The game

Here we ago again, one year on and its time for another beautiful madcap challenge across southern Scotland linking the 7 stanes in a bizarre relay event lasting 24 hours. Word of our exploits from last year, courtesy of Singletrack magazine, websites and my constant story telling meant that 7 teams of 4 riders rolled up to the start at Glentrool. Preparation had improved on last year with marshal's at each check point and this time the batons were works of art, with leather handles, a neat badge and a diameter of 1 1/8 inch to allow teams to have a spacer placed on it at each check point. The rules of the game;

Start at Glentrool at 11am, ride the orange route, pass your baton to a marshal, get a spacer ring added, pass said baton to team mate who rides the road section to the next 7 Stane, rider then passes baton to marshal who adds a ring, then passes to a team mate who takes off with baton to ride red route, repeat process to Glentress which totals about 260 miles all in. That counts for the 7 bit, the 24 bit means that you have to do it all within 24 hours, everyone follow?

The 7 Stanes boast the finest mountain biking in the UK, the roads in between some of the finest and loneliest scenery, who can resist this game?

Support your local gunslingers

Simon, my long haired loon had a pulled a blinder with organising the event, sadly it meant he couldn’t ride which meant that I stepped into the Stewartry Wheelers team with the goal of riding all road stages, 176 miles in total, it sounded fun at the time. Supporting the yellow and blacks was Angus, our 13 year old 'wunderkid', who, other than making me feel very old, is technically a genius cross country. Liam, our 16 year old XC racer, who other than making me feel very uncool, can roll off the slab at Dalbeattie whilst combing his hair. Kenny, age and cool factor unknown, the steady voice of reason, specifically riding Newcastleton's night stage and keeping me company on some of the road sections.

They're aff!

The first 3 miles is on tarmac, some teams used time trial bikes intending to pass the baton at Bruce's Stone. Not us, Liam casually powers his mountain bike away and leads the group into the first bend. I was taking over at Kirroughtree so don’t know what really happened out in the woods, given that Liam crashed and got slight concussion, its possible we may never know. The route between Glentrool and Kirroughtree is twisted, rocks and roots grab at wheels, rocky drop off's exceed 90 degrees and somewhere in there Liam crashes. At the time I didn't know this so I don’t feel too bad about cursing him as I waited for the handover, 'tutting' whilst the other riders screeched in, pulled the obligatory skid and handed the baton to their road rider. After about 45 minute's wait, a bloodied Liam pulled up, mumbled something about failed brakes and handed me the baton. The next 37 miles were on tarmac over to Dalbeattie and I flung myself along, my heart rate monitor showed an average rate of 87% as I cursed the folly of mountainbikes with stupid disc brakes.

In between gulps of air I managed to swear out loud that 'we've managed over a 100 years without disc brakes and you won't see them in the Tour De France'. I really should get that frustrated more often in races as by the time I pulled into Dalbeattie and handed the baton to Angus we were only 16 minutes behind the leaders. The atmosphere at Dalbeattie was laid back with all teams and their supporters mingling around. I caught up with Gareth Montgomery, looking disgustingly tanned from the Commonwealth games and world cup races, I'm hoping to ride the 3 peaks later this year and Gareth needed little persuasion to enter as well. Last year Gareth partly rode the inaugural 7/24 event with me, this year however he's a supporter, his coach warned him to rest up and not ride. Upon learning that Liam had regrettably pulled out after his crash I tried to pull a ringer and take Gareth on as a sub. Simon's interpretation of the rules decreed this as unsporting, a shame really, if we had Gareth, we would have finished early enough to catch last orders at Peebles. Whilst I was gossiping, eating power bars and avoiding midges, Angus was bouncing around Dalbeattie. The route terrifies me, the granite slabs and technical descents mean it's physically impossible for me to ride it without crashing at least a dozen times. Angus however, despite being only 13, swoops out of the forest and has lost only about 5 minutes to the big bad grown ups, see what I mean about a 'wunderkid'?

Slow down dammit

The baton is slipped into my jersey pocket, I clip into the colnago and haul along the coast road to Mabie. Still convinced that we have a chance I go into timetrial mode. My heart rate floats at 90%, I fly up the climbs, tuck low on the downhills and push a big gear. The team car pulled alongside and I receive a loud cheer as I pull back more time on the leaders. What they should have said of course was, "hey dumbass, slow down, you have over 120 miles into the uplands still to do". Dougie, the marshal at Dalbeattie and a man who knows a bit about racing, had observed I was in the groove, legs effortlessly spinning the pedals, 53 x12 along the coast, no time to take in the views of the lake district, when you have form like this, it seems a shame to waste it.

Into Mabie and the baton is passed to Kenny who scoots off onto the red route. I know the Mabie course very well, it offers spectacular views of Dumfries and the Solway coast as well as exhilarating twisting downhills and fast singletrack, nothing too technical. Whilst Kenny was enjoying himself, I took time out to refuel and chat to the Galloway mountain rescue team. Munching a chilli pasty washed down with Dr Pepper, I learn that the boys recycle their body bags, which on reflection made sense, I also learn that they have one in the van "just in case".

Alison, our marshal at Mabie informs me that the top 3 teams all arrived within a few minutes of each other. It seems that we have a real race on between the uber organised 'Upstart solutions', 'Insomniacs' and 'Males on wheels'. The other teams however start to brew up and focus simply on finishing within the time limit. We hold 4th place and my team pep talk of making the podium is received with rolling eyes. 30 minutes after the others have left Kenny drops in, hands me the baton and after a kiss from the very pretty Mabie marshal I roll out towards Ae. There's a little bit of London everywhere The route takes us through Dumfries which just as it did last year inconsiderately holds its 'Guid Neichbours' carnival, whichever translation you use it means crowds, drunks and congestion. I arrive around 6pm, just as the parade finishes and I go old skool riding as I would when I lived in London. Millimetres from the curb on my left, micrometer's from cars on my right as I slip and twist through traffic jams. Following the route that was meant to avoid the crowds I find my road ahead closed and manned by the police. They stop me and say they were unaware there was a race on and the other riders have also been stopped, without thinking I ask how far behind I am. Maybe it was the Stewartry Wheelers jersey, more likely they thought I was part of the carnival but they let me through warning me to take my own chances. Soon I join the Caledonian cycleway and roll towards Ae.

More midges than you can wave a pump at

Scotland holds 98.2% of the world's midge population, of this share, 50% reside in Ae forest. Last year, Ae had not joined the 7 Stanes so I simply rode on to Newcastleton, this year I pass the baton to Angus who disappears into the forest determined to bunny hop his way into 3rd place. Kenny had suggested that Angus ride Ae as he was more technically adept, this was endorsed by Angus who describes this as his favourite course. In fact, everyone who has ridden it describes it as their favourite, I may even ride it one day. Hanging around at Ae was pleasant, gas stoves and bbq's were out in force as people cooked evening meals whilst waiting for their team mates to decide they have had enough fun and come out of Ae. After a while, with my forehead growing to Herman Munster proportions thanks to the midges, the lead rider comes into view, downhill out of the trees, over a crazy piece of northshore and back to the Marshal. It's not an Upstart solutions rider and it seems the team has relinquished the lead to the Insomniacs. Males on Wheels rider flies in at 3rd place, I note the time is now 8.55pm and saddle up with Kenny, we expect Angus at any time now. We roll restlessly up and down at the entrance waiting for our boy to show. After 30 minutes I start to get concerned, another 40 minutes I'm worried, worried that we have let a youngster out there in the fading light on his own. After 10pm Angus rides up, he has walked two miles with a puncture, relieved, I tell him off all the same.

The Hot Trod

A history lesson for you. Up to 500 years ago the Anglo -Scottish frontier, from Galloway to Northumbria was a violent, lawless place populated by 'Border Reivers' who constantly raided each other, burning homes and stealing cattle. It did have some laws mind you, including that of the 'Hot Trod', the right to take up pursuit against raiders, a hallowed process which enshrined the right to chase raiders across the frontier. 500 years on, Kenny and I take up our own Hot Trod. Out of Ae we fall into line and set off at a fierce pace, single file, heads down at speed, a yellow and black blur. Let me tell you my friend, we made a damm fine sight. Into the dusk we switch our lights on and continue our pursuit of the riders in front. Coming into Lockerbie, Kenny takes a long turn at the front providing me with shelter from the headwind and then pulls over to be picked up by the team car as I continue on alone.

Even at night I can see the shadows of the Dumfriesshire hills rising up around me, the rolling hills proving a challenge now and my pace starts to slacken as I head towards Langholm and an old friend.

I can fly

If you read last years report you will know what I'm talking about. The climb out of Langholm nearly killed me, seriously, I wrote the phrase "in the southern uplands at 1.30am I ran out of talent". I had unfinished business this year, after riding the Fred Whitton Challenge in May I was ready. Swinging out of Langholm I came to bottom of the black wall, I gave my drink bottle to Simon, telling them to meet me at the summit with a fresh one. Slipped into bottom gear and started the steady climb up its steep pitch, 110 miles already in my legs.

And that was all he wrote, yes it was long and steep but I climbed it comfortably enough, my laboured breathing may have scared a few sheep but no bloody worries mate! At the summit I pick up a fresh bottle, reassure Simon that I'm ok and tell them to carry on to Newcastleton and get Kenny ready for the handover, the 9 miles left over the moors will be ok on my own. Riding on I pass the sign saying 'welcome to the borders', at the same point last year I wanted to die I was so tired, right now I'm having the time of my life, I've given up on 3rd place and I'm just enjoying the adventure.

The sky to my right lights up with a flash, a minute later another flash lights up the moor and I feel moisture in the air, I quicken the pace, fly down the road taking into the valley and arrive at Newcastleton just as the rain starts. Nae luck Kenny!.

Dawn chorus

As Kenny departs to feel his way around Newcastleton I learn that the two lead teams have already left, having ridden Newcastleton at night faster than most can do in broad daylight. After changing into a fresh jersey, I sip coffee to stay awake and wait for Kenny to return whilst Angus snores in the back. I have no idea what Newcastleton is like to ride, no idea what kind of track it has, what views or challenges it offers. I do know however, that if you ride it at 1am in the morning when you should be fast asleep you qualify for madman of the year. The rain starts to fall, its early Sunday morning, I've done a 120 miles already and I want to go to bed. I explain all this to the marshal as I pick up my bike, take the baton from Kenny and roll out into the darkness.

Coming out I pass the rider from the Robertson Gemini team riding in, followed by his team van. I call encouragement as I pass, those guys rock, they rode the first 7/24 with us last year and are part of the mystique.

Only 55 miles to go and I start off at a rapid clip trying to remember exactly how many watersheds Simon said were between the finish and me. I think he said 5, but what exactly does he mean by watersheds and how hard can they be? Steep up, steep down and very is the answer. Hard to go up because they are long continuous climbs with no respite for tired legs, steep downhills which are dangerous in the dark with wet roads and tired eyes. I climb out of the saddle a lot now, its easier on the legs which feel very heavy, I'm paying for riding like rocketman earlier on. Slowly the darkness lifts and I am rewarded with a stunning view of Alemoor Reservoir at dawn and I start a series of long flowing descents down beautiful valley roads, despite the fatigue I am wowed by the stillness, the calling of a skylark and grace of the high hills above me. I flip my lights off, sit up and force down a power gel for breakfast. Simon stops to take a picture of me as I descend towards Tweedale, he notices now that I have stopped pedalling on the descents and Kenny offers to take over.

With only 10 miles to Glentress, I'm dammed if I give it up now so Kenny joins me, the company helps me pick up the pace and I cheer loudly when I see a sign saying Glentress 1 mile, thank my fairy godmother that’s over. I hand my baton to the marshal who has been waiting patiently since about 3am for riders and Kenny and Angus head off together to complete Glentress and beat 20 hours.

Time gentlemen, please!

After showering and changing I examine the result board, Insomniacs has finished first, with an excellent 17 hours and 44 minutes, Upstart solutions took a fine 2nd place and Males on Wheels take a well deserved 3rd, we are on route for 4th but Robertson Gemini and Galloway Mountain rescue are still out there somewhere pushing gamely on.

My teammates finally come back and we record 19 hours 58 minutes, over an hour faster than last year despite including Ae forest and mechanical mishaps. We hang around for the other teams to come in, you do this, and you deserve a cheer and then take advantage of the bacon rolls at the Hub Café who very kindly opened early for us. All teams make it under 24 hours to pick up their badge and certificate.

Next year

Typing this the day after, my legs feel bruised and sore from the effort and I've been sleeping like a baby, despite the sub 20 hour time, it was hard, excellent fun but still hard. We hope that next year more teams will take part, perhaps a female team will take on males on wheels, whoever rides, I intend to make sure Simon is one of them. He selflessly gave up the chance to ride to organise an event for others to enjoy, he really wants to ride it so I'm giving him my place next year, after two years of riding, I'm happy to drive it next time.

Andrew