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Just got in on the extra 48hr window. Not done this sort of thing before so looking forward to it, ask a good few people i know and could get anyone interested so just me on my Planet x XLS
So what bike setups are people planning foe this? NB. This is a blatant post to get other peoples ideas 😉
At the moment I have a beachracer, so kinda monstercross bike with Ultegra di2/hydros but undecided on tyres. Narrower fast MTB tyres or gravel tyres, or maybe even a beach racing tyre.
I'll be on a Jones Barred Ti 29er. Rigid carbon forks if I get around to fitting them, or SIDs if I don't. 1x10 with 34 x 11-42
I am in the process of resurrecting my old kona explosif. It seemed like a good idea on Saturday anyway, we shall see.
This.. It's my TCX Adv1, Reynolds Assults, 46/36 & 28/12, and I'll stick on my Challenge Gravel Grinder tyres.
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SS Cotic Escapade.
Had a test run around Dalby last week on my cross bike and thought my 33mm tires could be a bit small but because i'm on tub's i think thats the biggest you can get. Anyone know of any larger sizes for tubs ?.
I can only presume that Dalby will be a lot rougher than Kielder (i was on the red not fire roads) but a bit more comfort wouldn't go amiss.
Bike choice will either be, my jones space frame for comfort, the blacksheep for speed or the rooster for sort of in the middle..all singlespeed....probably whichever one inspires me to take it out to play the day before and using whatever tyres and gear ratio that happens to be on it will do. Only three gears anyway, sit and pedal, stand and thrutch and walk...any more is a distraction for my simple brain
Hope the prep is going well for this. One of the team rode 170ish Km of the route today, with failing light(s) stopping play. Frosty, with only a couple of downed trees. There is very little flat - which is either good, or bad for those on SS I guess. Completion will be as much about mental strength as the legs. New views being opened up by some handy clear-felling too.
Accommodation will become scarce, so look soon - the wonderful folk of Northumbria await.
I'll be on my old Kona. Probably 35mm Slant 6s or 33mm Racing Ralphs - not sure yet. 32/24 up front and 11/32 out back. Might get a 22 inner ring.
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5770/20635396021_fa46882b31_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5770/20635396021_fa46882b31_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/xrtNj2 ]P1000428[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/82598458@N05/ ]jamesanderson2010[/url], on Flickr
boxelder - Member
There is very little flat. Completion will be as much about mental strength as the legs.
Accommodation will become scarce, so look soon - the wonderful folk of Northumbria await.
Thanks for the update!
Accom booked a very long time ago, complete with sauna and massage for the day after!
What tyres was your mate on?
He was on 29x2.25 Ralphs/Rons I think
🙄 I know.......
Was packing some kit in a big seat pack too. Luddite.
32ish mm tyres will become uncomfortable. Don't say it wasn't mentioned.
Are seat bags / frame bags not the done thing here then.
I fully ascribe to luggage nipper99
I was being facetious.
There'll be no need for luggage on the day, but feel free. I'll mostly be riding a quad bike.
I would really like an entry to this if anyone is unable to make it/scared to ride 200km 🙂
If anyone is looking for a bed for the Friday and Saturday nights...
I have got a spare single bed in a twin room at the Pheasant Inn which is 10 miles up the road from the castle.
15-17 April. £50 per night.
Let me know if you are interested.
Less than a month now.
We all feeling perky for a lovely 200km in the sun?*
*I bet it rains.
I'm undertrained but super excited. I'll be on my mk1 Fargo with maybe some Onza Canis' on. Slow & steady away.
Any insight on feed station frequency and stuff to eat - OTE sponsoring are they providing their ace crispy ricey choccy bars?
Fingers crossed for some weather.
Just read the website again - 3 feed stations and things to eat! Apologies
I'll be on my mk1 Fargo
I'll probably be on the Ti Fargo with Nanos. Unless something else happens faster than expected *fingers crossed*
Feedwise - I'm treating it as a training day for the Tour Divide, so will be carrying all my food from the start, top up with whatever whenever. Eat-ride-repeat. No further plans.
Ooh, [b]gee[/b], is that spare bed still available?
I've done nothing about sourcing accommodation! Was thinking about camping...
Planning to park and kip in the car. Any idea if there'll be a butty/tea van in attendance at the start village?
Joey's Coffee will be operating and the Cafe will (should) be open too 🙂
Training going reasonably well, could do with another 100k stint offload but I think I'll just carry on hacking until a week before.
We're in a s****y hotel but it's an hour away South, so I'll just drive up, setup, ride, pack away, fall asleep in the car, wake up, drive back to the hotel and eat.
I might shower the following day, see how I feel 😆
I'd love to know more about the conditions, but expect too much information is, well too much information and we should just turn up and ride it.
I see the feed stops are 60k with time limit, 100k feed only with a 130k time limit if I've read the site correctly.
Luckily the course time limit stops are near to the start/finish so should we all get booted out we've not got far to scuttle back and sulk.
Well a month ago I was quite terrified of this, but after doing 70 miles on the WTB Nano equipped Dirty Disco last weekend with not too much pain I'm feeling much better about it now. Until of course the April monsoon starts, in which case I'll be having nightmares about sodden, draggy fire roads.
Staying at my folks in Newcastle, driving up on the morning so a 4.30am start. That's going to be the hardest bit.
Well I'm packing for the event, I know it is still a few weeks away but I'm in Town next weekend on another long distance Tribute to Paris-Roubaix, then that's it, I'm done.
Just out for a hack on the CXer to make sure it, and me, are fit for purpose then everything goes in the wash and pack up tomorrow.
I expect we'll hear shortly about the route and GPX file from the organisers, if I hear anything I'll post it here.
Best of luck to all those entered and riding.
Final GPX check ride tomorrow, then it will be shared with you all so you can get some familiarisation laps in.....
At least tomorrow looks less wet than of late. Could be a long day.
Bike built, crazy beast it is too. Hopefully all will be well although could probably have done a bit more for fitness.
GPX has been [url= http://www.dirtyreiver.co.uk/event/ ]released[/url], route looks great. Lots of climbing but will take you out the forest and into some truly fantastic scenery and views.
WooHoo!
Looks ace.
😯
Can anybody who has downloaded the GPX tell me at what point Stonehaugh comes? I'm guessing it must be a feed station and, as it's just up the road and I reckon there are at least 12 people I know doing this, I might go and spectate there.
Also which way round does the route go at that point?
Cheers,
Paul,
Stonehaugh is feed station 1 at around 58Km. The route comes in from Kielder to the village 'hall', then back out and through Whygate towards Bewcastle. If you fancy getting a bit more involved, with some marshalling etc, there would be some sponsors goodies, food and beer in it for you (and maybe a ride next time?). If interested please mail geogwm@gmail.com. We'll be up there in the communications black hole this week, but I'll pick up email.
Still got a bed in a twin room available if anyone wants it...
I'm using my trusty Tripster ATR bike with 46:36:28 3x10 setup but still debating tyre choice as sounds rougher than expected. Think I might go for a Pana Gravel King SK in 32mm on rear as the heavy Conti touring plus tyre been training on is just too sluggish on climbs. Still can't decide on front, wrote my thoughts on mostly tyre choice here: [url= http://wp.me/p4kH5h-3GW ]Dirty Reiver Prep [/url]
In my many years riding at Kielder ive come to the conclusion that if there is a section that sucks it will suck regardless of tyre or bike choice. Thankfully each bad bit only seems to last a few mile before the surface changes to something else.
Ive stuck Nano 40's on mine as they are the biggest tubeless tyres I have. tbh I dont particularly like them but they have plenty of volume and are not mud spikes so should roll faster than my other cx tyre. Im not racing though (marshal) so wont have to [s]suffer[/s] enjoy the full 200km 😀
Finished all my prep, last 100+ ride yesterday and feeling just fine.
Bike's all set up, simple CX'er setup and Challenges Gravel Grinder 38mm tyres fitted.
Not a lot left to do except turn up and ride it.
Whilst 200k is a lot, if I bail out at the 130k cut off point I'll be happy. Afterall I think 200k is a huge amount to do in mostly offroad conditions and in early Spring and certainly don't fancy riding with lights. I calculated an estimate of minimum 10hours riding, thats quite a lot at pace.
I'm there for the enjoyment and landscape, not to bonk/break and get picked up by the Bus.
It'll be an achievement to ride to the first cut off point, a major one to arrive with a grin at the second, and if I carry on to the end and cross the line without seeing double and dribbling then I'll be most pleased. 😆
How many will bailout at either cut off you reckon??
Aren't there 400 of us?
If the weather is bad I can see the majority of the field pulling out at 130km, as you say 200km is an awful long way. I can see the first 60km hitting a lot of people hard, ive not ridden the route but on the gpx it looks a pretty tough start, people need to make sure they pace themselves, cutoff seems generous enough certainly. Thankfully the profile looks a lot mellower after that checkpoint and heading to the border the views should be superb. From the border heading back the majority of the climbing is alongside the river, so while its not flat and a bit of a trudge it is a quite straightforward ride back to the castle. The final leg? well if you are contemplating doing it im not going to talk you out of it 😆
I think if you make 60km check ok then you should have a crack at the next 60km (after all its probably a 40km ride back from the checkpoint anyway! 😉 )
Less one, I deffered my entry until next year, I did do 217km on the road yesterday and felt fine, just cannot make the start time and it's too far to set off at 2am
For anyone wondering quite how remote the course is, I spotted some people have been doing a recce and in the first 130km there are only 7 Strava segments! take that regents park.
Long term weather forecast suggests that it isn't going to be an excuse.
Presuming we don't get timed out, we're doing the whole thing.
My preparation has ionvolved not really thinking about it although I've still got a fair bit of residual fitness from a recent road riding holiday in Spain. Had a good time at a hilly CX Sportive yesterday so feeling happy with the bike and the riding ability.
Less OK with the whole camping, sleeping, accommodation, food thing which I haven't given any thought to at all!
S****y hotel for me and the Mrs, not that I'm teasing you at all 😆
So we've already had some folks ride the course then? Interesting.. Don't get them to post anything, damn if the "awe its fine you soft southerner" will for sure put me right off.... 😛
Its still a great event, so looking forward to it all..
😀
One question about mossy repellent?
Couple of guys I met at the weekend suggested I take some, should I ? This early in the season ??
If it were me I would be taking Midge precautions. Bit of warm weather and lack of wind could see it pretty bad even this early in the year. Have been caught out before but not with 200K to ride.
One question about mossy repellent?Couple of guys I met at the weekend suggested I take some, should I ? This early in the season ??
Posted 2 hours ago # Report-Post
I bivyed up there 2 weekends ago after a few hours in the pub (drying out my riding gear obviously 😉 ) and not a midge in sight. The campsite was a bit damp apparently according to the folks staying there, but no one mentioned any midge.