As long as it’s on a sliding scale I guess, a little like child allowance. But it will probably just become increasingly ‘elite’ as it was in the past (and in England). See the News or Failing Economy threads.
ANYWAY…gravel. Any pics?
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I’m setting off tomorrow. Kit is readied. Just a few hours remaining work to plough through…
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Rock, rock, not rock.
Done.
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Made it to Rothiemurchus but that was way beyond my fitness and despite 5L of water I ran out for the last 45mins. I nearly melted on the climbs without the airflow of speed. Had to have a couple of cool down sit downs. What a route though. So quiet. Doing that again for sure. My ageing Garmin didn’t quite last the duration so there’s 10k more to add to get the Airbnb. I’m sat in a darkened room now trying to cool off!
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Superb!!!
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I assume someone has driven your luggage ahead for you; or is this ultra light b&bing?
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My wife has kindly driven over with kid, dogs, bikes, wetsuits and other carp all packed. She’s more worn out today than I am. I’m a lucky chap.
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It is a bit misleading as the Scottish universities hike up the admissions scores to limit the Scottish intake so they can max out on English and international students. Coupled with higher accommodation costs it was cheaper to send my son to an English uni than it was to stay in Scotland and accept the free uni tuition.
Having 2 kids in higher education at the moment isn’t cheap.
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That’s why I’m encouraging overseas!
1 KOM and three top tens on off road sections today 
I could barely see where I was going on the kom, being thrown all over the place on 36mm tyres. I think the universe wants me to get a proper gravel bike.
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Time Alpe d’Huez… if I can spend your money for you 
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I did the North Wales 300 a couple of weeks ago. Coming to the conclusion I’ve cracked a rib so really just posting for sympathy, but thought others might be interested.
The main event is the NW400 Tom Bruce Cycling - North Wales bikepacking , but I wasn’t sure how tough it was going to be and whether I could get round and make my train home so made the wise decision to do the shorter route. It goes from a bike park near Wrexham across to Portmadog via Penmachno and the top of Snowdon (oh, yes), and back across to Wrexham via Llyn Bala and LLangollen (the 400 goes further south through Dolgellau to make the extra distance). It’s meant to be a MTB thing but I got round okay on my gravel bike with fat tyres. TBH the 2-3 gnarly bits of descending I walked I would have been too scared to ride on any bike. Mostly, the disadvantage was having to pick my way carefully down some rocky tracks you could have just battered down with suspension, and 38-42 wasn’t a low enough gear for comfort on some of the road climbs. There is a NW500 route that is meant for gravel bikes and also looks good.
The route is excellent. A really broad mix of stuff: scenic single-track tarmac, fast forest roads, rough gravel, rocky double-track, quality single-track, steep hike-a-bike… Weather was amazing - not too hot but virtually cloudless skies. Guess it would be a fair bit tougher experience with bad weather.
There were some gnarly bits of riding but ironically I stacked it on a totally innocuous grassy descent. There was a deep, narrow slot hidden under the grass. My wheel rolled in and stopped dead and over the bars I went. Usually, there’s a moment where you know you’re going down but this was like an instant transition from easy riding to being on my back with the bike on top of me. Didn’t think I’d done any damage, and was fine riding the next 24 hours including dragging the bike up Snowdon, but I’ve been a bit of a cripple this week after some slightly achey swimming and perhaps foolish tree surgery. Sneezed yesterday and that hurt A LOT.
Anyway, no doubt it will heal, whether it’s cracked or just badly brusied. Going to order a 34T chainring and try the 400 next year, I think. But if anyone fancies a tough 2-3 day off-road, low-key bikepacking thing, this is worth a look.
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Any interest in this gravel ride at the end of the month? I’ve ran at least half of it and it’s not particularly challenging but is scenic 
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My logistical costs may be a bit more than the entry fee
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Sorted for 2026 now;
Dales Divide over Easter Weekend .spend my birthday in a tent 
try to finish it this time!
Tor Divide (Peaks Tors.) Skipped 50km and DNFd this year due to falling off and bruising my ribs. Won’t go so hard on the downhills 
Wild Westie. 400km around Aberfoyle. Lovely.
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What’s the score with entering that. Is it a FB post at some point and then you email or something???
Yeah. Generally new year’s Day.
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What do you reckon your DNF rate is for big events; sorry but my perception is higher than average
I actually feel very fortunate that I managed to complete all 8 IMs for example, as I’m sure the law of averages would mean a mechanical problem at some point. It was only the weather that seemed to be against me. One DNF I think in the last 25 years; a self inflicted mechanicial in a HIM.
Huge recently. I just bin em off if I ain’t feeling it.
Next to zero historically. Ask @Hammerer … I think I’m the only person to hop a marathon.
I once got pulled off a course with hypothermia. Nice.
I would’ve finished Bolton if I’d have found a wheel. Or tub.
I’ve finished 6 iron distance events.
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Wasn’t one a swimrun 
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