Any news?

The winning time was amazing given the terrain!
How rough was the off roads sections?

I hurt.

That's not really news but is about all I've got in me to write just now.

Will put together a full trip-report when I'm home and feeling human again (driving yesterday had to be done on one cheek as my sores are very impressive indeed)!

Here's a shot taken near the start before I became a broken, shattered husk of my former self:

vaguely exciting stuff can't wait and well done

Congrats Gairy

Well done Gairy. Surprised you rode a fat bike... Right choice?

Here's a shot taken near the start before I became a broken, shattered husk of my former self:

Arse again?

Well done, I have much admiration for your quest to make life as difficult as possible

Here's a shot ... before I became a broken, shattered husk of my former self

Well done fella
Welcome to the world of bikepack racing

Well done Gairy.

Well done Gairy, nice to see your back to fitness .

Congratulations on your finish Gairy. Seen a few pics from the girlies, Rickie and Gaby who seemed to be flying. As usual. Also Fran who finished yesterday. Looked lovely out there.

Thanks all, appreciated!

But.....there are a bunch of other forum members (all of them who rode actually) who also finished and who did so much faster than me!

Giacomo (gsm7), Chris (Purty) and Ian, 'Alpkit Dude' (sorry mate, totally forgot your name) and others.

I'm back home now and have examined myself and I appear to be in mostly working order with only minor damage and swelling but I think I'll stay off the bike for a week or so to let things deflate and heal.

Re: the fatbike choice.....

I can honestly say that I don't think I could have chosen a better fatbike to do it on.

Having said that.....a granny ring wouldn't have gone amiss and overall the whole thing would've been a crap-load easier on my 29er without a doubt!

I know some of the others ('fast folk') pretty much tootled leisurely around but I gave it everything I had (and then some) and really feel like I got a feel for what it's like to give everything and more for longer than I thought possible in a race now.

Lessons learned, issues resolved (and some only just realised) and coping tactics developed - very educational.

Ok, I'm waffling and need to go sleep.

Many more photos and report to come....

Part 1 of the trip-report now up on in the 'Your trips and adventures' section.

Enjoy.....