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My prep has shown me that light weight is the key, more importantly keeping it off me and on the bike (saddle bags, bottles etc.).
The grassington crc marathon taught me that you don't need to be dry to ride a bike. Being warm is vital though. You can only take so much to fix a bike. I agree that powerlings and a multitool are good but I won't be taking anything extra over other rides. I fully intend to mince everything with the excuse that it's an endurance race not a slopestyle contest. Saw so many people on the Selkirk fly down the hills and either lose a bottle, break a mech, pinch flat or just crash. Use the downhills to get your average speed up but I won't be racing down them at full tilt unless it's a fireroad.
Some questions:
Will it be dark at the start of the race (6.30am)?
When does it get dark again in the afternoon ?
Is it really well marked? Can I rely on the course markings and NOT take my Garmin?
plenty of way markers! some spraypainted on the floor though.
@ajf: the dry gloves are a comfort thing, I've got mild arthritis on both index fingers and thumbs which ache like a mofo when cold/wet and eventually seize up, and I quite like being able to brake / change gear easily, so if it starts to pish it doon I'll switch to some wet weather Enduras.
That said, this year I might leave them as a bag drop option rather than carry them.
Bang on about the weight of the water - a 3l bladder is unnecessary with the various feed+water stations, water is dense stuff. 1.5l should see me right, with some to spare.
@jonb: mincing downhill - c'est moi! 😉
have the rules for the bag drops changed? I thought it was food only not, tube, jersey, spare bottle, spare bike etc...
Bag drops with your own food in will be taken to Feed Stations 1, 2 and 4. Bags must be no bigger than a large sandwich/freezer bag, securely fastened with your rider number clearly written on and placed in the correct container at the rider briefing. Bags will be returned to HQ at the end of the day.
Good point, STATO - I was wondering, as I'd not used this last year, but several people in this thread had mentioned some leaving some tactical kit in their bag drops.
I guess the 'large' may be open to interpretation 😉
@ajf: the dry gloves are a comfort thing, I've got mild arthritis on both index fingers and thumbs which ache like a mofo when cold/wet and eventually seize up, and I quite like being able to brake / change gear easily, so if it starts to pish it doon I'll switch to some wet weather Enduras.
So yes then, fair enough it could stop you finishing 😕 Then its essential piece of kit.
I realise I said that despite rooting around this morning for my full length gloves as my fingers may get a bit cold 🙄
@jonb I mince down the hills regardless of if I am racing or not.
Thanks Mikeutually, you've made me feel a load better about Kielder! Almost everything I've heard about it has been horror stories and recently every other day it feels like someone else has pulled out because they've not trained enough! I reckon I'm on roughly 200 miles a month (probably more with road miles) but have not done any off road trips over 60 miles for a long time. The odd 100 mile road ride.
Going to take heed and keep stuff of the back and have a big ortlieb saddle bag. Anyone got any ideas for where to store an extra waterbottle as my frame only takes one small one? Have tried back pocket before which is OK but can bounce around a bit...
The right mindset and some experience of longer days in the saddle are a big help.
It's only three 30 mile rides though 😉
As Mike says, just break it down into doable chunks and applaud yourself when you get half way to the first 30 miles!
Any one got any suggestions on the type of bike to ride? Full suss v hardtail v singlespeed?
Mike's not a maths teacher 😉
Had a scoot round yesterday. Much, much drier than last year at the moment. No map available that I could find and nobody I spoke to had any idea about the route. The brief details of last year's event are immortalised on a board at the top of the final descent - including Mike's prize-winning time.
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I'm going up next sunday, going to do blue, deadwater and lakeside way, that will be pushing 50 miles... see what the legs feel like after that
Rigid 29er with biggish tyres or 100/120mm light Full Sus.
Can't decide.
First ride for weeks yesterday, on the 29er. Felt quick and light.
Scratches head and rubs chin......
Mike, I hope you take a marker pen so you can sign your time on the board 🙂
i did it in 9:54 last year, its a cracking day out.
my approach was basically:
Bike : Rocky Mountain Element
Tyres : Kenda Nevegal on the front, IRC serac on the rear (was looking for the equivalent of sturdy outdoor shoes)
Food : set off with 2 bottles full of Torq and about 2 litres of torq in the camelbak with 6 torq single shot cannisters for more fluids (I like to know what I'm consuming) loads of gels and bars. Take Torq caffiene gels, they are ideal for the "dying on your arse with 20 miles to go" moment provided you don't give them to knackered single speeders.....
Also in the bag : a couple of tubes, pump, CO2 cannisters, multitool, all the essential safety stuff, lightweight waterproof.
Clothes : MT500 shorts, merino short sleeved baselayer, short sleeve cycling jersey, arm warmers and gore windstopper gillet. Thought I would remove the armwarmers and gillet after we got going but didn't.
Pace : didn't go balls out like I would have done in a laps event, figured exploding in the middle of the arse end of no-where would be a bad thing, ultimately I think I could have gone quicker but rode that last 30 miles with Paul Errington (on his SS) and it was good to catch up having not seen him for ages. My aim was to stop as little as possible and just consume energy drink the whole day, think I stopped for the first time at around 45 miles, just before that huge puddle....
Terrain : its fairly rolling with a couple of steep bits, nothing hideous and will be fast if its dry
didn't bother with the bag drop as I figured it would take more time to find your bits and pieces than it would save, don't know if this is true but it was one less thing to worry about
All of you doing it have fun, go steady and have loads of cake when you come back across the border, its a life saver!
Matthew
Still can't decide gears or SS... 🙄
Transwales last year SS, lots of Merida's SS, 24's on gears..
If SS is what you are used to then do it SS. It's a big day out but its not the TransRockies or owt.
MrSparkle - Member
If SS is what you are used to then do it SS. It's a big day out but its not the TransRockies or owt.
Crap!!....better cancel the flights then! I got the wrong northern territory..;-)
I am riding a hardtail though having done some work in the garden, I've managed to knacker my thigh, at this rate I will be luck to make the 2 mile bit behind the quad bike!!
Hi, new member here. My trainings going ok - I think - I'm doing mainly road miles at present, 20 mile round trip commute and a longish ride at weekends, also trying to fit at least 1 mtb ride in per week. trouble is as my work is pretty physical I seem to be knackered all the time so not too sure of fitness.
I did the Gisburn dirty dozen, 12 hour solo back in June so feel confident that I'll finish (barring mech probs)but would like to do a respectable time, less than 12 hours should be a realistic aim.
Am going to do a long hilly mtb ride from Ladybower on sat. as I feel I need a good hill session.
I've been doing a few rides with a mate who is also doing kielder and who thinks we should ride together, my main reservation about this is he has me hanging on in training rides and I don't want to go faster than I'm comfy with - we'll see.
Good luck to all you other guys with the training.
I've been doing a few rides with a mate who is also doing kielder and who thinks we should ride together, my main reservation about this is he has me hanging on in training rides and I don't want to go faster than I'm comfy with - we'll see.
Set off together but ride at your pace - it's then up to him if he wants to speed up and separate - big mistake to start too fast.
Some brilliant thoughts and feedback from you all. It has certainly given me much food for thought on how I'll tackle the day.
I received an email from the organisers today - I expect everyone else did, but if you didn't, and you think you've entered, then you might want to chase up SIP Events.
Not much of an update on the www.kielder100.co.uk pages yet, keep watching over the coming days.
Nothing to say we can't listen to tunes while [s]suffering[/s] riding.
If I understand correctly, there is a water stop every 20miles, a 1L water bottle should be adequate?
Cheers AndrewBF, that reminded me I had'nt informed them of my new email address! Have emailed them now. Hope I still have a ride 😕
Just had my reserve entry confirmed today 😀 Bring it on...
Been raining today . . .
Is it too early to get excited? Just one more w'end for last minute training, then we're off 😀
Was really looking forward to this now just bricking it. Have done a decent amount of training but as alqways not as much as I would have liked. A few 70+ miles road rides and 40+ mile mountainbikes. Hoping my 20 miles round trip commute will help, have upped it to almost 30 miles recently but only a couple of times a week.
Dont like the idea of having to carry a jacket round with me, dont normally even when its raining. Are they very strict with that does anyone know. Will take the other stuff, space blanket, food, arrange food for pit stops, multi tool, a couple of tubes and power links. Also extra energy stuff for topping up the bottle.
Should be a good, if not very tiring day.
there will be a kit check, its for insurance purposes, if you ain't got the required stuff you don't get to sign on
I'm having a bit of a panic regarding carrying all the stuff. I don't want a backpack but looks like I may have to get one.
I planned on using one large bottle, a medium sized saddle bag and a small bag for gels. I've just tried to fit everything in and my wind-proof jacket fills the saddle bag on it's own.
I'm only taking what's on the list so what am I doing wrong?
Cycles shirt with big pockets?
Surely we would all take the required kit on any other 'long' ride in the hills? It's not that much to carry is it?
I intend borrowing the Mrs' crappy saddle bag for as much as I can cram in, 2 water bottles, pump strapped on, everything else stuffed in pockets, can't see it being too much of a problem.
Just got back from a nice club ride (steady 24 miles) might get a 30 miler in over the weekend then a couple of tick over rides next week. Bring it on 😛
The problem is the wind proof. I don't normally take one when I go for a ride, not many hills in Cambridgeshire to worry about getting too cold or wet. In the winter I just wear it all the time.
I guess stuffing it in a pocket is no worse than a backpack.
sign on is night before. You show the things they require but last year they didn't do any kit checks on the line. TBH, if weather forecast is to be sunny then i'll prob forego not bringing one.
Wear your whistle round your neck, space blanket is pretty small anyway so its just tools and food.
Tape gel packs to your toptube, tools in a tool saddle bag or water bottle.Aim is not to have too much in your jersey pockets. Think enough food till next stop and you#ll be fine
richmars, the required kitlist says 'windproof jacket/gilet' - it's not asking for a fully waterproof jacket, so if you've got something like a Montane windsmock or equivalent they pack down way smaller, apple size. And gilets smaller still.
But if it's pishin' it doon I'll be taking a waterproof anyway!
Like radoggair says - some canny distribution of other stuff / food drop bags should free up some space.
Rules mention requirement of a pump - am I right in my assumption that a CO2 cartridge or two instead of a pump is within the rules?
I don't fancy carrying a camelbak 4 100miles either, so going for 1L bottle on bike and carry a spare 500ml in back pocket. With food drops, we only have to carry enough food for each leg (25miles), then can pick up supplies. Tube, multitool and spares carried under seat. Gillet/waterproof/pump/mp3 in jersey pocket. Easy as!
I know some people only had gas last year. I'm thinking of taking one of these.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/-_-/5360029348/
That way I'll be covered if they are strict.
The longest you'll have too go is from the final food point at 75 miles to the finish at 100 (which was actually 103 last year).
That took me more than 3 hours last year...
Anybody know why the last leg is so long without a water stop, seems odd to have very frequent watering holes then have a big gap for 25 miles at the end when you're gonna slow and thirsty.
How much riding, if any this w'end and coming week?
50 miler on Saturday then maybe 20 on Monday night then rest, rest, rest!!