed to be causing many issues. There was no right line for it, but many many different tricky ones!
@mtnboarder - was good to see you and get a face to the name. I'll second what you said everyone seemed to enjoy it and loads of smiling faces going past. A lot of people saying they were sad to see the end of tweedlove.
Did anyone on here lose a small puncture kit? Picked one up on the day but couldn't figure out who's it was.
I'll be honest, I'd not be able to pick mtnboarder from a crowd - I was focussing so hard on that corner that I never really saw a face. It was a tricky one, I only had it properly figured out by the last lap (foot out seemed to help).
Snotrag was easier to spot because his bike's so individual! He seemed in good fooling for someone who'd ridden so many laps.
I was saying to my teammate that I've not seen an endurance race that size for years - there's clearly a market for it, even if the enduro stuff isn't viable. My suspicion is that a local cycling club or enthusiastic rider will have a go at it on a scaled down, lower key basis similar to how the Galloway Hillbillies run 10@Kirroughtree.
No worries! Most people had issues there- not helped by it changing from greasy and slick to dusty!
There was an inside line over the grass which seemed to have more grip than the trail, some were using the banking to setup wide- some successfully, others not so!
Only one person came off all day though, which was a surprise given how many had near misses.
Rode Enjoyro Evo yesterday (managed 7th in old guy ebike class) which I'm told had the highest turnout for any Tweedlove enduro at over 400. We didn't set off until 11am and there were still riders heading for Stage 1 as we were on our way to 4. Also many happy riders.
Tweedlove will be greatly missed, but the team seemed relieved that they will have some downtime, and they're going out on a high.
Late to the party here, but I had a great time, loved the course. All the marshalls were amazing, really supportive and encouraging. I was also paying too much attention to the tricky corner to really see mtnboarder, but tried to commentate my various failed lines ?
I managed 10 laps which was more than I expected and probably the hardest ride I've ever done. More importantly I finished the race without an ambulance, an improvement over 2022!
Other highlights were the line choices on the matrix for some nice passing, the walkers path bit which was interestingly rooty and the guilty pleasure of the super groomed blue flow to the finish line. Glad my tyres stayed on round some of those berms!
Huge thanks to everyone involved, gutted that it's all coming to an end.
I really enjoyed it, it was my first event like this for 6 years. I managed 6 laps plus the first in a pairs team, averaging around 41 minutes per lap. The climbs were my weakness. There were some fast riders there! I definitely need to work on the fitness, and will be looking for more races like this to do again. It's a shame it's the last .
Its back! The best things never die.
2024 was my first and I'm very glad it looks like not being my last.
Anyone wanna do pairs!?
In my diary now. Just the motivation required for a big summer of riding.
Yep, exactly, I was excited about this all the way though spring and summer last year so I'm really pleased its back on.
Its back! The best things never die.
Excellent! Date now in the diary, it'll be my first MTB race in... ummm... a really very long time.
I did actually used to be OK (Back In The Day™) in the endurance XC stuff - Enduro 6, the 10 Under / 10 Around races. It'll be highly entertaining to see just how bad I've got...
Glad to see it return in some ways - not in others though! (I hoped my 3rd fastest pair would be set in stone forever now, and I can't make that weekend. Booo.)
Can't do it, already busy that day, gutted!
Who's in then? This Saturday is coming round quickly!?
Proper looking forward to this one, I've had a somewhat cluttered home life since our Holiday in August with a van that blew up taking all my time (and money) and have done precisely ONE bike ride in about 5 weeks - so this is not ideal prep!
However, I've got some nice upgrades on my hardtail as motivation I'm relying on simply plodding round fuelled by continual eating and drinking.
Any clues or word on the course? Similar to last year? How wet has it been up in the valley for the past few weeks, I'm guessing I need to change the Aspen semi-slicks for something a little more toothy!
And whilst I may not by physically or mentally ready, my bike is looking 😍 so thats no excuse. Say Hello if you see me!
It's not been that wet and the forecast looks good for this week so could be nice and dry. I don't know about the course but I wouldn't expect any new trails.
I'll not be there - I had a holiday booked for this weekend long before the race was revived. I'll be sad not to race in some ways but I've absolutely murdered myself this racing season and need a big rest so I'm glad my body won't have to be put through it!
Ill be back to marshall this event, dont know where im going to be yet but hopefully see a few of you when your whizzing past
Looks to be the same as last year I think..
Not sure if I'll be helping this year, only got a half day to spare..
Marshall point 15 for me - the last one on the course, say hello as your all flying past.
I'm in for solo! Slightly apprehensive as I'd barely touched off-road all year and largely been on the skinny tyres. But I think it's largely fairly straightforward...pretty familiar with GT. The weather looks quite friendly so I'm pretty excited.
I'll be on a resprayed matte black hardtail so say hi if you see me!
No idea how many laps I wanna get. 7 would be nice.
Slight hijack - how will this affect access for those not racing? The kids fancy riding at Glentress with one of their mates. Map looks like should be fairly straightforward to avoid as usual but are there likely to be any issues?
It might make things tricky if you're riding the red/blue routes in terms of getting back down to the bottom at the end. Depends what you are planning really- If I was coming down spooky for example, you can still get back via the motorway to Buzzards then the blue to Falla Brae.
I would also avoid setting off between 9.30-10.30 as I think the forest access road is used for the start.
Parking won't be an issue either.
I'll be there, riding with two mates who've never done an XC event before so things could get interesting!
Hope no one on here was any of the accidents or mechanicals today. I read the map wrong and was on the transistion/pits so hopefully managed to say hello to a few of you. Enjoyed the whole day.
That was excellent. Random far too long memoir here:
I hope that the couple folk I saw who had nasty accidents in the last flow trail are ok, never nice to see.
I was hoping to get 8 or 9, but I told myself I would be happy with 7. Got there full of vigour, excitement and nerves but in the end it felt like I was pedalling through treacle straight from the gun and over layered for the first two laps. Legs were stiff and burning a long time before my breathing was heightened! Weird. I somehow forgot how to descend too for the first half / got a bit stressed out with the number of people for the first bit. Not a slight on the riders or the organisers, I've just never done a massive start MTB event before so it unnerved me a bit and I found myself waiting secretly for quiet spells. Need to be a bit braver with that.
Ended up with 7 fairly comfortably though, so I can't be too annoyed. Hard not to be a little disappointed as I know I'm capable of more fitness wise on a better day but alas. Was expecting it to be hard but perhaps underestimated it quite a lot.
Atmosphere was electric, and everyone was very sound. I didn't seem to bother anyone going downhill like a donkey and it was quite easy to let folk pass. Kept it rubber side down and zero mechanicals despite that. Some very, very fast riders around.
That steep fire road section after the walkers path with the silly signposts was savage. I've been to GT dozens of times and don't think I've ever ridden up there before! Found myself wishing for my enduro bike with the 52 cog instead of the 42 I had, I'm not fit enough for that on so much climbing.
I was very jealous of all the fancy full sus XC/downcountry bikes towards the end. It's very, very doable on a 100mm hardtail and nothing particularly scary, but jesus it felt like my teeth were getting rattled out towards the back end - especially on The Matrix.
Last note; it was beautiful how dry it stayed all day, only for the heavens to open as soon as it finished. Poetic! I can only imagine how sketchy the off camber rooty parts would be with that much traffic and was worrying about that quite a lot haha.
I hope there's another edition at some point so I can give a slightly better account of myself (without all the overthinking that I'm giving away with this posh!) now I know what it's like.
Hope everyone had a great time, had to miss last year from injury and had something else booked for this weekend but it was always a brilliant event. Even marshalling was a good time and let's be honest marshalling xc racing is the absolute worst.
Managed 9, my 9th was 46 mins and I had about 47 mins before the cut off. At the time I was totally spent but now wondering if I should have given it a go... At the time I was convinced I couldn't but from the comfort of the breakfast table I think I should have gone again. Easy to say now though.
One of the best things I've ever done racing was crossing the line about 20 seconds before the cutoff- whole crowd cheering, pa guy going bananas, had no idea if I'd actually made it or not. Like a penalty shootout but for bikes.
I loved it. think it might be my 5th go as a solo. Did some about 10 years ago (when it came through the campsite on a dual slalom track). Done the last 3 after finding a new love of mtb after time on the road.
I was a bit worried coming into it. I was working in the USA all week and spent Thursday night on a plane so was worried about jet lag and sleep deprivation. That and the weather was looking dubious.
It all came together though. I got 11 laps and the 3rd step on the v40 podium.
Definitely easier on a full suss. You can go faster for less effort on the downs. I've been doing a lot more hard mtbing this year and a couple of enduros. That really seemed to help as I set a few pbs on the way down! There were a few places where the obvious well worn line was not the fastest and being a bit creative could carry speed.
Did see a guy being treated on the bottom section. He looked ok and was sat up. I stopped to help a guy who'd crashed somewhere in the woods. Missed the bridge! He was holding his arm and complaining of a painful neck (it looked like a collarbone break). Checked him over and had a quick chat. Nothing broken and he managed to walk back up to a marshal point thankfully.
10 laps for me. Started really well but a battle against cramp from lap 5 onwards. Hard to balance drinking enough with stopping for more bottles. I was well chuffed to get 10 though. Only had 5 minutes total of non-moving time which I thought was good considering I had no one pitting for me.
Full sus might have been nice for a couple of sections, but my steel hardtail was perfect for 90% of the course.
Also, so good going mtbing in lycra. Quieter, more comfortable, nothing to get caught on anything. Baggies might look cooler, but really.
Was nearly an epic for my team but turned out bizarrely successful! One teammate had to drive up from Leeds early on the Saturday morning after trying to set off Friday night and ending up stuck behind a crash on the A1, so we were planning on how to cover for him if he slept in. I did the double to start, the shorter start lap and the first full to find he'd actually arrived just before the start so we ere okay. Team pulled together 9 laps in 6:59:30-something of which I got 4 in, short lap of 36mins and full lap times of 48, 46 and 47mins so nice and consistent. My Strava PB for the 'Rue Soufferance' steep climb at the top was on my last lap, so glad the legs held up!
We ended up laughing our heads off at ending up with a 'default' trophy - 3rd in the 'Male Trio <120' category out of 3 teams, and judging by the others stood on the podium, definitely the oldest team in the category!
Couldnt even muster the energy to reply yesterday! Glad everyone had fun, I'm so happy I got to do this again after my first attempt last year was supposedly the last.
Beat my target from last year - a very un-impressive 7 laps compared to some here but I was happy and given I've done one bike ride in about 6 weeks thats pretty good!
I need to push further forward at the start, I reckon I lost a good ten minutes overall simply by being at the back with the 'here for a good time, not a race' crowd. Which is, admittedly, great fun! Lots of good chat all the way round all day, from some of the fast boys and girls too.
Bike was flawless, nice light carbon hardtail but I agree with @elray89 up there, it was perfect for the majority of the day but there were a few moments in the afternoon I was hitting stuff quite fast and only semi-controlled!
The beautiful sunshine all day with the rain after the podiums was indeed poetic. I've proper got the bug, really pleased with how I paced myself and felt strong, I'm sure I can go faster now if I actually put some effort into training and losing a few kilos.
Well done everyone. Loads of ace photos up on RootsandRain of course too, I always like to support those guys.
One of the best things I've ever done racing was crossing the line about 20 seconds before the cutoff- whole crowd cheering, pa guy going bananas, had no idea if I'd actually made it or not. Like a penalty shootout but for bikes.
I was lucky enough to finish my last lap right in front of Solo winner Feargus (Behind me in the Black/White Peebles kit) finishing his, so got the full crowd effect round the berms and jumps into the line, great fun!