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I need a challenge to get fit for but I am not that interested in dragging myself around a muddy field for 24 hrs or just suffering for the sake of suffering. It needs to be difficult but also fun. Difficult enough that you couldn't just rock up to it and struggle through if you gritted your teeth.
It doesn't need to be UK based (although that would be fine).
Lots of friends are doing events like Haute Route etc but I can't bring myself to spend that much time on the road bike.
Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Trans Savoie
Mega
Mountain of Hell
EWS Whistler
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http://wildsidemtb.com/
4 days in Tassie?
Mega is a good laugh with the right group
IoM E2E was fun
Another vote for the IoM E2E. Tough enough route without being overly so and a fantastic turn-out by the locals makes it a really fun event.
This, local and a good place to start and wont cost the earth plus its a good trail
http://www.fodmbe.org.uk/dean_enduro_mtb.php
Transvesubienne?
[url= http://www.diezmildelsoplao.com/ ]Los 10.000 del Soplao[/url]
Very XC with very little technical riding, but it's a gorgeous part of Spain and well worth visiting. And you certainly need to be fit to finish it.
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Another vote for the IoM E2E. Tough enough route without being overly so and a fantastic turn-out by the locals makes it a really fun event.
The Manx 100 is even better in that it really does take training to get through. Circular so easier admin, much smaller field, fantastic atmosphere and hard as f*"k. 104miles and over 15,000feet of climbing, sections that are 'too dangerous' to be in E2E and some very rough terrain.
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I will investigate them.
A "what bike for..." thread may follow 😉
Singlespeed the Dyfi 🙂 but drink lots of beer the night before!
Tour de Cairngorm in one go. On my tick list.
http://www.selfsupporteduk.net/routes/Lakeland200.html
Its a cracker you will be on your limits 🙂
If you don't like muddy fields but fancy 24 hour racing then do whichever one is currently at Newnham Park. It has real trails.
Otherwise, if you can swim, do the Ben Nevis Tri.
postie - have you done it? 40 hrs on a bike!!!
That Soplao event looks good, hadn't heard of that before.
In the same vein of "not-too-technical" long one-day races:
MB Race (if you do 70km or more)
Eiger Bike
Grand Raid Cristalp
(or Transvesubienne but that looks proper hard)
For multiple days there are things like the
Transmaurienne
Lozerienne VTT
(or Ironbike but that looks proper mental)
Another vote for the Isle of Man end 2 end, although it's this weekend, so not much time to train. Always next year. If you fancy something a bit more challenging, there is also the Manx 100 in July, which is either a 100 mile, or 100 km route. Less road, and more climbing than the e2e, a proper hard day in the saddle. See www.manxmtb.com for details.
I can't make head nor tail of the Soplao website unfortunately. I've tried a couple of browsers but Google translation seems to be messing up the site.
Done it over two and a half days carrying all my gear 🙂