Dirty Reiver, Kielder Gravel Ride
Discussion
Anyone doing this? Sept 11th after being covid-bumped from last year.
Three routes on offer; 65, 130 or 200km. I've gone for the 130, as the 65 I know I can comfortably do, and the 200 would be by a good margin the longest single ride I've ever done, on any surface.
Any advice other than keep fuelled and hydrated? How much should I knock off my (already slow) normal pace for a longer than usual ride?
I'm not affiliated with the event at all BTW.
Three routes on offer; 65, 130 or 200km. I've gone for the 130, as the 65 I know I can comfortably do, and the 200 would be by a good margin the longest single ride I've ever done, on any surface.
Any advice other than keep fuelled and hydrated? How much should I knock off my (already slow) normal pace for a longer than usual ride?
I'm not affiliated with the event at all BTW.
I’m signed up for the 65, mainly as I am driving up on the morning (Newcastle) and it’s an early start…
Did the same 65 route in April as a recce - found it was really rough, freezing cold, the Kielder forest road is like riding boulders. Definitely not an easy ride.
Friends who’ve done the 130 before say…. fit the widest tyres you can fit in he frame, definitely go tubeless, and make sure you carry enough for every eventuality as there’s no phone signal for most of it.
Did the same 65 route in April as a recce - found it was really rough, freezing cold, the Kielder forest road is like riding boulders. Definitely not an easy ride.
Friends who’ve done the 130 before say…. fit the widest tyres you can fit in he frame, definitely go tubeless, and make sure you carry enough for every eventuality as there’s no phone signal for most of it.
Edited by mie1972 on Saturday 31st July 22:58
Edited by mie1972 on Saturday 31st July 22:58
Edited by mie1972 on Saturday 31st July 22:59
Not done Dirty Reiver, but used to do the Kielder 100 (100 mile single lap MTB race) when it ran a few years ago.
Aside from drink/fuelling, a couple of other bits of advice. There are midges up that way, so for sign-on / hanging around / camping up there beforehand, long clothing and a midge net for your head if they bother you. For the ride, if it's wet, the ground up there can be harsh on components. So, make sure you've got fresh, well bedded-in pads and start with a clean, well-lubed drivetrain. Pack spares - one year plenty of riders had to scratch as they went through full sets of pads. Secondly, in the earlier parts at least, try to find a group moving at a similar pace to yourself. Even off-road, it's far easier to cover 130k as part of a group rather than solo. That's even more true if the wind is blowing - not sure what route the Reiver will take, but if you get taken up on to the moorlands above the forest, then it's really exposed.
Aside from drink/fuelling, a couple of other bits of advice. There are midges up that way, so for sign-on / hanging around / camping up there beforehand, long clothing and a midge net for your head if they bother you. For the ride, if it's wet, the ground up there can be harsh on components. So, make sure you've got fresh, well bedded-in pads and start with a clean, well-lubed drivetrain. Pack spares - one year plenty of riders had to scratch as they went through full sets of pads. Secondly, in the earlier parts at least, try to find a group moving at a similar pace to yourself. Even off-road, it's far easier to cover 130k as part of a group rather than solo. That's even more true if the wind is blowing - not sure what route the Reiver will take, but if you get taken up on to the moorlands above the forest, then it's really exposed.
The route has been released now. Not as bad as I was expecting. Most of the climbing is in the first half, and only one cut-off time to make on the 130km distance. Quietly confident now, especially given the two big climbs added together is less than my 'normal' weekend climb up to Paul Ricard circuit.
Based on personal experience, if its wet (or has been recently) I wouldnt do it. You'll need a new bike afterwards.
I did the first Kielder 100 mile mtb enduro back in 2009. The attrition rate on components was incredible, the mud is proper grinding paste. I got through 2 pairs of brake pads (still had no brakes for last few hours), the drivetrain was destroyed - chain, cassette, jockey wheels, bb, rings, the lot. Front and rear fox suspension needed rebuilding afterwards including linkages and bushes. It was a whole years worth of wear and tear in one event.
Some of the puddles were nearly up to the top tube and some of the muddy sections were simply too claggy to ride through although it was an interesting change from mile after interminable mile of identical fire road. The scenery is exactly the same pretty much the whole way round. Its probably quite exciting driving in a rally stage but not cycling.
Good luck!
I did the first Kielder 100 mile mtb enduro back in 2009. The attrition rate on components was incredible, the mud is proper grinding paste. I got through 2 pairs of brake pads (still had no brakes for last few hours), the drivetrain was destroyed - chain, cassette, jockey wheels, bb, rings, the lot. Front and rear fox suspension needed rebuilding afterwards including linkages and bushes. It was a whole years worth of wear and tear in one event.
Some of the puddles were nearly up to the top tube and some of the muddy sections were simply too claggy to ride through although it was an interesting change from mile after interminable mile of identical fire road. The scenery is exactly the same pretty much the whole way round. Its probably quite exciting driving in a rally stage but not cycling.
Good luck!
calvinhobbes said:
Not done Dirty Reiver, but used to do the Kielder 100 (100 mile single lap MTB race) when it ran a few years ago.
Aside from drink/fuelling, a couple of other bits of advice. There are midges up that way, so for sign-on / hanging around / camping up there beforehand, long clothing and a midge net for your head if they bother you. For the ride, if it's wet, the ground up there can be harsh on components. So, make sure you've got fresh, well bedded-in pads and start with a clean, well-lubed drivetrain. Pack spares - one year plenty of riders had to scratch as they went through full sets of pads.
That year was brutal - I got through 3 sets of pads - didn't even get to the piper.....Aside from drink/fuelling, a couple of other bits of advice. There are midges up that way, so for sign-on / hanging around / camping up there beforehand, long clothing and a midge net for your head if they bother you. For the ride, if it's wet, the ground up there can be harsh on components. So, make sure you've got fresh, well bedded-in pads and start with a clean, well-lubed drivetrain. Pack spares - one year plenty of riders had to scratch as they went through full sets of pads.
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