Dirty Reiver 2023

An event is indeed a good motivator... but i don't see motivation as your problem.. you're very dedicated 🙂

Have they changed the name to reflect our new attitude to waste water treatment? 🙂

It's just an illusion 🤣 Winter miles = summer smiles and all that but it doesn't make getting on the bike any easier 🤣

Having come back from rock bottom fitness, I know what I need to do right now, in order to be able to do the Chaingangs, Crits, Dirty Reiver, First crack at Tour of Cambridgeshire and the British Gravel Championships that I want to do next year.

Hopefully they'll all be more fun if I'm getting dropped less...

@Martinhutch lol Doh! Stupid autocorrect. Can the mods change it? 🤣

yep, all signed up again, always a laugh I shall make sure I work on my beard, choose suitably silly gear ratio and maybe take something other than spiced mead and jelly dinosaurs for nutrition

I'm in for the 200k. Never ridden an offroad century, so need to get one under my belt before then.

I am in for the 200km as well. Feeds nicely into other stuff I have planned for next year.

In for the 200km as well. Loking forward to it.

So - how brutal is it...?

In.

Hope was to go under 8h next year but they've said the route will change so not a fair comparison. In any case the Kielder weather has as much of a say in my time as my fitness.

Going to be on a bike with 42mm tyres this time not 33mm which has got to be worth some time saving.

Few of the club doing it. Our practice rides were as much fun as the event. Few off-road centuries and the 135 route a couple of weeks before the event (in the snow!)

In, year five for me, it was the new route that tempted me back.

So – how brutal is it…?

Hardest thing I've done outside of a 24 hour solo. I did the first ever one and was quite a bit fitter than I am now so gonna have to do a lot of training. Good tip is to do as much training as you can offroad to condition your upper body. My shoulders, neck and hands were battered after about 100km and the last 50km were pure torture even though the legs were ok(ish).

Would love to do it but it's just too far away for me to get there on a weekend.

In for the 200km too.
Determined to do the full route after only doing the medium route last year.
Good training ride to build up for the Frontier 300.

Few of us from the gravel club going up again and staying at the Kielder campsite so should be good fun.

Definitely going to go off slower next year and have a bike with better gearing. Was a bit of a grind last year!

It’s Fred Whitton levels of climbing… off road 🤣

I’m aiming to be at least a stone lighter this time around and carrying less water. I think that will make the most difference v a watt or two on my 10 hour power 🤣

I've signed up for the 130km. Need to get the miles in. - lots of Z2 for training.

I'm not sure what to do for a bike.

Options at the moment are 26" rigid Inbred and maybe put some faster tyres on it, or embrace the comfort & use my Stumpjumper FSR (again 26").

I've been harping on about getting a gravel bike for ages now, so perhaps I should just bite the bullet, although I think the Inbred gearing will suit my lack of ability to get up hills & I'll probably appreciate it towards the end of the ride.
What's the deal with switching distance? If I feel OK on the day, can I just keep going on the 200km route, rather than the 130km? I've done that a couple of times on sportives without issue, but wondered if this is a bit different due to the remote location & the need to keep tabs on everyone, for safety.

I have never noticed anyone physically checking which way you choose to go at the various junctions between routes 🤔
I’m guessing there are timing strips monitoring your chip.

It’s perfect for a gravel bike. Literally gravel bike heaven.

But I’m convinced now that suspension will be worth the slight weight penalty to reduce fatigue.
Maybe 8hrs is a good cut off? Below that- go gravel. Above that, run as much tyre and XC suspension as you have in the shed.

Doing the 200 again - hope weather is nice

Is the 65km really only 100m of climbing? That sounds far to nice.

I'm tempted by the 200km. I rode the Kielder 100 a couple of times and enjoyed it.

It’s perfect for a gravel bike. Literally gravel bike heaven.

Mostly. The first year they did it there were some brutal sections. Loads of people turned up on 35mm tyres as well - very few did the year after! They were gradually removed each year. I'm curious to know how the most recent editions compare? Times certainly appear to have got a lot faster.

@stumpy01 It was my first time last year. I was on a Sonder Camino Ti with 42mm WTB resolute tyres (tubeless). Redshift stem and canyon SLR seat post. Aside from my gearing (1 x 11, 42 x 11-42), I don't think I'd have changed the setup. There are some bumpy surfaces but it's generally fast forestry road without anything technical. The course is different next year though so will be interested to see what's changed.
Last year there were a few (3 ish) road miles which i'm assuming is because of the storm damage along the southern lakeside. Your Inbred is probably the better choice bike. I never really wanted suspension at any point. Some of the climbs do drag though and the fatigue I felt made me wish for a better ratio for a higher cadence.

@butcher - last year was incredibly quick - averaging around 30kph for the first hour!
Overall, I did the 126km, 2308m course in 6.5 hours moving time (19.5kph) with 7.5 hours elapsed time which was as i'd expected but hopefully I'll get some better training in over this winter.

I’m curious to know how the most recent editions compare? Times certainly appear to have got a lot faster.

they have taken out all the fun bits of double track with the jumpy lumpy stuff from the early ones, as folks kept breaking themselves and bikes, so it has become a lot fluffier. Mind you, the number of folks who struggle with control on some slightly loose stuff and cling onto the bars in a rictus of terror is still mad.

The crosswind descents last time needed some real self-coaching to relax down I thought 🤣 Seriously sketchy! I hit 51mph somewhere during the September edition but nowhere near this year.

First year was brutal, four seasons in one day. Some of the sections very rough, especially the river climb after the 100km feed stop. Weather and gravel conditions have been generally kind since. Almost always a frosty start though

Signed up for the 200km distance, will be a warm up event for the frontier 300, I intend to spend as much time as possible between now and then riding on the South Downs to get my legs in to shape.

Any Southerners interested in a Salisbury Plain training ride meet-up in the new year sometime?

Can make loops of anything from 10-60 miles usually starting from Ludgershall.

Looks like all the places have gone. Unless I'm looking at it wrong.

Yep sold out at 3pm 😱

Wow! That's impressive. £75 doesn't sound cheap but is cheaper than some races (sorry it's not a race, I forgot) I've seen.

Looks like I'll need to plan my own 200km ride and use the saved £75 on premium riding fuel like Guinness and bacon rolls (obviously not together as I'm not a monster 😉).

@crosshair could be if I can scrape some time together, Ludgershall, but thats not too far from Tidworth isn't it? rings a bell from my time down there.

That’s it 👍🏻 It’s got a nice car park, a bike shop and is at almost the most easterly point of the Plain. Which means the westerly end is a nice 26mile ride away 😀

Bugger, I forgot entries were open (despite a reminder on my calendar!).

Just reminding myself that I’m never doing it again 🙂 https://singletrackmag.com/gritcx/2017/04/27/cheating-suffering/

Great write up @stwhannah 😀

I have always said these epic rides are actually way more of an achievement for the folks who rock up “underprepared” 🤣

Training is the real cheating I think. I’m way too insecure not to though 🤣

Signed up for the 200km kind of by accident.
Was under the impression it was close to impossible to get into so tried entering just to try. The screen froze so assumed the site was swamped and then got an email saying I am in

Slight problem, no idea how I will get there (1 car family and wife needs it at the weekend) and haven't booked any accommodation.

Any tips from the more experienced heads?

Any tips from the more experienced heads?

Nope! You got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out 😉

Slight problem, no idea how I will get there (1 car family and wife needs it at the weekend) and haven’t booked any accommodation.

It's not the easiest place to get to without a car and there's not much in the way of accommodation. You could get the train into Hexham and ride up through the forest and camp at the campsite. Not sure if there's any closer train stations from the North but I wouldn't have thought so.

@alansd1980 let us know where you're travelling from and someone may be able to assist, I'm heading up from deepest Sussex so can put almost anywhere on route (south west probably the exception) but I do only have a knackered Ford Fiesta so space could be an issue 😂

I have a tent (although it's not seen much use since I left scouts 25 years ago!) So that should be fine.

@Bazz I am in Surrey so quite local to you. I a planing on taking some midweek days off in the new year and trying to get some long days in so would be good to have a pacing partner.

Will mainly train on the turbo but from experience on a different event this year, I was great for 3/4 hours but felt like I faded after. Really no replacing long days out in addition to structured training.

Bike option - Light 29er hardtail or CX bike with 35mm tyres. Any recommendations?

In for the 135, should be a nice day

Sorry for silly question but is there plenty of camping on site?.

Have tried the kielder campsite and it's fully booked.

Really should look into these things before singing up....

There's overflow camping, so you can just turn up and pay cash. Rough field and portaloos though. Glamping it ain't

That's fine by me, just was getting paranoid that I was going to be stuck! Not camped since I was a scout but am sure it will all come flooding back to me!

How's everyones prep going?

Well, I've bought a bike, so that's a start.

Did a couple of days of 2-3000 metres of climbing in Gran Canaria last week, and hoping for my first century of the year this weekend. Very aware that DR is only about 14 weeks away now...

First time for me, so would rather be over prepped than under.

Not too bad here. Fat after Xmas and struggling to get outdoor miles in around work and the weather but am ramping up the hours slowly.
I am training through DR this year with a view to ToC in June so I've only done 3 weeks of base. I'm up from 8-10-hopefully 14 hours this week.
Plan is to do a century this Sunday but as I have to work it will likely be on Zwift. I haven't ridden past 3h for ages but it should be 'reet if I pace it and eat well 😀

The weather is so grim that outdoor riding isn't appealing just now. So much debris on the road it would be punctures galore. been doing 1-2 hour trainer road sessions. Today a SS hour session followed by an hour endurance. Have managed to get tomorrow off as well and its looking dry so may try and do an outdoor 100+km ride.

Just planning logistics, if there is anyone driving from the South East wants a stowaway I am happy to pay/share fuel otherwise it looks like heading to Newcastle and have an offer of a lift from there.

Being a 1 car family works 90% of the time but on occasions like this its a ballache!

@alansd1980 where in Surrey are you based? I’m based in Dorking and doing all outdoor training if you’re nearby and want an occasional training chum. Heading out tomorrow 0730 for a 4-5 hour road ride for example. If you fancy it PM me (though I personally can’t work out how to PM since the site changed).

@slowboydickie PM sent.

So just under 11 weeks to go.... Hows everyones training going?

Did an 80 mile gravel ride yesterday, just easing towards my first gravel century. Hopefully this good weather window lasts a bit longer, the trails were mostly dry yesterday.

It's.....going. Mainly on Zwift but as the weather and daylight improves, mileage (if not intensity) will pick up. Did a local 40 mile loop yesterday with nearly 5,000 ft of hills crammed in - so about half the climbing of the 200km route. Felt good. Just need to keep progressing and get a couple of lumpy 100 milers in the tank and it'll be fine.

When does the finalised route get published?

Well done guys 😀

I did my first century the other week but it was half outdoor, half zwift 🤣
Next one planned for Saturday.

I also did 3hrs on the Plain on Thursday to get some gravel under the tyres.

Averaging 10h a week for the year so it’s just a case of keeping up with the endurance I think.

I've upped my training hours by quite a bit & have started using the Xert app as a training tool. It seems good, but early days & not without it's problems - mainly connectivity gremlins.

I did an 80km road loop yesterday with 550m or so of climbing, which to be honest was harder than I expected it to be and has got me a little bit apprehensive. I've entered the 130km route, so I am sure I will get round but don't want to suffer the whole way. I need to try & fit in steady long distances each weekend I think, to get my legs into that mode. I am aiming towards more 'endurance' type efforts on the turbo trainer, but they don't have the duration to really give me that time in the saddle that I think I need.

Current bike choice will be my Rigid 26er Inbred which I realise won't be ideal but is the most suitable bike I have.
I am looking to sort out a Camino through the b2w scheme (been meaning to do it for a while now) and have just had an e-mail from them asking for a few more details so they can send a quote through.
So, hopefully I'll be doing on a Camino.

8 weeks to go... Hows it going?

I've knocked out a 90 mile gravel ride, and a 90 mile road in last couple of weekends. Hoping to do a 60 mile reliability ride this weekend, which should be a bit of a smash up with the fast crowd.

Feel like training is going well, but I won't be confident until I've done a 100 mile hilly gravel ride in the Peak. Hopefully in the next month...

Looking forward to seeing the revised Reiver route, so we know what we are in for.

Doing okay. I’m not peaking for it this year- just ‘training through’ so it will be quite different.
Last year I started in mid March and did 100,110 and 125 mile rides on consecutive weeks ending two weeks beforehand.

This year, I’ll probably just stick to one century a month as I’ve been doing (unless the weather is particularly nice).

After the zwift/outdoor combo mentioned above I’ve since done a groupride/solo combo century.
That was a really rewarding session as I did a heck of a lot of work on the group ride, then pressed on for 30 miles solo at around 200w.

I’ve also been building up my weekly tempo rides. They’re way above the intensity of DR of course but are a really potent use of 2-3hrs.

Sadly I’m not losing any weight so I doubt my time will change significantly regardless 🤣🤣

I'm being consistent, using the the turbo a couple of times a week and getting out on the bike at least once a week, just wish the weather would warm up a bit so that long rides are more enjoyable. I'm sure i'll manage the distance, but i doubt that it'll be quick, but i'm going for the experience rather than a time I can brag about😁

Quite 😎
That’s why I did it non-stop last year. I needed a niche I could feel good at 🤣🤣

Training is going OK, until I look at what everyone else seems to be doing. Then it seems woefully inadequate.
Longest ride recently is just over 80km, so realise that I need to get a few more longer rides in. I'm only doing the 130km distance, so feel that I will get round one way or another.
I think my issue will be fatigue from the hills, but there's only so much time I can spend on training so it is, what it is.

I'm not fussed about the time I do it in; I just want to enjoy the event. I imagine I'll be stopping for some pics etc. so it's never gonna be a quick time.

Need to go through kit choices & workout whether I need a new bag or anything, as well as getting the compulsory kit ordered.

Training is going OK, until I look at what everyone else seems to be doing. Then it seems woefully inadequate.

I'm only doing so much training because I'm in for the 200km. I've never ridden 200km on or off road, so want to make sure I'm prepped!! I'm just thankful that the weather has been so dry, so the long miles haven't been too miserable.

At one point I was perhaps taking it a bit lightly- done the 200 once before so did not have the 😧
Think I’ve sorted myself out now - up to 8-10 hours a week and feeling stronger
Got a few races/events planned between now and then to help prep
Also put di2 on my gravel bike which is lovely

8 weeks then? Did a 150km ride on road this weekend. I suppose Cumbrian roads are quite gravelly but I was on the road bike. I know I've got the mileage in the legs and felt OK on some legsnapper hills in the last 20 km but I worry about the accumulation of fatique the heavier bike, gravel and the number of hills will cause.I need to sort my nutrition strategy and might change my tyres from a rather agirculural WTB Sendero to something a bit faster rolling like as a Resolute. Any good alternative suggestions?

I've a 120km Lake District gravel ride planned which I will use as a test ride of the bike/gear and will probably get another long road ride in. Other than that, it's about cramming the hills into training rides.

work has been mental so training, is certainly not where I would like, but never mind, at the worst I shall compromise and drop for 29x3.00 rubber to maybe 2.8 just to make the inevitable endless mosh wondering why I have an aversion to gears up some of the hills a bit more joyful.

I may also trim my beard a bit to reduce drag 🙂

Got 45k in the other day, think i need to up this level of training!!

@slowpuncheur re tyres - last time I used Pirelli cinturato 45mm - the version that looks like a tractor tyre. I thought they were perfect so naturally I’ve changed them 🙄
They were very comfy and I bombed down the descents. Felt fast rolling too.

I’ve gone for Conti terraspeed 40mm - as apparently they are the fastest. Come up a lot smaller. Roll well. Lighter which may help with all the climbing. Fine on the canals of Brum. Not as good going rapidly downhill off-road in the Cotswold’s last weekend but still OK. No cuts to this point either. Avoiding punctures is probably more important than speed.

I used 38mm Pathfinder Pro’s the first year, 42mm Pathfinder Pro’s in ‘22 and I have a set of new 47mm Pathfinder Pro’s ready to go on for this year 🤣🤣

Unless I do do it on my mtb as originally planned.

Hopefully I’ll do a like for like gravel V MTB comparison on Salisbury Plain soon and finally make up my mind 😀

A pattern appears to be emerging @Crosshair:) Are you going wider for comfort reasons? I'm running 650B wheels so would only have the choice of 47mm's anyway. They look a good option with the central strip for speed and width for relative comfort/low pressures. Did you find you had enough traction with them on the steep climbs?

To be honest, I didn’t notice a huge difference between the 38’s and 42’s so hopefully the 47’s will be a good leap forward in being able to run lower pressure for grip, comfort and still having plenty of air on board 🤣

No problem with grip even on fairly muddy trails as the strip just kind of sinks in and the side tread grips.
But for DR they felt perfect.

As mentioned elsewhere- I still think my Mtb suspension is worth the weight penalty for such a long day in the saddle but I will just check both to be sure 😀

I got around to fitting one of the 47mm pathfinders the other day. Left the 42 on the front. It was quite good but can’t say I noticed any difference for better or worse.
It wasn’t especially draggy or noisy or too bouncy and seemed to give good grip.
It got a massive thorn in it though which luckily sealed when I pulled it out at home 🤣
When the weather cheers up I’ll get some proper gravel underneath them.

Another block (Base 3) ended today so I did my monthly century ride. Noodled to town at 13.7mph with my mate, did the 50 mile group ride at 20.2mph and then did 42 miles solo at 19.8mph. So gutted as had I ridden at 20mph to the meet, I’d have gotten my first 5hr century.
I must get around to having a crack solo as I think I could do it now on the right course.

I was lucky with the increasing winds too- it really suited the route I planned and meant the last 1h06 mins flew by at 23mph 🤣

Not really that good Gravel Training mind you as it was easy, short, high inertia pedal strokes rather than the relentless, long, torquey circles needed to ride round Kielder on draggy gravel with mental headwinds 🤣

I’m still within a lb of my weight on the first of January despite doing 10,000kcals of training most weeks 🙄🤣

as a first timer I am torn between my cross bike with 38mm tyres or my fast XC bike.

On the cross bike I have road gearing lowest is 34x32 or a dinner plate 30x50 on the Mtb.

Training is going ok, not amazing but managing longish rides most weeks as well as trainer sessions but work is getting in the way a fair bit. On Sunday I did a 100k sportive on the cross bike with chunk tyres in just over 4 hours and felt pretty good at the end. Biggest concern will be figuring out camping when I get there!

Anyone in the Dorking area fancy a long training ride on Friday 24th March? It would be good to meet some folks doing the Reiver.

I am planning to ride from Dorking down to Shoreham and back on the 22 cycle route then Downlinks. It's about 95 miles but only 3500ft climbing. Targeting approx 8 hours so steady pace at Z2 with low Z3 on ascents, with a couple of short stops for an espresso and water refill.

Anyone in the area will know the Downslink is pretty dull but good for long gravel sections.

@slowboydickie sent you a PM (I think!)

Got it thanks Bazz. I'll send my mobile to organise better.

Biggest concern will be figuring out camping when I get there!

What's your concern - that you've not booked, or that you don't know how to camp?

Not been able to book anything. Lots of people say there is camping on-site so just turn up but until you see it yourself you never know!

I felt the same way last year as i had not booked anything.

I felt there was defiantly a lack of organised information about the forestry "turn up and park", just what i had gathered from asking similar questions above.

But there was plenty of room... If you are not in a camper with facilities - try and stay in the lower of the 2 fields they put on as its closer to the toilets.
The top field is a 5 - 10 minute walk down the hill to the toilets and the field is not that flat.

Two weeks of training left! How goes it?

We knocked out a 92 mile gravel ride with 2000m+ of climbing yesterday, so feeling almost ready... Would like to knock out a gravel century with nearer 3000m climbing next weekend.

Only averaged 13.5mph yesterday, but we had some pretty slow techy downhills to contend with, and an extremely busy Monsal trail which was very start/stop.

Some days I feel happy with training and the next day I have a wibble and worry I haven't done enough.
I'll get round but it won't necessarily be pretty. The hills will be my downfall. Currently debating swapping the 40t ring for a 38t just for this event.

This time last year I progressed through a 100 mile road ride to a 110 mile road ride to a 124 mile road and gravel ride but instead, this year I've just stuck to monthly centuries.
Yesterday the locals decided to do one but it turned a little bit hot and spicy at times.
Including noodling to my mate's (who was late up) it was 19.3mph for 103 miles. My power was 257w average at 151bpm average.
Last year, my average HR for DR was 144bpm so at a guess, that's about 230/240w I can hope to hold for the duration this time around (if I fuel properly). That's about 55w up on last year and all thanks to my Z2 program over the winter.

I do plan on doing a solo road century this Sunday to check but I can't see any merit in doing a crazy 7+ hour ride this close to the event- I'd rather keep my fitness score high by training right up to it rather than having to do a long taper to see off the ill-effects of a longer day.

Had a couple of good rides over the past month, just to check out position and contact points on a new bike. Worst comes to the worst it will be a grim death march into headwind from satan himself, but even then it's still just dicking about on bikes, which is a fun thing to do.

I very nearly contemplated using a bike that would be actually suitable, Drop bars, gears, big rubber, then gave myself a slap and have chosen something suitably stupid, just make the hills that bit more grim and the few flat bits that bit more frustratingly spinny

If you see an elderly tattooed gentleman crying into his beard on the climbs, give him a cheery wave 🙂