Kielder 100

The reason that I've been neglecting the G1 rides for the last couple of months was that I was putting in the miles on my mountain bike so that I could survive the Kielder 100. That's a 100 mile mountain bike race that is 100% off road and, remarkably, one lap.

The race was this Saturday - And I finished! Which was an achievement, but I also got 100th place out of 550 starters so I was well chuffed. It took me 10hrs 38min with the winner storming round in just under eight hours. Final finisher rolled in under darkness after 14 hours on the trails. Nearly 200 dropped out after not making the cut off times. There was a lot of fire road climbing (4500 metres anyone?) and the single track was full of nasty little rocks that beat you up something rotten. By the end my back, hands and shoulders were in bits and it was only riding along with a cheery Scottish fella that kept me pushing on. The sense of achievement is massaging the pain away now, though.

Thanks to G1 rides and Daz's Tuesday evening sessions for getting me in shape.

I rode under the GS Avanti name - I must get a jersey for next time. Jeez, I'm saying "next time" already...