ATLAS MOUNTAIN RACE 2024 – the full report.

I hurt.

That hurt.

Not my muscles, not my sinews or joints. No blisters, no bruises. Maybe a little saddle sore, but nothing to really complain about. No sleep deprivation just slightly chapped lips and slightly sunburnt on one side.

My pain is deeper. Its my pride and my heart, its knowing that I physically could have pedalled to the finish.

My pain is that I don’t here write with tales of glory and determination, endurance or pushing my body to the limit.

My pain is that I failed to reach the finish again … the second time in two years.

Photo and Feature Photo: Osprey Imagery

 

But as I reflect, I pick out the positives, I do pick out my pride and I do rejoice my own personal achievement – and I didn’t just surpass my previous distance into this incredible route .. I smashed it …. I rode 534 km (332 miles) further than last time, I climbed over 7473 m (24518 ft) higher and I lasted 5 more days.

I made 787 km in all.  – 489 miles.

So why feel down, why feel disappointed ?

Well the reason I had to scratch from the 2024 Atlas Mountain Race was that I ran out of time by being ill on three of the first 4 nights – I just lost so much time not going forward.

There were other factors too, not an excuse, but certainly added to the anxiety.

On the Thursday we built up our bikes and visited the centre of Marracesh to get a local Simm Card and change some Dirhams  …. we actually got lost but Ramon (one of the other Riders) saw us and took us to a great place for lunch.  The Lamb was fantastic.

Afterwards I went to meet my friends at Khalios Coffee one of the numerous and brilliant Car or Van based Coffee vendors by the roadside.  Great lads. So friendly and such good coffee.  They got a Rapid Rich sticker for their Van too !

 

But one of the best parts of the Trip was my Moroccan friend Taoufik (one of last years finishers who I rode out to welcome in) who I arranged to meet and he suprised me by bringing along his Wife and his beautiful new born son Yazid  !!

On the Friday its time for Registration, Bike Check and fitting Trackers, but from early in the morning it started to rain, and rain and rain.

It was so bad we were suddenly advised of a delayed start.

The 24 hour delayed start due to torrential rain which was causing dangerous, if not life threatening, flash floods in the dry River beds we would cross during the first climb over the Mountains and decent to CP 1 in Telouet was such cause for concern that the Government, without warning or contact with the organiser, stopped the Start of the Race just 3 hours before we were due to roll out.

There was massive uncertainty and a lack of communication to when the Race would actually be allowed to begin. This really put a lot of anxiety into me. When we should have been Riding for 23 and a half hours we still had heard nothing.

We were lucky that we were staying at the Riad Dar Dalia hosted by the delightful Andre and Hind who were so understanding.

   

We had however been told that if it was a 24 hour delay only the Check Point closures and Race end times would be moved backward, but the finishers party, the Bus and Bike transport back to Marrakesh from Essaouira would remain at their original timings.

For the ‘fast Riders’ this is not really an issue, but for a Rider such as myself whose whole plan of logistics had worked around starting the previous day, this put a real mental worry and additional strain on me.
Eventually, 23 hours 40 minutes after the original Start Time, we were called to the front of the Hotel for a ‘Special Announcement’.

With the sun now out and being a glorious day, we expected the Race to go ahead, but instead we were told the Authorities had decided they would hold us in abeyance and limbo indefinitely.

The organiser had approx. 230 Riders assembled in front of him, most who had only had their Cycling kit available for the last 24 hours as their ‘Bags and Belongings’ had already departed to Essaouira the previous day.

There was frustration, anger and stress written into the young organiser’s face, but his cautious, carefully selected words were greeted with a huge cheer.

To paraphrase: The Race WAS cancelled … BUT, he could not stop any of us setting off at 6.00 pm on our own individual leisure Ride on the route that happened to follow the AMR.

He also pointed out that although it was definitely NOT a Race, or the Race we had entered, there were a number of Volunteers who would still be manning exactly the same Check Points along the way.

Unofficial … but away we went.

                                 

As we set off in a huge Peloton (not under the previously arranged Police protection) out of Marrakech, we were re-routed along the two alternative and previously proposed amended routes missing out the horrendous 2650m off road climb over the pass to Zerkten and the infamous Old Mule Path down to Telouet and CP1.

We may have been protected from the dangerous landslides or flash flooding streams, but we still had the Mountain to cross and the detour added approx. 33 km (21 miles) to the route and only about 192 m (625 ft) less climbing.

After a good start on the road, a new un planned detour was forced upon this ‘bandit Race’ and the organisers did their best to point us in the right direction.

Riding in the dark, with no way of navigating other than hoping the rear lights of the Rider ahead were travelling in the right direction was not good.

I was flying, possibly too much. I ensured I felt safe by bridging to the next Rider on this unchartered section, but as I reached the next rider, I felt they were slower than my pace and bridged again to the next, like blind stepping stones into the night.

This was possibly my first error and I simply think I rode way too hard.

It was nice to meet Alan Shaw and be interviewed for the AMR Podcast at a Petrol Station on the way to Zerkten where I stopped for a Coffee.

Back on track (well to the amended route) I took on food at Zerkten and decided to stick to my original intended Sleep plan for the first night. Unfortunately, I had planned to sleep on the quiet virtually unused track of the original route up to the highest Mountain pass, but instead, and with the additional 40km, I pitched in a dank cold area over an ARMCO barrier next to a busy main road.

With the altitude, the stress, the extra 2 hours it had taken, the cold and the condensation I had an awful 4-hour kip. I awoke miserable, in the dark not feeling at all positive, even though this was similar to my original plan.

The amended ‘Road Route’ that we followed should on paper have been much easier than the original – by far – but the brutal, and I mean BRUTAL headwind with the hot rising sun put pay to any advantage and this section to CP 1 drained me of every ounce of energy I had.

I actually arrived at CP 1 a full 4 hours faster than the previous year, but I was so tired, I not only needed food but also took a 40 min nap and with food this took 90 mins. Already the delays were starting to accumulate ….

Moving on from CP1 the wind was still brutal, but with a change of wind direction, soon up on the plateau after Anmiter I was flying.

Everything was feeling great and suddenly I just started to really tire and felt exhausted. My aim was to eat at a place called Gite Amoudou just after Toundoute and get a couple of hours kip and then ride on …. But I could almost hardly make it, even though there was a longish Road section.

I felt terrible and even after a great reunion with my Moroccan friend who I met last year, I could hardly bear to eat. It was not even 10.00 pm

There were three other Riders at the Gite (one being Marika who features later) and they were getting up at 4.00 am. I was offered a mattress in the Restaurant (as one of the other male Riders did not seem keen to share his open room ??) and I almost scratched already – I felt ill.

I knew I needed sleep and set my alarm for 6:30 am. This was going to be another huge chunk of time lost as well as my already slow progress, and I couldn’t really afford that.

I woke and had a good breakfast and immediately the following day felt better.

This section last year I had done mainly in the dark and got slightly lost. It was great by day other than three barking dogs on top of the path at a river crossing ravine that I could not see properly as the sun was directly behind them … It was actually quite scary, but I blew my whistle and realised that although they were madly barking, they were not growling.

I arrived at Imassine at about 11:30 am so I was still about 12 hours up on last year’s disastrous attempt.

Instead of following the route right at the Imassine junction, I turned left , just half a mile no more to see my friend Amadrasse at the Restaurant where I had scratched last year.

I was so thrilled to get a massive welcome and he hugged me and kissed me …. But my only disappointment was I would have to wait 45 minutes for a Lamb or Beef Tagine which I was craving for.

There was another rider there, #83 Michael Borg, who was scratching because he had really pulled a knee ligament and I really felt for him. He couldn’t even manage to ride on the road so I watched him get on the Bus.

I shouldn’t feel sorry for him as he was eating the last Lamb Tagine!! …. But this just shows how nice people are … a week later he found me and sent me a message saying he had got home OK and had been following my journey.

From this point on was a 96km stretch that there was no re-supply at all. This daunting section was one of the reasons that I decided not to continue last year, I would simply be getting further into the wilderness and putting extra burden on the organisers and putting myself at risk.

Not far from turning onto the trail I encountered the River Crossing, and although it was only axle deep, you could see it had been much higher just 24 hours previously when the faster riders would have been passing through. I took off my shoes and socks and all I can say is that I am glad that I was not doing this in the pitch black with just a headtorch.

Moving on I was making fairly good progress and really feeling quite strong (for me), but there were some steep hard rocky hills that required a bit of pushing and also the wind got up again. The difference in terrain on this section was changing all the time and eventually I caught up with a Rider who I thought was Andy Lingham who was pushing up ahead of me. Whoever it was in the distance just waved and carried on. I pushed harder and when I eventually mounted my bike again the Rider was gone in the distance.

Maybe I started to push too hard to try and catch them, but whatever, I soon started to tire.

It was again, late afternoon and I think the heat seems at its worst. I suddenly got so tired that I had to just walk for a bit, just for a change. I needed the toilet and afterwards I had to lie down and have a 25 min power nap trying to recover, but even after that I still felt totally shocking.

Im not sure if this was heat stroke or sun stroke, but it really hit me hard.

The next part I was hoping would be a meandering gentle climb, but the unreadable terrain suddenly presented me with a difficult and steep Hike-A-Bike rising out of the valley floor.

My intention was to get over the top, still in daylight and get some descent and progress under my belt as it grew dark but the pushing killed me. Exhausted, I decided that I had to sleep properly so set up camp under a beautiful Moroccan sky which soon turned dark. It was only about 8.00 pm!

I spoke to a handful of Riders who trudged wearily past me and a cup of Yorkshire Tea on my little stove improved my spirits and I settled for a good rest.

Waking early (around 5.00 am) I saw that most of the Stars were no longer visible and feared more rain, so made myself some breakfast and set off again, still in the dark.

The little climb (push) to the top was anything but and the surface became unrideable. In the daylight feeling good it probably would have been OK, but I was feeling really ropey and riding very cautiously and badly. I was also acutely aware that I was running very low on water.

Eventually I found a dry stream on the descent, but it felt very cold and after walking along it for a short distance I found what I was looking for!… a pool of crystal-clear water.

I got my Water-to-Go filtration bottle and filled up, but you can see I wasn’t thinking straight as I had another empty one too that I just did not fill!

 

These filter bottles are a saviour, and although I did have about 750ml left, it was brilliant to know that I could safely drink the water I had scooped into my bottle.

As the sun rise appeared, even after so much sleep, I felt so tired still. I parked on a beautiful corner, watched the sun rise, had a mug of OXO and set my alarm for another 25 mins.

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon waking, I packed up and set off down an amazing 2500 ft descent down towards the road to Afra and along the bottom of the valley, some children ran over about 150m just to greet me, so they all got a sticker each.

Eventually I got to Afra and met up with Albrecht who had passed me during the night and was sleeping in a shop. I ordered coffee, omelettes and cold drinks, which is amazing as not many of their fridges worked … and then was delighted to be ‘ripped off’ for 100dhms …. I couldn’t even be bothered to argue.

The long and rough road from Afra took me to a village called Intliten just before Afella D’Nra and I needed some food.

Turning a corner there was a mobile shop van with all the food laid out on a tarpaulin, but when I stopped to look I was disappointed that it was mainly household goods, but I spotted a can of Sardines.

After buying them the shop proprietor gave me stool in the shade and also shared with me his own bread and his mint tea and some olives. These people are wonderfully generous.

Then the children came out of the school, and I was swamped…. They were brilliant and so happy to see a stranger sitting down eating and surrounded me as I gave out more stickers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I left, some local boys even raced me on their bikes.

Albrecht had just passed me and I caught him up again as he was stopping for some food as he missed the shop I had not even seen. Then I rode on to Omar’s Paradise where Albrecht caught me up again.

This ‘Paradise’ is a very narrow vertically sided ravine with difficult rocky bottom that is hard to ride that suddenly opens out at a natural ‘pool’ of spring water and Omar’s Café.

I didn’t like this man at all as he sat bellowing out orders to his female wife/ daughter / worker and sat boasting about the 7 languages he fluently spoke although virtually every one of his audience was finding it hard to understand him.

After coke and clove flavoured coffee, we set off up the steep concrete stairs (the ones Omar’s young female worker had been hauling crates of water down) and I was going to count them, but soon got bored as I was so out of breath carrying my 28kg bike.

The Top was no respite as a tarmac road section loomed ahead and it simply just kept going on and on and then joined another very major road with another long climb.

First of all, I thought I was doing OK, but after riding through ‘live roadworks’ dodging the excavators, tipper trucks and trying to protect my lungs from the dust, I eventually stopped at a tiny roadside café in the back of a Van.

The Mint Tea was fantastic, and I shouted this to Albrecht as he caught me up as I was leaving, only to get 150 m then throw up at the side of the road.

Suddenly I felt awful again, but even though I was on Tarmac, and it was not particularly steep, I could only ride about 4 mph …. I threw up again.

I found an old part of the tarmac road that had been superseded with this new pass high above the new road where no one could see me. Again, it was only about 7.00 pm but I felt so ill. Yorkshire Tea did its job ….. or so I thought until 15 mins later I was leaning out of my bivvy retching and throwing up the last of my stomach contents!!

A start in the morning before light saw me climb the last part of the climb before a fast tarmac descent to Ait Saoun where a café owner greeted me and I had a good breakfast of Eggs!! … but he did let me charge my appliances and also gave me Mint Tea, Coffee and free Soup!! … A very generous host – Chez Houssine – recommended.

After this, the day went well, rested and fuelled I turned onto the brilliant 33-mile gravel road to the main road at El Borj.

I was feeling good but riding with care and well within myself but just stopping too much, and to give you an idea, my moving riding time on this section was only about 25 mins slower than the winning female Rider. As I said, when I rode OK, I was riding OK.

Next was a long road section and if I had done more homework, or had previous experience, in hindsight it would have been prudent to whack a load of pressure in my tyres. They are really good on the road with their central line tread pattern, but running them at about 45psi instead of 20 would really have made this section easier.

This took me to a major town called Taznakht and it was a drag to get there, and I had already decided that as I was so far behind, and after being ill for the last 3 nights that a Hotel would be needed.

Well for about £9.00 I got a room. It was not brilliant, but after a brilliant Lamb Tagine (at last) and a plate full of cooked white beans and stocking up with lots of drink and yoghurt drink I had a great night’s sleep.

An early dark start saw me on the Tarmac again, and stupidly I hadn’t bothered to pump up my tyres again. This was going to be my biggest day – 97 miles

I eventually got to CP2.. The only problem was that I had lost so much time sleeping off my illness / exhaustion that it was closed.

I didn’t get my stamp and even though those that were clearing up gave me some coil Pancakes, I missed out on the Tagines that most of the earlier riders enjoyed.

After CP2 at Asserraragh there was a brilliant decent into Aguinane which is simply stunning and such an amazing vista looking down at the twisting hairpins dropping almost 1000 ft.

The day went well, but there was a lot of tarmac again later on which became monotonous especially with the headwind. Eventually, getting very fatigued, I saw some lights in the distance which never seemed to get closer, but eventually came into a little town called Inb Yacob and found a small café and room and shower for the night.

The owner gave me a bucket of hot water for my shower and a warm blanket and rug to sleep on. 10 minutes later and he would have been closed.

Another quick breakfast and I had already decided that I was so far behind the snail (as well as missing CP2 stamp anyway) and this would mean that if I carried on at this pace, I would be lucky to complete the course in 9 or even 10 days and this would effect my return travel plans as well as my logistics as my cardboard BikeBox and Bag were in Essaouira, my Computer and some clothes in Marrakech, my flight on Tuesday and my Car left parked at Andy Lingham’s near Peterborough.
Add this to the fact that I could get my bike back to Marrakech on Sunday morning on the pre-booked lorry and the Saturday night Finishers Party and paid for hotel room, it was simple common sense to make the decision to scratch at the next town.

It was not far to Tagmout and it was only Thursday. I felt great. I had recovered and was just gutted that it had gone so wrong.

Tagmout was chosen as my point to scratch as it was a fairly big town and it had a big main road running through it.

The route to Tagmout was great with the trail going through a huge wide dried-up River bed. I was really enjoying my riding and felt as if I was riding really well.

 

I had been contacted by the DotWatchers who were checking in on my plans as realistically, as I had missed CP2 I was now riding totally unsupported. I told them my plans and got to Tagmout, but the niggle in me was that I was feeling so good now.

The next section was the infamous French Old Colonial Road which is a nearly 40-mile section linking Tagmout to Issafn. This section has often been warned about to Riders as long, hot, steep and very rocky as well as several sections where the road has collapsed and you have to caryy your bike about 30 foot down and up an almost cliff face to re-join the ‘road’.

As I approached Tagmout I had already made up my mind, I had plenty of time to do this section, but just not complete the whole course, so rather than wallow in self pity, I just said, ‘Sod it, I’ll attempt the Old Colonial Road’

The worst that could happen was that I would end up bivvying out over there, so I stocked up on supplies and drink and set off again, now with a bit more purpose and knowing that Issafn also sat on another main road where I may be able to get a bus / taxi.

Well this Old Colonial Road certainly lived up to its reputation. Its Hard, its Long. Its Rough.

But I just kept plugging away and made surprisingly good progress. The only problem is that every corner you turn you hope to see a summit, but it went on and on – in fact it climbs for 18 miles from Tagmout.

Its not particularly steep (except the broken sections) but it is relentless.

As I started my descent and with the afternoon closing into early evening, I stopped for a tin of Tuna in Spicy Tomato Sauce I was carrying, when suddenly, from the loop in the road in front that had disappeared around a hill, two riders appeared in the distance travelling across my direction.

I waved and to my surprise, the furthest back Rider happened to see me and energetically waved back.

I had no idea who they were or that I was near anyone other than mentions of this in a few messages of support.

To my bigger surprise and almost laughter, the waving Rider immediately crashed and fell off!

I put my un-opened Tuna back in my bag and raced down to catch them up and see if they were OK.

To my surprise it was Marika who I had met on the second night for about 15 mins when I felt ill at Gite Amadou.

It was great to see her and she was fine, but we laughed as she said in her almost perfect English (she is Latvian) that ‘she looked up, saw my silhouette and thought it was a Cycling God’ !! … .. then crashed … .. not a bad judge of character if you ask me!! 

I rode with Marika and Veera (from Finland) and chatted for a while and they too were both out of the Event, but just enjoying more Moroccan miles.

By now I was riding so much better and my downhill skills and confidence had improved greatly (still rubbish but much better) and to take advantage of enjoyment of the rest of the 13 mile downhill section, I shot off and arranged to see them at Issafn where they too would stop.

Seeing Marika and Veera really gave me a lift and It was an awesome descent and I had done the Old Colonial Road, and even with stopping, chatting and taking videos and photos, I rode it at a really good pace.

Arriving in Issafn and enquiring about Buses and hotels, I eventually found a great cafe / restaurant who did an amazing Lamb Tagine and brilliant Salad.

                     

Shortly after my food arrived, Marika and Veera arrived and joined me and this was my turn to have secured the last Tagine!

We laughed and ate and drank soft drinks and it’s amazing how quickly you can get on with people as if you have known them for ages, simply because you have each put yourself through this ordeal and each committed to its difficulties and joys.

Soon through the Café Owner’s young son Youssef who spoke fantastic English, we were offered a room each to sleep at 40 Dirhams (about £3.75) but soon after showing us these stark empty rooms (which would have been perfect), the owner and his wife told us through Yousef that they wanted us to stay at their house for the night.

This was brilliant and the kindness and hospitality of these people is just mind blowing ….. we in the UK are too cautious, to cynical and wary of inviting people into our home …. To Moroccans, looking after guests to their beautiful country is second nature.

In the morning, we had breakfast at the Café with the Bus to Agadir coming at 9.00 am.

As we ate, the Café owner asked us if we wanted a Taxi instead and with the Taxi Driver there, we agreed a price of 150 Dirhams (about £12) to take all three of us and three bikes on the 3 ½ hour road trip to Agadir.

We sat chatting, ordering more food, coffee and orange juice and chatting as if we had all the time in the world.

Verra decided that although she would not follow the AMR route, that she would continue on Bike because her flight was not till 2nd March.

The Taxi Driver was getting a touch uppity as we ordered more Coffee and laughed, but as we went over to load the Bikes on the roof rack (as in ON the roof rack roped on) we only then realised that there were already 4 more people in the Renault Scenic Taxi who had been sat waiting for us load up for over an hour whilst we sipped coffee unknowing of their presence.

Once the Bikes were safe and protected (from each other) myself and Marika sat in the back two seats, and I can honestly say that I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed another Rider’s company so much.

We had both had a similar sort of event, but what was great is that we both seemed to share a very similar outlook on many aspects of Life, Events, Riding and how we felt during the Event and what it meant for us.

Arriving at Agadir, it was actually 150 Dirhams each, but that still isn’t bad !! and we were lucky to time it perfectly for the Bus to Essaouira – another 4 hour trip together.

At the end of our journey, we both felt the same as we rode to the finish Hotel … both happy with our journey, but totally devastated that we would not be finishers of the whole route, especially as we both felt so good.

I can honestly say that the AMR, mostly brings out the best people, and brings out the best of those people. Its an event where you do not just challenge yourself physically, but you open up your senses and drop social inhibitions and with that, life-long friends are made.

At the ‘Finishers Party’ that night at the Hotel, more friends were made, great food and although the Men’s Winners had long since departed, it was great that all 3 Women’s Podium finishers were there.
Great food, rubbish sound system and lighting and as usual with any gathering, people always talk over the speeches!!

The following day I decided to get a Riad in the Old Medina of Essaouira, not only was it cheaper, but for £29 a night I got an amazing room in an amazing building right in the heart of the town.

But before that, I got up early, packed my Bike in its Cardboard Box and sent it on the Bus back to Marrakech.

Last year I had ridden out about 25km to cheer on some of the Riders coming into the finish, but with my Bike packed and gone I could only DotWatch and wait.

There were two special people who I was so pleased that they made the finish – firstly the amazing Richard Witney from Sheffield who, he claims, that ‘I talked him into doing the event’ and I knew he would appreciate a video of him coming into the finish and some shots in front of the finish line for posterity.

He looked spent, but that didn’t stop him necking a well-deserved Beer – well done Rich. Amazing effort. Flying the Flag for Rutland CC Sheffield.

The second Rider I was looking out for is the guy I spent some time with last year, just before I scratched, – Davide Lamparelli – a loud, boisterous and funny Italian who is half Norwegian and lives in Finland a brilliant friend who was also chuffed for the reception .  Davide organises the brilliant Midnight Sun Gravel event in Finland in June.

The least I could do was be there for them at the finish, because even though this is a huge physical and mental undertaking and difficult challenge to reach the end, the actual Finish is a very low-key affair with many Riders just rolling in, exhausted and relieved, and getting their final stamp.

Im sure if I can ever finish Ill be dancing round the Hotel shouting all about it !!

But ….. there was another !

I travelled with a bloke I met on the internet (oooh err missus)… Andy Lingham.

We had not met before, but he contacted me via Instagram to ask a few bits of advice (amazingly I get a fair bit of that even though Im not really qualified) about the event and after getting to talk, I met him near Peterborough on the way down and his wife Nou took us to Stansted Airport saving us both on Parking, and she would also pick us up.

I spent the first 4 days of this trip with Andy and we got on great. He is an ex Soldier, ex Officer and an IronMan and he’s lets just say a ‘big bloke’.

If there was anyone I thought may suffer and not make the finish it was Andy.

On the Sunday morning, I got a message from his wife saying that she was coming over (err change of plan) to greet him at the end ….. this was another reason why I couldn’t get the paid Bus back to Marrakech …. We had been though a fair bit in our short time learning know each other and although Andy (by his own admission) was struggling, one thing I have learnt about him is all that is good about our Armed Forces – they are truly remarkable, determined men.

We sat, we drank beer, Mint tea, coffee, we waited, we drank mint tea, we ate out, we waited, three of us even went to a Night Club …. But we waited.

We waited and saw Andy take a couple of wrong turns or searching for food, we watched the Snail crawl its unstoppable path to the finish …… but he was still going … he would not give in!!

Andy made the finish line exactly 1 hour after the Snail …. It was an incredible achievement and his journey was epic and eventful and you should read his story on his Instagram page because otherwise I’m going to need another 10 pages !

I videoed Andy arriving, welcomed in tears by Nou and Peter Gold (another friend from last year) took the Photos .

It was an incredible achievement, arguably harder than the Winner Justinas as Andy had to suffer twice as long.

But all I know is Andy’s determination has made me want to cross that line ! … hes a great bloke and I’m so so pleased for him and his family that he got his final stamp. Andy – You are the Winner in my eyes !.

On reflection, analysis and hindsight;

I know I was ill, that’s not an excuse, it’s a fact. I know how much time I lost but I also know how well I rode, but I am under no illusion that this is an incredibly hard event to finish.

I’ve roughly added up my riding time and my sleeping time (not recorded on Strava) compared to my total time taken and over the 6 ¼ days in total – 145 hours until I finished at 7.00 pm at Issafn , I am shocked to say that out of that total time – I was sleeping / camping for 61.5 hours and resting during the Riding for 22.75 hours and only actually Riding for 58.75 hours so actual riding time I was progressing at about 8.36 mph – which for me and the conditions on a fully loaded MTBB, isn’t that bad

What is gutting, is that at that average pace (and I would have been a bit faster as I felt better) I only had about another 40 hours of riding to do.

The problem as you can see is that I just had to sleep and rest too long when I felt ill over the first 3 full days.

So, as I started this piece, nothing has changed.

I hurt.

Reading back, I probably hurt even more.

Am I jealous of Richard, Davide and Andy ?

… you bet I am. But that gives me strength, desire to finish.

Bring on AMR 2025. I ain’t letting this Event beat me !

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It was also great to meet up again with Gav from Osprey Imagery.  A great bloke and a true friend met through the AMR.

 

 

FINALLY  ….. I must say a huge huge THANK YOU to the brilliant companies who have supported me.

Their equipment was better than me … it was faultless !!

TAILFIN:  The racks and Panniers were again perfect and reliable. In fact using Tailfin means one less thing to worry about.

GOREWEAR:  The kit they gave me was simply awesome.  Smart, comfortable and functional.  This clothing is just wicked.  And I especially liked the Spinshift Cargo Bib shorts … so comfy !

WTB: Wilderness Trail Bikes build a fantastic Tyre.  I used the fairly narrow 2.1″ x 29″ NANO SG2 TCS Tubeless …… there is not a mark on them … Faultless.

I also used their Devo Saddle c/w PickUp which not only came in handy for lifting the bike, but the saddle is so comfy.  OK , after 500 miles on rough off road my backside was a little bruised and battered as you can imagine, but no saddles sores thanks to WTB and the GOREWEAR bibs.

TRUESAPIEN:  Stephen is always there supporting me and giving me motivation.

BLUE STRAWBERRY ELEPHANT:  What a Website and thanks for the support – thank you Marc and Charlotte 🙂

WATER-to-GO:  For supplying me last minute wirth the brilliant  Active ‘Filter Water Bottles’ which allowed me to replenish my water from Rivers with no worry of illness.

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I do need to thank also:

Quadlock:  For my sturdy, solid phone mount.

Bespoke Wheels: A strong, reliable Wheel Build and great service and advice

Vanguard Cycles and NZERO Organic Lubricants:   Brilliant chain lube

Sigma Sports:   For again helping me out after the second time I lost my ‘rare’ GOREWEAR ShakeDry 1985 favourite Jacket.

Cane Creek Cycling Components and Extra UK:  for sorting me out with great fast service with my EEsilk+ Suspension Seat Post

Sinewave Cycles: for a brilliant  dynamo light with built in charger.