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As above, did anyone else follow the silkroadmountainbikerace and get inspired? I confess I found it sort of compelling even though I couldn't GAS who actually won, or what #wonderbike they rode. The photos that they posted were the stuff that mountainbike dreams are made of and I find them way more inspirational than the grand sportives or the solo adventures made for magazine articles. Sure there were some household names (well, not every household) but it didn't seem to be aimed at marketing and the number of folks that scratched showed that it wasn't anything to be taken lightly with a couple of weeks training and some cash thrown at gear. Highlight had to be Lee Craigie going waaaaaaaaaaaaay off course to recuperate and then descending the other side of a mountain where there might just have been a path but it's not entirely clear. Russel Stout having to scratch, return to base, and then go back to where he stopped in order to finish was also up there as I can't imagine wanting to restart once you have seen just how tough it all is
Brilliant selection of photos at https://www.instagram.com/silkroadmountainrace/
but things like these do it for me
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm5hiXlhIcM/?taken-by=silkroadmountainrace
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmzdyI-hA01/?taken-by=silkroadmountainrace
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk1nUMLBNYz/?taken-by=silkroadmountainrace
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg8wAQ4B9nb/?taken-by=silkroadmountainrace
Could happily spend all day looking through the photos, but I know I should really be out riding instead 🙂
Never heard of it TBH but from the photies above I hope there will be a film of it released.
I should also add that it's a real PITFA to follow these things online now as it's difficult for organisers to sort out if you are meant to follow by blog, instagram, facebook, twitter, carrier pigeon or tea leaves. Instagram largely won for me
I read Lee Craigie's story, one of few recent MTB articles that inspired me too (I'd previously found her pretty dull TBH)
I followed it. Beautiful scenary for sure but from the off I had no desire to go ride it.
Worked in the region a fair bit and knew of the logistical nightmares the riders were to face even just to eat.
Amazed by the racers, inspired by the routes but I wouldn't want to race the route, ride some of it maybe but he race aspect doesn't appeal.
Yes, but I'm realistic enough to know that the feat is probably beyond me. Which is why I do relatively easy things like Tuscany Trails, Tuscany Roads, and Gravel Dash 50/50. But I can dream...
But I can dream…
Me too. I recognise it is another level of self sufficiency but it is so inspiring. I've been in a few regions like that and I always think it would be awesome to ride but I also know I'm probably a bit soft for that now 🙂
I followed it too... Jenny tough, amazing performance and Lee craigie decision to go off piste to find some personal motivation...
The scratch rate was pretty high so a reall challenge..... The images are fabulous and rage cross section of the route fierce..
The web tracking was also very very good as well...
I saw it a year or two ago, bike channel I think. I would love to do it with a group of mates, not as a race, more a holiday.
I think I'm with andy4d and TheBrick (and probably everyone else really). It would be an amazing place to ride but probably loses all the fun as a race. Looks like that's what Lee Craigie thought in the end too
I think it was much tougher than people thought it was going to be.
Having seen the conditions I don't mind that we didn't get a place (though we did apply).
Yep, I was wondering why there was so much carnage. There was the snowstorm on the first day which but I wonder if it was just too tough. Given that only a few people really compete to win it maybe there wasn't enough fun in the route to make it worthwhile for everyone else to beat themselves up over. Looking forward to reading a few race reports when I can get time to hunt them out
As the saying goes "Racing sucks" - especially when you get into scenery like that. 🙂
I know a few of the riders. I had considered applying to enter but didn't have enough holiday time available. On these type of events 25-33% is a typical scratch rate, 50% is starting to get in to the "things are getting tough" range.
There seems to be a trend towards routes/races that aim to be "the toughest" and I'm not sure it's for the best. There has to be some element of enjoyment (for me at least) to make any route worthwhile. It may be that the chosen route is the most practical in that part of the world or that the organiser has taken them over one particular pass because on the other side there's 50km of amazing riding - the French Divide had bits like that: you'd be on the edge of a village and you'd be taken up a hill away from the centre wondering why, you'd then get a fast swooping singletrack descent between gardens and allotments down into the village.
The Silk Road Race does appear to have quite a few inherent difficulties: altitude; remoteness; limited resupply (and what there is might not be that pleasant).
Have any of the folks you know done write ups? It's interesting to a know how it was from a riders point of view
Have any of the folks you know done write ups? It’s interesting to a know how it was from a riders point of view
Not as far as I know. I imagine many will still be out there having booked flights assuming that they'd finish in X days so are probably doing a bit of touring.
A short report from Shona and Rich - http://www.keeppedalling.co.uk/2018/09/05/silk-road-mountain-race-2018/
Interview with Jay Petervary - http://www.bikepacking.com/plog/jay-petervary-silk-road-mountain-race/
the number of active riders in the race is now decimated to fifty: half of the original field
Love that. Must be the altitude
Yep, leffeboy and andy4d, I am in exactly the same boat.
Dreaming with tongue out at amazing photos
For years I've dreamed of Mongolia. I might have just tweaked that dream.
2020 perhaps?
How did Joanna Lumley get on?
thanks for the links @whitestone. The Shona and Rich report especially is great
Jenny Tough! Bravo . I’ve only discovered her accomplishments fairly recently- she inspires me for sure. Nothing remotely exotic as Silk Road but maybe a lejog with a London to Cumbria as a “dry” run has crossed my mind in the last few days.
One of the dads at my son’s school is planning a Norfolk to Dorset off-road route which sounds interesting too.