Another Dales Divide in the books and yeah, it was a belter as always! The route? Mega. Classic mix of tough climbs, beautiful moorland, and those relentless off-road sections that make you question all your life choices… but in the best way.
The lead up to the event wasn’t the smoothest, I ended up racing on a borrowed Scott Addict Gravel Tuned. To prepare the bike for the 600km route I fitted the biggest tyres I could a 50mm up front and 45mm on the back. Honestly, I reckon tyre pressure was the secret sauce for this ride. Took a bit of trial and error, but I think I landed in the sweet spot. The bike held its own, though I won’t lie, keeping up with riders on mountain bikes on the rough downhills was spicy! Still, the setup felt surprisingly good overall.
As for the sleeping situation, yep I was one of those people who actually slept. Some riders just kept pushing through, barely catching a nap (absolute machines), but I went full bivvy mode. It was either sleep out in the open or try to find a bit of shelter to take the edge off the chill. Managed to score two solid spots (not telling you where, sorry not sorry 🤦♂️). Those few hours of kip made a world of difference, especially when I started passing riders during the day who looked like they’d been in a bar fight with a badger.
The finish? Glorious. Sunshine, that sweet sense of accomplishment, and a cold beer that tasted like nectar of the gods.
Next year? I’ll look at full suspension options because right now I can only feel about two fingers on each hand. Gravel bikes are fun and all… but those MTB lads might be onto something.
Massive thanks to the organisers for putting on this brutal race and even more so for raising over £20,000 for charity from entry donations.
Until next time, Dales Divide. You beautiful, brutal beast.
Cheers,
Kev 🍻
