After hearing about the Selkirk Merida and it’s dusty dry singletrack for the past three years, I thought it was time I gave it a go.

So it rained, yah! Was still an awesome course, and because of the daily torture in Poland my legs were feeling great. Unfortunately I had a series of mechanical incidents that kept holding me back.

30km – Front wheel puncture, wasn’t even ware of hitting anything.

40km – Miss the (poorly signed) feedstation, turn in the road, falling over on the greasy surface. James Fraser-Moodie amused greatly. Front shifter damaged so shifting sticky.

55km – Rear brake wears all the way to metal on the first part of the Minch Moor descent, rest of race done with just the front brake.

65km – New saddle comes loose on rooty descent before second last feed station, probably due to my very out of control riding due having only one brake.

75km – Front shifting completely broken, stuck in the big ring to the finish.

Finished in just over 4:30, not entirely shabby.