That was tough...
Pretty high attrition rate by all accounts.
stu, was i today, and how long did it take you..
What were the trails like?
I've heard the organisational side of things was a bit lacking... start times, food stations etc.
Started at 6:30 this morning Ton. My time was about 11.5 hours though I've not seen the results yet since I drove home after it, craving a night in my own bed.
I've got a very sore arse now (but not the kind you get in prison)
What were the trails like?
Hmmmm. Some nice stuff but a LOT of fire road (which I guess they had to do to make up the mileage). The Old Testament-style rain that has fallen for the last 40 days and 40 nights made things a bit soggy. Some of the puddles could swallow a horse and cart.
I thought it was ace, not that I finished due to mechanicals and back problems. A wide variety of trails from fire roads to bog to technical twisty singletrack. Couldn't fault the start times or food stations. I think the only small area for concern was having to bring the proof of checklist of kit the previous night rather than on the day.
Some of the puddles could swallow a horse and cart.
Especially after the 49 mile feed station where, i kid you not, 2 successful 'puddles' were headtube deep
It was a well organised event i thought considering it was the first although we did start 5 minutes late. Course was well marked, marshalls done a great job, the 'hot' feed station was well equipt. The trail conditions were tough. Going over the border was harsh and because of the amount of water, surfaces were very tough going. The wind was also quite bad in places. Still, i'm glad i done it (and completed it ) although not sure i'm tempted to do it again (just now). By sounds of it half the field pulled out
Dont think i've ever done a race/event where i felt nausea, bad bout of feeling sick, seen double, became extremely hungry, started to cramp and lost all energy during 1 days riding. Think i bonked big time.
The only negative side of the event was there distance covered boards that the hung up. Boy were they away out and very demotivating
Any results ????
I thought it was really well organised. I particularly appreciated the motorcross bikes that followed my down the last singletrack with their headlights on as it was pitch black in there at 8:30!
I came DFL in 14 hours. I bonked just after the first border crossing and struggled even on the blue grade singletrack before the hot food stop. Felt loads better after a long food stop (best lentil soup ever) but that wore off just after the last food stop, which meant the last 22 miles took me 3.5 hours.
A big thankyou to the organisers and marshals, who were all really friendly and full of encouragement.
tough event! the organisation was good, imo, especially for the first running of a new event.
food stops, bag drops, marshalling all good. it's a long way - of course there's going to be a lot a fire road. plus the only reason we started late was because riders turned up late and didn't register at the start. the organisers were understandably keen to make sure they knew who was riding, so limited faff ensued.
i got round, in a little over 12 and half hours.
all credit to the organisers - good show.
Crashed and trashed my front brake after 50 miles, while going just fine. Gutted. Good catching up with folk though and, for a new event, I thought it was relatively glitch free and generally well run, especially given that they expected 80-90 entries and ended up with 230-odd riders.
Was at the finish for a while and everyone who came in, including the winner and other top placed riders, was commenting on just how tough it was. Lots of dragginess plus the elevation profile looked like a saw blade.
Good, but gutted not to finish, though to be fair, it was my own fault for riding like a muppet, but there you go 🙂
I heard a rumour that only half the starters finished. Anyone heard similar?
Have to agree about the marshalls - all really encouraging and friendly. It makes a HUGE difference when you're feeling low and someone says "well done!". I think it's a measure of the organisation that not once in 100 miles did you have to worry about missing a turn off.
You have so many highs and lows in a race like this. I was feeling pretty ropey after the 49mile feed but the lovely girl on the pink singlespeed got me through it and back into my zen-like trance.
Think you are all nutters/heros for even entering. If you are a singlespeeder then more the former. Would have loved to do it, but realistically out of my league right now, struggle enough with a 100k merida let alone 100 miles.
Nice one fellas, and keep the stories coming, those of us who didn't go this year are probably thinking about next year (I know I am).
Well done to those that gave it a shot was going to come over and watch as it's just over the hills, well sort of, but stuck at work. Current state no I wouldn't enter as my fitness is far from good enough for that sort of miles and knowing the hills around here they're good going hills.
Especially after the 49 mile feed station where, i kid you not, 2 successful 'puddles' were headtube deep
that was the most mental puddle I've ever seen.
great event, I pulled out after 65 miles, I knew I wasn't going to make the final CP so decided a lift back was better! (my average speed at that point was 5 mph and had been for 3 hours)
Yeah it was tough, but personally I think thats a good thing, it means all those people sitting at home today will be feeling pretty special! and hopefully it will get a bit of a reputation for being tough
well organised too, I'll definitely be back next year hopefully I'll finish!
and as others have mentioned anyone who finished on a SS deserves superhuman status on these pages!
I bailed at the 50 mile mark as the be able to get home to my own bed tonight or another 7 hours in the saddle maths wasn't that hard to do. If the conditions/weather had been better I might well have stuck at it, although realistically I wasn't where I needed to be fitness wise. Bit gutted to only have got half way but it was definitely the right decisions as it wasn't being fun.
Seemed like a pretty well run event though and the fact that all the marshals were really friendly and encouraging was great.
Definitely up for another go next year.
Did anyone get an accurate measurement of the course length and elevation gain?
I just had a simple bike computer which was set to metric and weighed in with 169.9km which is 105.6 miles. Not sure if I set the wheel size correctly though, so this may be a bit out.
Anyone get a GPS trace? I'd be intrigued to see the elevation profile as well - "sawtooth" describes it pretty well.
my computer came in at 108 something, although, like you say, not sure if I set the tyre size correctly.
Had a brillian time. no qualms with any organisation issues. thought it was faultless for a first time. I'll definitely be back next year! 🙂
Well organised event, especially considering it was the first one. Really friendly atmosphere out on the course with the helpful marshalls and other riders. The course was marked out really well. The conditions were pretty bad with the wind/mist when you went over the border but at least there was no heavy rain. Defintely be back next year.
Got a 9 hrs 40 time which with a 32lb full susser and a puncture was not bad. Aimed for the 10 hour mark so happy to beat it. Think if i do it again next year an extremely light full susser or carbon hardtail is required and maybe a top 5 finish.
I never stayed to the presentation side of things but does anyone know if anything else was handed out??
Also big up to the accelerate guy who i managed to blag one of his towels of which he also kindly wrapped up a tub of his sport drink with. Hopefully results will be out soon
I won an Exposure Joystick for being DFL!
You lucky bugger, could be me next year, will have to bear it in mind 😉
really Mike? nice one!! always persevere kids, look at the rewards you get!
I agree with the above- a very well organised event. No let downs in directions, start was only 5 mins late, prize giving was very good humoured.
I pulled out at 55 miles, and am very disappointed with myself- first race I've ever pulled out of. My legs were fine, my bike was fine but I was mentally done in. We emerged from the woods on a climb before the 2nd feed station and the wind was in my face and the climb just kept coming and I thought "i'm not enjoying this". Decided the race I'm doing next weekend wasn't worth sacrificing for "just a finish" here.
Personally, it didn't suit me- think I prefer the mental boost of laps and the opportunity they allow for constantly interesting trails rather than linking things with lots of fireroad, but there's definite appeal in this sort of "super endurance" event for a lot of people and I look forward to seeing more of them.
A massive well done to the organisers, and every single finisher- you've all done something quite amazing.
I have it GPS'ed and post the details once I'm home. Fairly certain it was more than 100 miles.
if anyone reading this can get a message to all of the marshals-thank you! you guys were brilliant, waiting around in a combination of wind, rain and midges for a bunch of people to ride past 🙂
well done Mike for finishing last. In some ways that's harder than doing it quickly, or something.
What an experience, brutally hard and a great introduction for me to some ace trails at Kielder and Newcastleton. (Too much fireroad..!.. any less and we'd still be out there)
It's obvious an unbelievable amount of work went into this event, and for a first attempt on this scale it all worked well. The amount of local interest showed how much they were behind it too. Finishing prize of a beer and a burger added to the satisfaction of just finishing.
Not sure how many finally finished but I got in at 10.5 hours and heard that only about 40 had completed by then.
GPS stats of flag to flag ride time 10hr07 for 102.6 miles 11429 ft ascent.
Must have done 40 miles with brakes metal on metal, amazingly still slowed me enough for the final descent chase.
And for those that didn't hang around you got a thermal finishers mug and the winners/podium trophies were superb polished oak blocks.
The deep puddle after the food stop was indeed mental, hitting some of the others at speed and having the wave wash over my head was great fun.
Wow, sound tough. I'm even more impressed by one of the guys in our team who finished 5th at Kielder and then did a 1:22 half marathon today 😯
Well done all that finished. I was a tough event but a good one. Hard course due to conditions.
Think I was around 9 hours 40 but not entirely sure.
Had to change brake pads, but the ones that were in when I started had been in for about a year!!
This event was harder than 10 more at moray where I did 12 laps which was around 120 miles. The single lap meant you did not know what was coming next. Good in some ways, but then again you did not want to push to hard to start with.
I thought it was brilliant and really enjoyed it. I thought the course designer had done a marvellous job finding a very varied course through the forest with an excellent mix of fireroad, manmade and natural trails. There were plenty of places where I thought it would have been much easier if there hadn't been 100+ mountainbikers there before me!
The organisation seemed spot on - my only slight gripe was a shortage of food at the second feed place but I probably should have got there sooner.
It was good to meet a few people off here too, miketually, richpips, Ti29er, martinh and probably some others I didn't realise.
I'm chuffed to have done it, 12hr 45 or so and I rode it all!
I spoke to Sara, one of the main organisers, and she said that they wanted it to be a hard course. If it was too easy and everybody completed then it wouldn't be 'special'. I think this will go down as a 'big' event in British mountain bike racing.
I am pleased to say that I completed (about 11hrs 30) but I was wrecked at the end having bonked with about 10 miles to go. Memo to self: 32x16 and Kielder do not mix.
Well done to everybody who took part and big up to the organisers.
I wholeheartedly agree that it was a great event. The conditions were testing, and I think if there's a dry course in years to come sub8hrs, and even 7.5hrs won't be a problem.
That 49mile mark wasn't a whole lot of fun. At times I did think there were a couple of short sections like that which could have been culled due to the conditions.
Some of the feeds/distances did seem a bit off, but not too drastically, and personally it didn't leave me in a precarious position. Having feedzones is invaluable in a race like this.
If they wanted to make a hard race - job done! More singletrack would be good. but long events like this need firetrail. More people would have DNF'ed or finished in the dark if there was less of it - gradient dependant I guess.
And my figures? I clocked 172km and 3500m. That's a day of ouch.
I echo everyone else's appreciation of the organisation - best marked course i've ever been on- was impressed with the way they'd marked loads of the potential danger points with orange paint (big rocks, roots etc) - some might say that's over the top but after 13 hours riding I needed all the help i could get!
Came in just before 8pm giving me a time of around 13.5 hours - well happy with that considering the amount of time i spent thinking there was no way i was going to finish - particularly between the 25 and 50 mile stops.
Mr Sparkle, we finished in a 11.5 hours? That's good news, my fatigue addled brain thought it was 12.5 !
Anybody know if theres any photos online yet? or if not, what site they will be appearing on?! Seemed to be plenty of photographers around the course.....
dot - my mind was fairly fatigued too but I thought the guy at registration said it was about 6.10 when I went to sign off so subtracting the time it took to drag my battered body from the finish to the Castle and given we started at 6.30 ish... I might well be completely wrong though! It was good to have a chat with you after. Now get out on that 'cross bike, asap!
dickydutch - I think Jooz Dymond will have some available sooner or later.
just to add my thoughts, excellent event and worth a 600 mile round trip. Course was very well marked and had a bit of everything. A lot of fireroad but as people have mentioned you can't do 100 miles of singletrack. The key point was that it was an all weather course - struggling to think of many other races that would have gone so well after a week of rain.
Highlights
- riding up some manmade trail to the border in the cloud when the piper kicked in, completely surreal!
- finding a limitless supply of tea and cake at Newcastleton (after another piper experience) with a feast of singletrack to follow
- hops based recovery drink at the finish
Lowlights
- my sugar & tea buzz from Newcastleton switching off just as I started that long gradual drag up the side of the river after the newcastleton.
Got round in 10hrs bang on I think, be interesting to see the results and timegaps to the fast chaps. I had 105 miles on the speedo and 11600 ft of climbing, a big day out and no mistake!
Matthew
AS for number of finishers- the rumour was that there were only 100 made the first cut off, then the drop out rate after that. Word was 68% dropout rate.
Well done to everyone who entered, i was meant to be sweeping the last 37 miles, i waited around all day and then i was told i wasn't needed,I was a bit dissapointed not to be involved in the event but i still had a great day hanging around the finish and hearing all the stories of the riders , wish i was fit enough to do it
Really good event, marshals were great, managed to finish in under 12 hours...my Garmin was reading over 2 miles up against the course markers when the battery died at about 90 miles....
Missed out on getting one of those mugs (and the beer, info at the finish was a bit lacking either that or it was me not being totally with it), is it possible to get one posted to me? (happy to pay postage)
200 riders started, 130 finished. Results up on the kielder 100 website.
We do have a smatering of pics which will be up prob tomorrow as we're still traveling home. Epic event , well done to everyone who came along and gave it a go , history was def made;0)
Great event, hardest thing I have ever done on a bike! I was back in just under 12.5 hours. Finding walking hard today!
I thought I had seen/done/felt everything when I was in the Army.....I was wrong...the Kielder 100 took me somwhere I thought I would never visit.....Brutal
Will Be Back next year Defo but with a bigger team of us
Thank you to the Lady on the 29r infront of me who tested all the mini lakes for me (I mean puddles)
And the young guy who fell in the Ford at the first water stop.....still grinning at that lad
I thought that was harder than soloing SITS a few weeks ago. My Garmin had the overall distance at 102.96 long long miles!! could have missed the 2 mile loop after feed station 2... but then again we'd have missed "The puddle of death"!!! Loved the Border Crossing with the Piper standing out there in the truly "Scottish" weather. Yet another great event this year, hard as **** and that's the way is should be.
What a day! Back from the 350mile drive now.... legs are a little tired!
Excellent event tho, ok so we started 6 mins late, BIG DEAL!
Very well run event, with excellent marshals, Loved the fact the FC worker had painted not far to go on the floor in paint at about 45ish miles or so.
I dont think I've ever been thru so many states of mind in one day. But so glad I made it back. Fair shout to everyone who got to the end, it bloody hurt.
My figures were 102.84 miles and 11288ft of climbing. Cant believe the Garmin last 13hours!
I said I wouldnt do it again last night, I'm now already planning for next year and how to get a better time! Oooops!
Thanks to the organisers, and I can thoroughly recommend the Grapes hotel in Newcastleton for anyone looking to stay in the area!
Well done to the organisers I say - marshalling and start was all good and I thought the course marking was really good, especially given it was such a long course. The course was good but the surfaces on some of those new trails at Kielder were seriously hard work uphill.
I finished in 13 hours at 7:30pm, wasn't clear whether the prizes etc. had already been done so i headed back to the camp site.
well done to all who finished, you set of hard ba5tards....... 8)
i rode a special 1 off polaris thing that was 100 miles about 10 years ago.
it took me 16 hours.... 😥
Had a great time despite not finishing for a variety of reasons - mental toughness being the main one! Will definitely be back for it to complete unfinished business 😉 And I won't try a 15 hour trip in a weekend but will make a week of it.
Great humour from all the organisers and marshalls kept a lot of people going. Found the course excellent (as far as the 54 mile cutoff and then the final slice of singletrack, anyway) - can't think of many places that could have help up so well to so many riders after so much recent rain. Great job by the course designers - if there'd been much more singletrack and very very few people would have completed, I reckon.
Well done to those who completed this inaugural event, you've done something to really be proud of.
By the way, I >loved< that big lake after the 49 mile food stop - bit like the Ridgeway!
Anyone know when the results outside the top 3 will go up?
Also, can anyone remember the website of the photographer at the 65 mile hot feed? it was something like kielder100 photography i think?
Another "Well done" for the organisers from me - given the scale of the event, and the fact that it was the first one, I was seriously impressed at how smoothly everything went. And from what I heard in the pub last night there didn't seem to be a whole lot of frantic panic behind the scenes either bar restocking of food stations.
After 24 hours and a long drive home powered by nurofen and red bull, I'm aching more than yesterday, but the bleak moments are fading and I've started wondering if it will be drier next year so I can turn up properly prepared and take a chunk off this year's time, and get back in time to claim beer and bbq food 🙂
Well that was hard. Didn't finish for lots of reasons, one of them being that at a low point psychologically I knew I was about a two minute coast to the hostel. Need to work on my mental attitude. It didn't help that I was not properly hydrated to start with and got a horrendous headache at about 40 miles. There was a lot of trail that was really energy sapping, just wet/muddy enough or uphill enough to really sap energy and momentum. Would like to see how it rides in the dry...
Organisation was really good I thought. Hope it becomes an annual event. I really want to train and prepare properly and have another bash.
Well done to all the finishers, proper hardcore, especially Stuartie, Raddog and CharlieRevell. Also, can I thank Olly for sitting with me and trying to get me round as far as you could. You did your best! 🙂 x
> Pretty high attrition rate by all accounts.
> 200 riders started, 130 finished. Results up on the kielder 100 website.
130 people came through the finish line, but some of those were people who'd failed to make the cut-off being redirected back home down the singletrack. Nearer 100 actual finishers.
One of the best organised events I've ever done. Bailed at 40 miles when the math was predicting a 9.30pm finish so went to help out the marshalls. A lot of the marshalls are also racers 'giving something back', so they know just how much a cheer is appreciated.
> I thought it was really well organised. I particularly appreciated
> the motorcross bikes that followed my down the last singletrack
> with their headlights on as it was pitch black in there at 8:30!
You bastard Mike! We had to stand around at the finish for 6 and a half hours being eaten alive by the midges - which I would like to add are magically attracted to marshal vests! - just to make sure that whoever it was that finished last still got a welcome and a cheer. Well done that fella 🙂
> I won an Exposure Joystick for being DFL!
So next year you'll be able to see your way down the final singletrack 😉 Thoroughly deserved.
> Did anyone get an accurate measurement of the course length
> and elevation gain?
Various GPS readings coming in from 108 to 104 miles. Depends if you carved the turns or not 🙂
My GPS data 102.96 miles, 12276ft ascent... 11hrs 24mins and 7090 calories, its the best diet ever!!!
they've created a classic. well done to those that put it on.
will be back next year. bound to do better than yesterday...
this happened at 2 miles:
Ooooo thats not good! Was it a freewheel or freehub?
Marty - what a pisser!
Very amusing video though... 😆
One thing, though-
who designed those number boards? They were a big bag o'****. Almost doubled the weight of my bike!
charlie - shimano xt freehub. had made some grifter sounds a couple of rides back, but seemed to have sorted itself. early enough to have been a comedy failure (on reflection). that happening at 80 miles wouldn't have been funny...
trying to get hold of a replacement so i can do a 100 later in the week as punishment.
Made in round in just over 10.5 hours. Sore hands, back and legs.
Great event, really well done to all those who organised it.
Might be back next year, but I don't think I'll try it on a rigid singlespeed again!
trying to get hold of a replacement so i can do a 100 later in the week as punishment.
you're a sick man
Hi to everyone, we run the Newcastleton Net forum found at [url= http://forum.newcastleton.net/ ]http://forum.newcastleton.net[/url], so if anyone wants to, you can post a message to the village who had marshals in place and also feed station on the Newcastleton side of things, we can also keep you informed where photos will appear etc. Tony
My 3 mile ride to work hurt this morning. Now, I just need to sleep but I'm at work.
JB - I think you were the guy I was talking to with my girlfriend on the campsite. I think she commented on the amount of rice you'd eaten for your tea after we pitched our tent next to yours.
How'd you get on? Think I saw you walking dwon fromt he steps at the castle at the end but didnt catch you for long.
Rich
did the PA system work properly for the rider briefing? I gave advice on one of the components to Sara and need to know whether she is speaking to me or not 🙂
It was very good michael- could hear it all outside the courtyard.
phewee 🙂
will be back next year. bound to do better than yesterday...
this happened at 2 miles:Marty - I've had the same thing happen to me with a deore freehub.
I was using an XT hub, also SS for the race and that happening crossed my mind when I heard odd cracking/creaking noises coming from the hub about 50 miles in - I then thought, nah XT freehubs wouldn't fail like that! 🙄
Belated thanks to all the marshals, organisers and other behind the scenes folk that made the race possible and run so smoothly. I think all the comments so far pretty much some up the experience. Certainly glad to have entered and more than glad to have finished.
I've just been cleaning the bike. I'm amazed that the sand & mud mix left any brake pad at all. Even after a good wash there will be some of Kielder ingrained in the frame's nooks and crannies for months to come.
Another huge "Thank You" to the organisers & marshalls and well done to everyone who finished - great event.
Special thanks to everyone at Newcastleton - nice to get such a friendly reception and real food!
Managed to squeeze in at all the cut offs and was almost ready to quit at cut off 4 but was glad I managed to carry on and finish in 13 hrs 40mins after a nerve tingling final descent in the dark!
I'm amazed that the sand & mud mix left any brake pad at all.
I don't think I have any pad left at all. No front brake for the last 20-odd miles and very little rear for the last couple. The final descent was pretty hairy in the dark and essentially brakeless, with just the motorcross riders' headlights to show the way.
Oh, preliminary results showing 1st, 2nd, 3rd are up at http://www.sip-events.co.uk/kielder-results.html
You bastard Mike! We had to stand around at the finish for 6 and a half hours being eaten alive by the midges - which I would like to add are magically attracted to marshal vests! - just to make sure that whoever it was that finished last still got a welcome and a cheer. Well done that fella
The welcoming committee was appreciated - summed up how great the marshals were around the whole route. Was I definitely last finisher (number 79)?
> Was I definitely last finisher (number 79)?
Yep - the trail riders were the tail end charlies.
I was stationed at the Newcastleton 65 mile feed zone providing Tech Support and bike repairs and I was amazed at two things:-
Firstly, as a fanatical biker the enthusiasm shown by local businesses was completely overwhelming, the Forestry Commission, the Mountain Rescue, Garage owners, caterers etc etc all gave up their weekend to support this ground breaking event and their commitment to raising the profile of our sport really is second to none. Just talking to a few of these guys it is clear that the investment in this area is stagering !
Secondly, the enthusiasm shown by you guys, the bikers, was amazing and made me wish I was out there with you !. Even after 65 miles (the finishing distance for nearly all of the so called Enduros ! )you guys were still willing to brave the elements, cramp, hunger and mental pain to continue for another 35 miles to the finish, even when the pad changing and chain lubing was getting hectic you were still patient and chatty. Hats off to you, you're an inspiring bunch !
Well done to SIP-Events for putting this on and every success for your future events, I have a feeling you've started something here !!
Hey Dickydutch, yeah that's me! 🙂 I hoped to catch-up with you guys later, but must have missed you. Was intent on finding some food and hosing myself down (literally... couldnt be bothered to wait for the showers, so used the bike wash!).
I finished in about 11hrs 20something. How did you do, I couldnt keep up with you after the Feed Station!!!
JB
[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2447/3897464965_47e164faf9_d.jp g" target="_blank">
This is what I look like after 14 hours on the bike.
Fresh as a daisy!