Words from the organisers SIP Events (photos by Joolze Dymond)…
Forums are alight across the country with a burbling of excitement as riders contemplate that in a little over 3 weeks, the UK’s first 100 mile off road race will be underway.
Preparations to make this inaugural ultra endurance race one to remember are in full swing with local communities, the Forestry Commission and a whole raft of industry sponsors fully backing this exciting new event. A cornucopia of prizes are now up for grabs across the board, with Montane, Accelerade, USE, Exposure Lights, Singular, Buff, Saddle Skedaddle and Joolze Dymond Photography all supplying goods for spot prizes and winners.
The event website is constantly being updated and now you can find all the information you will need with regards to cut-off times, check point info and the required kit list, plus loads more rider info.
Don’t forget your ‘Newcastleton Race Passport’ thanks to our pals at 7Stanes, you’ll be supplied one in your registration pack and without it you won’t be crossing that border… Oh and remember some cash to Pay the Piper at the Bloody Bush Toll Stone, those that forget will be in for a nasty surprise! Don’t worry all proceeds will be going to the Mountain Rescue guys who’ll be giving us a hand if we need it.
A detailed map of the course can now be found at Purple Mountain Bike Shop in Kielder and also in Newcastleton village centre, so if you fancy a pre-race trip these will be the places to visit. As part of the race preparations, Purple Mountain will be staying open until 9pm on the Friday before race day for any last minute spares. Riders can also book their bike in for a pre-race tune up if required and they will be more than happy to help those jet set types arriving via trains, planes and automobiles to set their bikes up.
We are also pleased to welcome aboard a few more sponsors, meaning the goodie bag will be full to overflowing at this rate!
Our nutrition sponsor Accelerade, will be supplying samples of their products at registration as well as supplying all the feed stations with energy drinks and gels, plus recovery drinks at the finish, meanwhile Geltsdale Brewery will be supplying a much welcomed post race bottle of beer chaser for every competitor. Before you head off to relax with your beer at the post race B-B-Q you can also take advantage of a massage, thanks to SDC Sports Massage.
Entries are pouring in thick and fast so if you are thinking about being part of endurance history get a shift on, as the closing date for entries is 6pm Friday 28th August. If you fancy chancing your arm and want to try and win a spot head over to Saddle Skedaddle and check out their news section and a chance to enter the prize draw – www.skedaddle.co.uk
If you have the energy why not spend Sunday checking out the new Kielder Bike Park, which is official opened at 2pm. Check out this exciting playground of Northshore, jumps and rock gardens, where you can test your skills, or just take advantage of a time to chill and watch others have fun.
We Need You!
Fancy being part of this exciting event, but don’t want to do the miles? Then why not come on over to give us a hand. You’ll be well looked after and you can tell all your mates, ‘I was there!” For full details of what sort of help we’re after just take a look at the volunteers secton of the website.
Finally, thanks to our sponsors; Montane, Accelerade, USE, Exposure Lights, Singular Cycles, Buff, Geltsdale Brewery, Kielder Water & Forest Park, Forestry Commission England, Newcastleton Business Group, 7Stanes, Purple Mountain, Joolze Dymond, XCRacer and Saddle Skedaddle for helping us get this baby off the ground, it’s gonna be a revolution!
For full details of the Montane Kielder 100 please head over to: www.kielder100.co.uk
