Kielder Chiller 24 - The brutal 24 hour deep winter mountain bike race
20 September 2017 | By billy1979It's with great delight we can announce that the Kielder Chiller 24 will once more be held at Kielder Castle on 10th and 11th Feb 2018.
This brutal 24 hour deep winter mountain bike race test mind, body and machine to the limits as riders attempt to push them as far as possible in a race dominated by darkness. The inaugural event in 2017 was accompanied by horrendous sleet, snow, rain and high winds. People took shelter in warm cars or ploughed on into the night with layers upon layers of clothing to fight off the elements.
Top local rider and 2017 solo winner Richard Rothwell of Cycling Generation commented:
"It was undoubtedly the hardest 24 hour race I've ever done. The conditions were borderline arctic and both myself and my bike took an absolute battering. The singletrack trails stood up really well, the marshals were somehow very happy and there were loads of people to help when, not if, things went wrong. If you really want to test yourself in winter then look no further."
The route is based around the highly regarded Deadwater Red route with an extension made to the north to accomodate team vehicles out on the course. The Kielder Trail Reivers work hard all year round and have honed these tracks to withstand all weather and riders. Debby Mortimore, chairman of KTR said:
"We love the Kielder chiller 24 because it is such a big boost for the local area at a time when it's usually pretty quiet. It makes good use of our trails but then donates back to KTR to help develop them further. I also know that the cafe, pub, accommodation options and The Bike Place shop do really well."
With only two deep winter 24 hour mountain bike races in the UK, the Kielder Chiller 24 is set to become a classic. Alex MacLennan of the forestry Commission has been instrumental in making the event happen and ensures preparation, planning and safety are thoroughly examined. Why not get yourself to Kielder, take on this challenge and ride ride for 24 hours under some of the darkest skies in the land.
