kielder 100

[john notman]

Thinking about doing the kielder 100 next year, anyone done it that can give me a little insight into how tough,route and training.

[Chris]

Hi John, i did this and i have to say its the toughest thing i've ever done.
I get out every week riding up in the hills for between 3-5 hrs covering 20-35 miles depending on how severe the terrain is.
So prior to the race i upped my mileage to 80 miles but only on railway lines(C2C, barnard castle, rowlands gill, etc)
although this helped me to complete the 100 miles i have learn't that there is no substitute for actually doing high mileage up in the hills. This year i will be baseing my training on doing 50 miles then 65 and then upping to 80 in the months prior to the race. what i wasn't prepared for were the conditions - mud and puddles my drivetrain was running dry (no oil) for at least half the race (reminder put some oil in my bag).
The course was absolutely excellent a mixture of singletrack, grass track, rooty trail, red routes (kielder/newcastleton)
and fire road mixed in between. Picture going out and doing a 25 mile jaunt up in the hills then doing this 4 times its mentally tough and physically draining, i seen a lot of people with bike issues so make sure your bikes spot on.
Best thing i've ever done though as it gave me something to look forward to and i can't wait for next years in an attempt to get a better time.

[john notman]

Thanks chris, im looking forward to doing the training,might see you out and about,one thing i probably wouldn,t of thought of is taking oil. What time did you do, i seem to remember the guy who won it done it in just over 8hrs

[Chris]

the guy who won it was awesome-fantastic time, i have a variety of excuses for my time of 12hrs 30 but i aint going to bore you with them. looking forward to beating it next year.

[Andy]

Hi John,

Seriously considering doing it. I've found these links on training so far:
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12611206 with suggestions for books and stuff
http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/training/training.php examples for the Merida Marathons which are 100km not miles.

[ray]

I will be doing it next year. would have done it this year but i only got back form a 2 week holiday to florida 2 days before the event and its not good prep no training and drinking every night for two weeks. This year i have the event allready in my diary so the holiday will have to come afterwoods or at least 1 mth before. Hope there is quite a few of us from mtbne going to attempt it next year. maybe we can all ride together for the first 10mile or so before we settle into our own pace.

[MARK]

Im doing it next year.I was gonna do the last one but bottled it at last minute :-( Would be cool if we had a team mtbne though.

[Dave F]

100 miles in one go??? That's like a whole year's riding in a day. To quote the great ice cream gangster......I'm out!

[MARK]

Dave Im disappointed,lol.

[Dave F]

I just read the article on this race published in Ocober's Singletrack mag......and I'm still not going to do it!

[Chris]

Hi mark, you'd better think about putting your entry in soon, as it was up to 175 when one of the lads i ride with put his entry in at the weekend. Team MTBNE sounds cool.
I'll not make the mistake this year of setting off with the leaders from the start line! i'll be hanging back a bit.

[MARK]

Cheers Chris,Ill get it sorted as soon as,thank buddy.

[Andy]

I put together a draft training schedule, showed it to the Mrs and her comment was: you'll be getting divorced around mid july as I'll never see you.

Hmm, bit of arm twisting (flowers) and persuasion (chocolates) needed here.