The Hardest Race You’ve Never Heard Of Is Going Past Your Door Right Now

The Great British Divide – something you’ve probably never heard of until about… now – is a 2200km off-road mountain bike race that’s going on right …

By chipps

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The Hardest Race You’ve Never Heard Of Is Going Past Your Door Right Now

Nails

Ive managed 5 days full on on my bike ,I,m out after that!

Chris is always incredibly cheerful. Except when bicycle jousting while sh*tfaced at SSUK (Bristol? Can’t remember)….
Poor Alec didn’t come out of that too well…

Amazing effort so far. Keep it up Chris!

Goes right past my house.
Will keep an eye on the map!

Hell’s Teeth that’s impressive.

And there was I thinking the Great British Divide ran approximately from Bristol to the Wash, bisecting the Watford Gap M1 services, and only approx 200 miles long. Handily demarking Ooop North from Darn Saaarf.

Big respect to the riders and also STW for giving it some focus – nice 👍

Yeh we’ve heard of it… When I posted a thread about it last week.

I coincidentally – ie: I wasn’t stalking them – crossed paths with three of them on the Sett Valley Trail this morning. Two were stopped chatting at the road crossing by the Sett Valley Cafe, which I thought was a bit of a missed opportunity.

Hats off to them all, though I don’t really get the dot watching thing unless you know someone personally.

Cheered Chris on from the bottom of the garden. Now know that I know him from his bike shop days after he was like, oh hi Nik!.

Top effort, he kinda looked fresh all things considered. Still a long way to go from Glasgow.

I take my hat off to the riders that have come through the settle to hawes section in the last 24hrs. The rain has not let up, and has been heavy as ****. Been trying to catch a few at Clapham as they pass the back of the village and offer a coffee, but not managed get timing right (that’s my timings, not theirs!! My 2 year old isn’t on the same timetable)

That’s Chris passing through Fort William now. Bananas….

Be nice to cherry pick some bits and do them over three or four days.

Route has been diverted and shortened with the finish now in Fort William. Seems the riders didn’t like the conditions.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58136344

Been following the dots then going out to encourage as they passed. Just so impressed with them all but that Chris chap is Really stunning. The distance he put in with hours after the Dale’s Bike Centre check point amazed me.

Waiting for the last 3 to come through Staffs. Would it be bad manners to go out and ride with them? They’d likely be too polite to say piss off but on a thing like that you might get all insular in your head and get annoyed by randoms cycling longside.

Michael, I was riding with them until I crashed out. I’m sure Kate, Richard & Sam would be delighted to see you.

They’ll welcome your support and chapeu to the riders still out there! I certainly did – having been the first to attempt it and the first to scratch. 5 of 6 days riding pish wet through did nothing for my sit department. The electrical storms in mid Wales complete with proper hail N of Llandidrod made me re-examine my use of what is otherwise family holiday time.

How’d you know my name? 😂
Any forum dwellers following I might try and hook up with them at the bottom of Alsager and provide encouragement over mow cop. Offer to carry a back pack for them I thought would be welcomed. But I have a medical appointment in the morning which might scupper that plan but could drive out into the Peak a bit.
Can’t believe the route goes down Cavedale and then up the broken road and then up Jacobs Ladder 😂 with a loaded bike. The organiser owes them all an apology 😂

Donnacha Cassidy approaching Ft William just now. Will be glad to finish I’d have thought.

Neil Copeland just south of Edinburgh.

weathers really grotty still.

Yep, still have them all open in a computer window. Ironically, it’s sunny here in Tod now – first time since Chris came through LAST WEDNESDAY! Wow… to all…

Flippin hell, I couldn’t even drive that far, let alone ride it.

Just escorted Chris out of Peebles on route to a hotel in Edinburgh for the night.

And doubled back to meet Harry coming out of costa. Mad props to tresspass shop for selling him two pairs of socks 15 minutes after closing. He’s in a hotel in peebles for the night.

I was out for an hour is absolutely pissing rain and drenched throug I decked it carrying my bike out the basement and have two bloody knees and my drive train decided to eat itself how have they done that much!

My plan went well yesterday and I rode with Kate, Richard and Sam bringing up the rear for an hour yesterday. They were very pleased to have some support and we had a great ride. Have to admit I was a wee bit jealous as I left them with likely another 7 days of constant cycling ahead of them and the weather looks great this week. They’re heading into the Peak forest today so if you live out that way get out and give em a wave. 🙋🏻‍♂️

Been following this… amazing effort especially given the weather

How’d you know my name? 😂

Weird quirk that puts your nickname and not your forum name when responding to news articles on front page

every now and then I’ll look out of my berdoom window to see someone packed up riding a bike along the canal path opposite, passing joggers, dog walkers and commuters who have no idea of the journey they’ve been on and what’s to come. Everyday life passes by with each pedal stroke.