Updated: Oct 25
When I for saw the route for the Struggle Borderlands last year it ticked all the boxes. Solid distance, stunning location and absolutely packed with box office climbs. Tan Hill, Lamps Moss, Buttertubs, Fleets Moss, Kidstones and Greets Moss are all epic roads, in fact the only true Dales greats missing are probably the Coal Road (AKA Garsdale head) and Park Rash making it one hell of a day on two wheels.
Unable to ride in 2023 I pencilled it in for the end of 2024, with emphasis on the pencil. Depending on how much energy I had left after the summer, what other plans I had and of course life getting in the way I never committed but it was always there on the horizon, one last big hit out before hill climb season started.
It was in fact just five days before the start that I finally changed pencil to pen, (a real pain on the ass for event organisers who want numbers up front so they can plan). It was a message from Matt at Struggle HQ that convinced me, that and the improving weather forecast so I got up at 5 am on the day, jumped in the car and headed north.
I didn’t feel great but didn’t feel terrible, signed on, attached my number and with very little faff hit the road. It was evident right away that this would be a solo ride, just me against the course. I departed with a small group but as I pressed on they all promptly disappeared. First up is Tan Hill, the legendary Tan Hill, home to the highest Pub in England, and it’s famous, almost permanent headwind. It was bright down below but as elevation was gained the brightness faded as the wind increased then came rain and by the top you could only just see your hand in front of your face. It was the classic Tan Hill experience I’d have felt cheated without it! As other riders were stopped all around me at the Inn I was not going to hang around in the cold so dropped right over the other side. It’s far from a clear cut decent though as you undulate across the moor before eventually descending into Kirkby Stephen and at last getting a break for the damn wind.
I romped onto Nateby, turned left and now it’s time to climb to Lamps Moss. It’s hard to forget the final part of this huge climb as you see it etched into the hillside ahead but I had forgotten about how much climbing was needed to reach it. The wind was on my back though and I twiddled my small gear up, conscious that it was still very early days on a long ride.
Looking at last year’s times the record for the course had been set at a very impressive 5:35 so I thought six and a half hours would be an ambitious but attainable target. However on previous sportives I’ve often had help from groups of riders on the flatter parts and not been stuck out alone and with the wind as strong as it was this six and a half hours was going to be a tough call.
Up next was the glorious Buttertubs Pass but the conditions were as bad if not worse than those on Tan hill with its far steeper slopes forcing many riders to dismount and push their bikes against the ferocious wind before remounting and heading to Hawes for the first feed. Once in the shelter of the valley you’d have had no idea what was going on up top, it was a totally different climate altogether. I refilled my two bottles and grabbed a couple of gels and a Veloforte bar. I spied the mini cans of Coke, a signature of Struggle feed stops but I said no, not this time, that would be my reward when I stopped for a second feed.
This next section, the mid part of the ride from Hawes to Sedbergh and back was the flattest, but of course not flat and yes back into the bloody headwind. I got my head down and passing just one other rider after the quite busy scenes on the early climbs I buried myself battling into the wind. The relief at the turn was palatable as now with the wind on my back I could make the return through Dent Dale with far less energy. About half way back I spied anther rider coming my way and instantly recognised him as someone I follow on Instagram, Ian Cruise. “Where you going?” I cried. “I don’t have the route up on my computer and just convinced myself I was going the wrong way”. I assured him he now was in fact going the wrong way and he should turn round and we rode together back to Hawes. He had strong legs and dropped me fair and square up the final climb out of the valley so I made a tactical decision to drop him at the feed stop after downing my much needed mini coke and heading off to suffer up Fleet Moss alone.
I had been pressing on all day and by now my legs were aching a bit and I wasn’t sure I’d make Fleet Moss without cramping but I just about did, not before being passed at speed by another rider who was making very light work of the day. Crossing this giant climb, a true 10/10 marked the end, or so I imagined of the real suffering as all that lay between me and the finish was Kidstones Pass and Greets Moss, neither of which have truly hideous gradients.
What I hadn’t bargained for was a complete and utter BONK. I managed Kidstones just fine, I was hungry though and finding my last bar, shoved it in and pushed it a bit on the flat road to Redmire. As soon as I hit the slopes of Greets though the lights went out. I was telling myself it was just a couple of miles but I was seeing stars, I was crawling and to make matters worse Matt, Mr Struggle himself was at the top to witness my capitulation. With a small chuckle he gave me a bit of a push over the last steep bit but I needed more than a push, I needed a motor. Even with a healthy tailwind and only very shallow gradient I had nothing and it goes on and on and on before finally dipping down to the finish back at the fantastic Dales Bike centre in Reeth. I crossed the line and just slumped over my bike. Some would say it was paced to perfection, I think I got it about 5 miles wrong and just didn’t eat enough with is usually my downfall.
I stopped the clock at 6.57, a way off my hypothetical target but still just enough for the 4th best time on the day and a gold standard. Greeted by Victoria Struggle who hung my ‘medal’ around my neck I was a mess but after a bottle of Cold bath alcohol-free pale ale and some salt and vinegar crisps I was on the road to recovery.
What a route, what an event. Well marked, great feed station with top notch Maurten gels and Veloforte bars together with a brilliant pre and post atmosphere. Yes you can come ride the roads any time but I always say these big rides are much better when part of an event, when you share your experience with others, even if you don’t share the pace, it drives you on all the more and I’ll certainly be back, I just hope the wind is a little calmer next time.
Thanks Matt , Vic and everyone at Struggle for having me.
Simon
