Titanium Bicycle

 In the words of poet Britney Spears "oops I did it again!" I went and got another bike. I bought a gravel specific bike this time and my first forray into the world of titanium frames. Check out my first ride video below to hear all about it.

Dirty Reiver 2022

So it’s been a while but its time for an update. Mid-February I won 2 entries to the Dirty Reiver from Genesis Bicycles. WOOOOHOOOO! I hadn’t intended on entering as I did this in 2019 and let’s be honest as brilliant as it is it takes a lot of motivation to enter something again you already know is brutally hard. Alas this piece of fortune gave me a chance to exercise a demon. In the 2019 edition there was a course detour which made the famous 200km only 187km so with this new entry I had the chance to do an honest Reiver.  

The First half of the Reiver before food stop 2 is definitely the hardest as far as terrain goes. The first 100km have the roughest sections, steepest climbs (with the forest drive decent the best ) and the coldest part of the day. After the first stop though, where I had a chance to take off the morning leg warmers, change the base layer for something cooler and fuel up I got into my stride. I never feel great in the first 40k but it gives you a chance to watch all the first timers burn their matches too early knowing you’ll either pass them later or never see them as they ditch the day for the 65km or 130m options. The second half is not as hard geographically (unless of course you count the remoteness) but it is as hard by virtue of having to be done with 100km already in your legs. It was a bit tough going this year as 30 miles were into a headwind and the bit of tarmac and tailwind that took us hardy 200 riders into the Stonehaugh final pit stop were very welcome. One companion that was with us all day was the sunshine, which does create dusty trails (and faces) but is always more welcome than any form of precipitation and that sunshine stayed with me all the way back to the finish line at Kielder Castle and KM 200! An honest Reiver! Last time I did this event I thought “once is enough!” but even after 10 hours of gravel on this day and aches and pains everywhere I was already thinking about next time, although maybe it’s my turn to cut of for the 130! Anyway check out the pics and flick below as I get ready for part 2 of my 2 week challenge: The Fred Whitton 2 weeks later.

 

CX Is Back

Finally some racing has returned to the winter cx calendar. So pleased to get back racing and although it was the B-Race I was pleased with a performance that saw me take 16th place in slippery snowy conditions. Havent posted enough of late with work being very busy but hopefully over the festive period I can summarise my year and hopefully report of more great annual miles. In the meantime here's some pics of my race at Rouken Glen park in a snowy Glasgow.

Highland Adventure

Got away for a couple of nights up north of Scotland. Here is a wee travelogue of the cycle I managed.

Giant Bicycle Collection

 

Giant TCR Advanced 1 Year Review

Giant contend AR1 6 month review