Someone went and pinched my FKT that I set last year. He smashed my time, 20 minutes faster, so I had some work to do to regain it.

I changed the bike and set up and used previous experience from last year to make a few less wrong turns.
I stuck a GoPro on the front and have a bit of a video up

https://youtu.be/zNpEhbjtpYg

Well done Matt the conditions looked very favourable, I thought when I did it last March that the ground was quite dry and the streams low (still the puddles on the sunken road last year were knee-deep as some enduro riders found out).

I also made that wrong turn mistake, the singletrack is easy to miss next to the doubletrack.

That is a stupidly fast time Matt chapeau!!

Bloody hell, that's so fast

What are your thoughts on gravel bike vs MTB? You said you were faster on the downs with the MTB and had the leverage of wider bars. How about on the climbs and the flats? What about the smoother sections?

Well done Matt. Double next?

That's a phenomenal time - well done Matt.

I'd just wait a year or 2 for a double attempt (I need to bask in my glory for a while longer!)

Amazing! “Day 1” done in two and a bit hours

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 2:41 pm Well done Matt. Double next?

Yeh, starting West to East and see if I can pick up the remaining FKTs

benp1 wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 2:31 pm Bloody hell, that's so fast

What are your thoughts on gravel bike vs MTB? You said you were faster on the downs with the MTB and had the leverage of wider bars. How about on the climbs and the flats? What about the smoother sections?

The bike I built up was a mix of both and I think the perfect mix. The only thing I wanted was a bigger gear than 38/11. I'm on the look for a 44/32 XTR chainset.

Its a bit like a MTB from 15 years ago. 650mm bars, double chainset and very fast rolling narrower tyres than current bikes. Weight was sub 9kg, so a similar weight to my lauf gravel bike.

gates!!!

Superb effort, I saw this on Instagram too. Yes, Double for the taking i'd say!

Ps - also you're probably the only one saying 38x11 wasn't high enough

"Day 1" 2 hours 21min

Just think of the extra time you'd have to eat cake/raid the Spar/sit in the local beer garden...

Good stuff Matt & well done super fast time

Finally managed to watch the vid. Thanks for taking the goPro and sharing the journey with all. Really pleased to be able to see that route and the commentary fantastic...

What's FKT?

Regards the one person who gave a thumbs down, wonder whats up with people like that

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Thu May 20, 2021 9:04 am
What's FKT?

Fastest Known Time

FKT = Fastest Known Time

I wonder if the thumbs down is from Metheven Bond?

Landslide wrote: ↑Thu May 20, 2021 9:09 am FKT = Fastest Known Time

I wonder if the thumbs down is from Metheven Bond?

Lol... that might explain it and I suppose you can't blame him/her. The amount of prep and effort just to have it broken again

Enjoyed that film, apart from how it made me feel rather slow! Great riding Matt.

That looks great, and has inspired me to have a go at the route. Pretty sure I'll not be challenging the FKT, but it looks eminently doable in a long day. Thanks!

Thanks everyone.
It is doable in a day especially summer, or a good 2 day ride.
When the bothys open back up there are a few along the route. One to have half distance each day, or another than gives one big day and one shorter.

Well done on your fast time and the good video

Nice video, thanks. Congrats on the time!