| Mark D, Emma B, Libby, Me, Paul, Dave and Liz going through our pre-ride preparations on Sunday morning |
dance floor. The next morning saw us waking up to blue skies, fluffy clouds and sun. Dry and not too hot,
perfect. Breakfast and pre-ride fettling filled up the time and pretty soon we were off to the starting line. We
set off at 10am, well those at the front did. A couple of minutes later our part of the starting bunch began
moving, meaning it was time to use the first couple of miles of tarmac to pass as many people as possible
before the inevitable first climb congestion. Things went well and I managed to miss being stopped by other
perfect. Breakfast and pre-ride fettling filled up the time and pretty soon we were off to the starting line. We
set off at 10am, well those at the front did. A couple of minutes later our part of the starting bunch began
moving, meaning it was time to use the first couple of miles of tarmac to pass as many people as possible
before the inevitable first climb congestion. Things went well and I managed to miss being stopped by other
| Mark D, Paul B, Emma B, Me, Liz and Paul P arrive at the start |
| 10am, the ride starts |
| A couple of minutes later we start moving |
riders occasionally stumbling over each other on the climb. Paul P
unfortunately punctured just before the top and saw his hard work
being wasted as the loads of bikes steamed by, me being one of them. I
knew it wouldn't be the last I saw of him. While being patient and
waiting my turn on the first bits of singletrack I managed to catch Mark
up and have a talk about how things were going. Not long after, as
predicted, Paul P reappeared. At the top of the next singletrack descent
Pauls' grumbling about the level of some peoples riding slowing him up
was followed immediately by him hitting a root and having an off, perfect
comic timing. Once I saw he was alright I set off again, I think Mark hung
around a bit to laugh. The riding after this point got easier as things
started to thin out, so at last the descents could be enjoyed at speed.
unfortunately punctured just before the top and saw his hard work
being wasted as the loads of bikes steamed by, me being one of them. I
knew it wouldn't be the last I saw of him. While being patient and
waiting my turn on the first bits of singletrack I managed to catch Mark
up and have a talk about how things were going. Not long after, as
predicted, Paul P reappeared. At the top of the next singletrack descent
Pauls' grumbling about the level of some peoples riding slowing him up
was followed immediately by him hitting a root and having an off, perfect
comic timing. Once I saw he was alright I set off again, I think Mark hung
around a bit to laugh. The riding after this point got easier as things
started to thin out, so at last the descents could be enjoyed at speed.
| Me, Liz, Mark D and Paul B hiding in the pack |
| (Clockwise from top left) Paul P, Paul B, Emma B, Libby, Dave and Mark riding through the woods on the first half of the route |
What followed was one of the best days in the saddle I have had. A fantastic course, perfect weather and
plenty of people to talk to. As always the Innerleithen XC loop was a blast. Not wanting to crash out though I
didn't attempt the doubles at the bottom of Caddon Bank but the drops were still taken at speed and all the
plenty of people to talk to. As always the Innerleithen XC loop was a blast. Not wanting to crash out though I
didn't attempt the doubles at the bottom of Caddon Bank but the drops were still taken at speed and all the
more fun for doing them on my hardtail. There was a bit of a hiccup just
over halfway as I went straight on at the rock gardens and missed the
arrow pointing right for the descent to the bottom feed station. Doubt
did creep into my mind until I passed another rider on that stretch fixing
a puncture. This returned when I met another rider returning along the
track with news of no arrow at the next junction. Retracing our steps we
met up with an number of other groups who had also missed the same
turning. As we were most of the way along we decided to hook up with
the climb to Caddon Bank and ride it in the reverse direction back to the
feed station, thankfully it was used twice so I knew where it was. Later I
found this had cost me around 1/2hr. After our group informed one of
the marshals about the problem I refueled and refilled my Camelback
ready for the final big climb. Being firetrack it wasn't technical but it was
long and constant and HURT, that'll be the endurance bit then. I did
manage to laugh at myself at the final feed station. If I had studied the
route map more closely I wouldn't have refilled my Camelback at the
bottom of the climb and unnecessarily dragged and extra couple of kilos
up the hill. At this point I got my second wind, I was on the homeward leg
with no more large climbs before the long descent to the finish. I got
time to take in a great view across the hills to the north on this section,
just another great reason to be out there. In no time at all I found myself
flying down some fantastic singletrack. Then I spotted trouble, a
photographer, they always seem to be good at finding the tricky bits to
get the best shots. True to form just next to him was a deep puddle.
What the hell, I decided to try and make it look good by hitting the puddle
over halfway as I went straight on at the rock gardens and missed the
arrow pointing right for the descent to the bottom feed station. Doubt
did creep into my mind until I passed another rider on that stretch fixing
a puncture. This returned when I met another rider returning along the
track with news of no arrow at the next junction. Retracing our steps we
met up with an number of other groups who had also missed the same
turning. As we were most of the way along we decided to hook up with
the climb to Caddon Bank and ride it in the reverse direction back to the
feed station, thankfully it was used twice so I knew where it was. Later I
found this had cost me around 1/2hr. After our group informed one of
the marshals about the problem I refueled and refilled my Camelback
ready for the final big climb. Being firetrack it wasn't technical but it was
long and constant and HURT, that'll be the endurance bit then. I did
manage to laugh at myself at the final feed station. If I had studied the
route map more closely I wouldn't have refilled my Camelback at the
bottom of the climb and unnecessarily dragged and extra couple of kilos
up the hill. At this point I got my second wind, I was on the homeward leg
with no more large climbs before the long descent to the finish. I got
time to take in a great view across the hills to the north on this section,
just another great reason to be out there. In no time at all I found myself
flying down some fantastic singletrack. Then I spotted trouble, a
photographer, they always seem to be good at finding the tricky bits to
get the best shots. True to form just next to him was a deep puddle.
What the hell, I decided to try and make it look good by hitting the puddle
| Paul P (above) and Mark (below) at the bottom of Caddon Bank |
| Paul P, always one for a clean bike, avoids the water |
| Camera shy Mark |
at speed. A big splash later I
emerged safely on the other side.
The boggyness lasted for a little
while longer during which I came
across another puddle, muddier
this time though. Erring on the
side of caution I went for my
brakes only to find the previous
water splash had left me with
emerged safely on the other side.
The boggyness lasted for a little
while longer during which I came
across another puddle, muddier
this time though. Erring on the
side of caution I went for my
brakes only to find the previous
water splash had left me with
| Me, Liz and Emma B riding through the water splash |
| (below) Paul P, Mark and Me crossing the finish line |
| Libby loving every minute |
nothing. With no real reduction in velocity I
was forced into a quick choice so I went for
the puddle again. On hitting the puddle my
front wheel disappeared, the bike stopped
instantly and I was ejected head first into the
mud, completely covering me in goo from
head to foot on one side in the process.
After picking myself up and checking my
helmet I jumped back on my bike and, not
wanting to loose any more time, got going.
The final part of the descent brought me out
onto tarmac not far from the end where I
crossed the line in 5hr29min and picked up a
spot prize for being very dirty. After the
questions of why I was so late and where all
the mud came from it was time for a well
deserved shower then some food while
waiting for the rest to come home. The last
of us to return was Libby but she also had the
biggest smile having just completed the full
85km for the first time and, as she happily
pointed out, not last by an hour. I did Ruthin
last year so I already know Selkirk was the
best Merida of the year and I'll definitely be
back for the next one. Thanks to all those
involved in putting this event on, I must also
was forced into a quick choice so I went for
the puddle again. On hitting the puddle my
front wheel disappeared, the bike stopped
instantly and I was ejected head first into the
mud, completely covering me in goo from
head to foot on one side in the process.
After picking myself up and checking my
helmet I jumped back on my bike and, not
wanting to loose any more time, got going.
The final part of the descent brought me out
onto tarmac not far from the end where I
crossed the line in 5hr29min and picked up a
spot prize for being very dirty. After the
questions of why I was so late and where all
the mud came from it was time for a well
deserved shower then some food while
waiting for the rest to come home. The last
of us to return was Libby but she also had the
biggest smile having just completed the full
85km for the first time and, as she happily
pointed out, not last by an hour. I did Ruthin
last year so I already know Selkirk was the
best Merida of the year and I'll definitely be
back for the next one. Thanks to all those
involved in putting this event on, I must also
say thanks to
Bikemagic &
All Event Photos for
supplying most of
the in ride shots.
Bikemagic &
All Event Photos for
supplying most of
the in ride shots.
| A very muddy but happy me |
Although the weather report and said things would improve me, Sabine and Paul B were still feeling a bit
apprehensive as we drove from the Yorkshire Dales to Selkirk in constant heavy rain. Thankfully the nearer
we got the lighter the rain became and when we finally arrived it was dry and stayed that way. That's not to
say it wasn't cold and cloudy. During putting my tent up everyone else turned up, the highlight of which was
Mark D & Co who left Chester in blazing sunshine in short and T-shirts. Arriving in the cold Mark had no
fleece which led to an on going theme for the evening of how it was summer and it shouldn't be this chilly.
Well, that and how long it took me to put up my fast erect tent, having started first and finished last . Once
the tents were finally up it was time to sign up, have some pasta then find the bar. The rest of the night was
spent quite happily drinking beer, talking and listening to a medley of 60's classics strummed to an empty
apprehensive as we drove from the Yorkshire Dales to Selkirk in constant heavy rain. Thankfully the nearer
we got the lighter the rain became and when we finally arrived it was dry and stayed that way. That's not to
say it wasn't cold and cloudy. During putting my tent up everyone else turned up, the highlight of which was
Mark D & Co who left Chester in blazing sunshine in short and T-shirts. Arriving in the cold Mark had no
fleece which led to an on going theme for the evening of how it was summer and it shouldn't be this chilly.
Well, that and how long it took me to put up my fast erect tent, having started first and finished last . Once
the tents were finally up it was time to sign up, have some pasta then find the bar. The rest of the night was
spent quite happily drinking beer, talking and listening to a medley of 60's classics strummed to an empty
Paul B (above) and Dave (below) in
the muddy water
the muddy water