Montane Kielder 100

The K100 crew have been in touch to remind us that it’s not long until the start of the longest XC race in the UK… Here’s what they have to say:

With less than four weeks to go before the second Montane Kielder 100, excitement is building as the hundreds of competitors from all over the UK and beyond are suddenly realising that this epic race is just literally round the corner! Websites are awash with plenty of banter and advice and are also full of speculation on what to expect.

Well we can tell you for a fact that you will face 100 miles of incredible terrain, in the company of hundreds of like minded, challenge hungry souls including some of the UK’s top endurance athletes, all ready to compete in a humbling but inspiring race that continues to capture the imagination of riders across the board, with more epic stuff included at no extra cost!

There will be ups and there will be downs and there will definitely be the rush of adrenalin knowing you are competing in the UK’s only 100 mile race, 1 lap, 1 rider, 1 adventure!
With SIP Events at the helm you know you will be experiencing an event put on by riders, for riders, and for 2010 they have tweaked the course, utilising the now completed Kielder blue route and a few other surprises. You’ll find a perfect balance of singletrack, double track and fire road that weaves around some of the most inspirational and spectacular views that the Borders can supply.

Title sponsor, Montane, have stepped up to the plate providing not only a comprehensive product prize list and cash bonus, but will be including a technical t-shirt for all competitors in one of the most sought after goodie bags in mountain biking.
If you fancy a brilliant Montane technical jacket, but don’t fancy racing and are willingly to sit down for a day in some stunning countryside with a delicious packed lunch, then why not head over to the Volunteers page at www.kielder100.co.uk and become one of our many helpers, without whom we couldn’t put on a race of this scale.

Many of the most talked about features of the event will be returning again this year, with riders having to “Pay the Piper” at the Bloody Bush before entering Scotland and the 7Stanes trails. All monies raised will be given to a charity of the Piper’s choosing. Over the border riders will pick up their Rock UK passport and refuel on hot food at the Newcastleton feed station; just one of a variety of support stations around the course stocked with nutrition products and energy drink from sponsor Accelerade to help keep the riders going.

Our friends at Swinnerton Cycles are also supplying three Tech Support stations on course in case you need mechanical assistance, they’ll be armed with a selection of spares and a case load of Juice Lubes. However if you want to make sure your bike is in tiptop condition before you set out, why not take advantage of their special onsite pre-race bike service on Friday 3rd between 2pm and 9pm, cost is just £10 but you’ll need to book in advance. Just email craig@swinnertoncycles.co.uk to book your slot.

New sponsor Juice Lubes have sent us a very slippery selection of products to keep our winners of the singlespeed category looking and running very slick and of course Exposure Lights and USE will be providing a plethora of shiny spot prizes to be handed out on Saturday night – no show, no prize!

Talking of prizes, our wonderful sponsor Saddle Skedaddle are offering one of the most amazing spot prizes ever seen – a place on their Scottish Coast to Coast holiday, worth a whooping £1000, for one lucky finisher selected at random at the prize giving, so you don’t have to be fast, you just have to finish and you just have to be there. They are also bringing a big bag of bootie full of other fab Saddle Skedaddle prizes and are offering all riders a 10% discount if they fancy some last minute training. For more info check out www.saddleskedaddle.co.uk
And as if that’s not generous enough, it’s not just competitors that get the chance to walk away with a fantastic holiday, there’s also a Saddle Skedaddle weekend of mountain biking or road riding up for grabs in an open raffle, with all money raised being donated to the local village school.

With the potential winners looking to crack the sub 8-hour barrier, we are expecting some exciting seat of the pants racing throughout the day with all finishers receiving a race memento and for those finishing in sub-nine hours there will be an extra little something! If you want more mementos our official photographer Joolze Dymond will be roaming the hills looking for those all important shots and is willing to pop your race info on any image you purchase.
www.joolzedymond.com

As a taste of something a bit different this year The Duke’s Pantry will now be joined by Alfresco Event Catering at Kielder Castle. Both food emporiums are opening early and closing late on Friday and Saturday so you can sample all the marvelous goodies on offer: jacket potatoes, fresh noodles and pasta on Friday evening for carbo loading, and on Saturday the traditional post-race BBQ, hog roast, vegetarian chilli and a selection of Alfresco’s special recipe, finest homemade sausages and burgers from the family butcher shop.

It’s certainly lining up to be another classic with over 600 riders willing to take on the challenge of racing this epic distance. Not got an entry? There are just two free places left to take part in this ultimate test of mountain bike endurance, Click on the link to take you to Saddle Skedaddle to try your luck: http://bit.ly/cvyrJ0

See you there!

For more information please check out the website – www.kielder100.co.uk