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I’m entered in the Kielder 100, and am currently building a bike up for it (and other general XC duties round the Peak). I have a 160mm Cotic Hemlock, and am obviously looking at building a lighter short travel bike but I can’t decide whether I ought to be looking at 100 or 120mm frames?
Obviously the temptation is to go as light as possible if I have to drag it round 100miles, but would the added comfort of a 120mm bike actually be more important after the best part of 12 hours riding? I ain't going to be near the front, so it doesn't really matter, but seeing as I am building a new bike anyway I may as well gear it towards this.
I’d love a Blur XC Carbon but can’t justify the cost.
Superlight is nice and simple (and cheap).
Yeti ASR 5 looks nice but might be a bit too burly and slack (I can get a test rid of one so I’ll probably try it).
Seen some second hand Ellsworth Epiphanys on here which are tempting
Anthem X would be good, but frame only seems expensive compared buying an Anthem X4.
Any other thoughts or advice welcome.
I did it on a 140 mm Hard tail last year and will probably do so again this year.I was't going for the win either. 🙂
120mm would be more than adequate.
I completed it on an 80mm plastic HT last year. Nowhere near the front but got around OK. The fast loose gravel fire road descents were probably the hardest part on a HT.
I'll be taking my tallboy this year (my mid-life crisis bike - I'm 40 this year). Hoping that will do the job, I reckon that's equivalent to 120mm 26er. Have you considered a 29er?
Good effort both of you - I have to admit to being rather worried at the prospect of 100 miles off road!
A lightly built 120mm bike makes more sense I think, and is going to be much more useful round the Peak too I suspect. I can imagine what you mean about the fireroads; they should be a chance to rest and relax not hang on for grim death.
I did it (as did others) last year on a rigid, ss 29er. Any bike will be fine as long as it fits.
why is a HT so much hard work on a fire road??!
I did it on my Lobster last year and it was totally fine, no issues besides a mechanical at 60 miles (lost chain)....120mm forks (I had just put the chain on it before the eagle eyed viewers say something 😉 )
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29er rigid for me this year......
I just hope its as dry again as it was last year but I very much doubt it!!
Will be doing it this year on my Niner Air 9 Carbon, 29er HT
Not done the event before so can't say how it or i will fair?
It isn't normally but these were very loose gravel and bumpy so it was out of the saddle for most of the time, which is tough after the climbs and distance.
tlr - light is good and don't believe the marshals when they say the finish is just around the corner.
Blimey, does nobody do it on a normal bike?
Clearly my question should have been 'what niche for the Kielder 100?'
Thanks for all the replies - I know that it is fitness not the bike that counts, but its always fun pontificating - and its easier than training!
I'll most likely be doing it on my trusty old Inbred.
The other option would be my 5 Spot, but the idea of lugging that lump around 100 miles really does not fill me with joy!
Or there is always the singlespeed I guess... *gulp*
There was a huge variety last year Orange 5, Pugsleys, 29" SS just about most you could imagine. Lots finished too.
My mate is using this beauty this time round.... 😯
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He'll be with the Masses then there was a few there last year.
Blimey, does nobody do it on a normal bike?
I will be doing it on MY normal bike 😉
A Ti HT with 100mm forks and a bouncy seat post ..'cause that's how I roll' 😯
Trying to define normal on here would be a tough gig mind 🙂
One of our guys finished 5th IIRC on a 26" Giant hardtail with a 80 or 100mm travel fork. Nothing niche there. Something lightish that you're comfortable on will be great. A light, efficient full susser will probably be the absolute fastest bike for an event of that sort of length but unless you're going for the win I wouldn't worry too much...
HT too last year. So much climbing that FS may not be ideal.
quite tempted to join in this year. I'm afraid I'd be adding to the niche-ness as I'd be on my Pegasus (probably singlespeed). Any comments on the course and how much I'd be walking (if any) on a singlespeed?
Walked a couple of short, steep bits last year on 29er, 32x18, that was it. Having said that most of the geared riders were walking them too!
super, my 32/19 should be peachy then, cheers 🙂
Clink.. stop saying things like that.. I can hear my SS calling...
My first time this year and I cant choose between my race hardtail or my FS, I thought an FS would have been more comfortable over a hardtail with all the miles I will be doing.
Did it SS last year and missed the 10 hour mark by 20 mins!
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/4960000707_667ce0fe21.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/4960000707/ ]Pah only 104 miles![/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
Will have 27 gears on it this year unless its a mudfest!
djflexure - MemberHT too last year. So much climbing that FS may not be ideal.
The K100 is actually fairly flat in terms of height gain/distance travelled and most of the climbing isn't very steep. There's very little out of the saddle climbing on the course.
When I'm racing I like to be sit down and pedal while letting the bike sort out the bumps so I always race on a FS bike. Having said that plenty of people finished well up the results on XC HTs.
BTW The Peak district is much more rocky than the riding around Kielder so buying a bike for both will always be a compromise.
I did it on a 5" full sus last year. It was fine, I did 10.48 after being a bit too reserved at the start and gradually overtaking loads of people in the first 20 miles or so. Some of the trails are quite rough, suspension will soak this up, but slow you down elsewhere. 120mm full sus and a light set of wheels would do nicely, the event is only 1 day so buy something you will use all year round.
I used a light, geared, 140mm HT.
Do lots of exercises for back strength and general fitness and you'll be fine.
I used a lightweight ( scandium) 100mm HT (although i did have a USE suspension seatpost)
I heard there was 12,000ft of climbing
You can see here how flat it is, easy to mistake for Thetford.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/48411745
I heard there was 12,000ft of climbing
The K100 is actually fairly flat
I clocked about 10000ft - which is plenty in my book - but I am crap at hills.
Wow, Drac I don't think my aged heart has ever beat that fast! Certainly not over 100 miles.
You still shopping??
I've nearly entered and my chosen semi-niche will be F120/R100mm Kona or 100mm 29er HT.
Wow, Drac I don't think my aged heart has ever beat that fast! Certainly not over 100 miles.
That wasn't me I was there but lubing up the riders.
KTM should do it
Wow, Drac I don't think my aged heart has ever beat that fast! Certainly not over 100 miles.
Christ I'd average 173bpm without too much trouble!
You can make any ride look hilly by choosing the right scale.
As I said above, the K100 didn't have that much climbing per mile. If there was 10000 ft of climbing that means 100 feet per mile. Less than many xc races.
There were very few places where you needed to get out of the saddle to sprint uphill so riding a FS bike was no problem.
2009 I rode a hardtail with 100mm travel.
2010 I rode a full-sus with 100mm travel at each end.
2011, I'll be going for the full-sus again.
Definitely appreciated the comfort in the last 35 miles.