Gbduro21 day 10.0

For those riders left in GC, today marks the start of Stage 4. The final push for the end of their ride to John O’Groats.

For half a dozen others it is simply day 10 of their adventure. Although ‘out of GC’ they have continued on determined to ride the length of the UK off-road. A pretty cool thing to boast about when they get home! Long after the quickest riders have posted their final timestamped photo and contemplating throw the hell they are going to get home, the riders at the back of the pack will still be enjoying some of the best gravel riding Scotland has to offer.

I popped down to CP3 yesterday to see what stage the riders who had so far made it the CP3 were in. Pretty chilled as it turned out. Arrived to them flaked out on the grass doing chuff all apart from eat, sleep and fix broken bikes.

[Photo Credit: @tomiczkovva]

The front lawn was strewn with them. Finally enjoying a chance to dry out. The mood had changed slightly from when I had been there the day before. Gone was the gaunt looks and instead replaced with fresh optimism… For those that haven’t ridden the first few climbs that they are about top face… ;-)

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[Photo Credit: @tomiczkovva]

It wasn’t all lazing about though. Keeping our riders fed and watered were our kitchen staff, selflessly working away behind the scenes. Nick and his daughter Lilly were plying us all with the and those amazing Oreos with the brownie filling amongst other goodies. I say Nick, but he just sat on his arse while Lilly did all the work! Reckon they be getting paid as much as me.

Every group or community has a feeder. Our is Lewis. WIth the help of his kitchen pen skivvy - chief badgerer Stuart - who is very camera shy.

[Photo Pinched Fae IG: stu_86]

Who Dusnae like macaroni cheese! I think he ignored my top tip of slicing up some smoked sausage into it!? Artists don’t like being told what to do. Cheese was expertly grated by Stuart, so he wasn’t completely useless. Only surprised he didn’t make Lilly do it. Scoured the internet and finally found a pic of him…

[Screen grabbed fae web…]

Before I left I went round checking out the state of the bikes and kit. Surprisingly, most are still in one piece. Just.

Ollie trying to remember where he packed the kitchen sink??

I appreciate someone who has good chain cleanliness etiquette. A clean chain is a fast chain!

How does Victoria keep herself, her bike and kit immaculate? I have purple envy too. I dig shiny bike bits!

Radiator space was at a premium. Prime real estate within the bike packing community.

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Some rest day entertainment. Hope no ones easily offended 😈

More BAAW. If the only mattress available was in use….

It’s about proper work time for me, and our riders are about top be let loose for one final time.

I bumped into my colleagues yesterday, trying to glean for information for where to get the best shots of the day. As they are in competition with each other I’ve naturally sent Dan and Ben off on a wild goose chase into the arse end of nowhere. Coincidentally around the same mileage as the range of their car… Have it! 

Though to even the score a bit, I’ve sent Tommy and Monika up a big F off hill!!

Laterz
​DP