A quick heads up for anyone with a sideline in mountain biking, hats
off to North East-based brand Montane for sponsoring the
UK's 100-mile, single-lap
mountain bike race, the Montane
Kielder 100.
This is a map of the
route, unfortunately you can't see it, but there's a full copy
available for perusal at
both Newcastleton and Kielder.
It's the first time a 100-mile mountain bike race has been run outside
the USA and it sounds like a serious proposition. The entire course
contains just a single road crossing in its mix of fire roads, grass
track and includes, the organisers say, 'a surprising amount of
challenging, technical singletrack'.
The event starts at Kielder in Northumberland and uses some of the
trails there before heading up across the border into Scotland and
dipping into Newcastleton Forest for more technical singletrack and
then heads back to the start point. The race starts at 6.30
am on Saturday 5, September with the leading riders expected to finish
back at Kielder by around 2.30pm.
There's a map of the course on display in Newcastleton village centre
and, we believe, in Kielder village, but exact details of total ascent
and the exact composition of the course remain sketchy bar
the 100-mile length. Apparently a PDF would be unreadable and as yet,
there's no GPX file available.
The good news, if you're feeling frisky and fast on a bike, or just
steady, is that you still have until 6pm on this Friday 28 August to
get your entry in. Entry fee is £50 per person and includes
race entry, energy drink, water, snacks, one hot food station, a goody
bag, event tee-shirt, water bottle and race momento.
And if you are doing it, we'll see you there. Full information and link
to the online entry facility at
www.kielder100.co.uk
