Forres cyclist completes 24 hour endurance race

Kyle Cartmell had entered the 15th Strathpuffer 24hr mountain bike race in Contin, Ross-shire as a mixed pairs team but unfortunately his partner got injured and could not ride the event, so Kyle had to resign himself to not competing.

However, at lunch time on the day before the race he got a call saying that there was a Solo space available if he wanted it, he jumped at the chance but at only 18yrs and having to mix with some very experienced endurance riders it was definitely going to be a major challenge to be competitive.

It was a mad dash to get everything packed and then travel to Contin to set up camp.

It was a challenging race this year with the rain causing a lot of the track to be waterlogged, rutted and rocky and there was plenty of mud, and then when the temperatures dropped the ice appeared – all making it very difficult for both Kyle and the bike, but also mentally it is so tough, and you question why you are doing it in the depths of the darkness.

Your kit gets hammered and you need a great positive support team.

It is truly a team effort.

Through the night Kyle stopped every lap for some food, change of bike light battery as the race includes 17 hrs of darkness and for the bike to get a drivetrain clean (he had to do a bike repair at 8 laps in, due to having no brakes which was caused by the wet, muddy conditions).

By 6.30am, which was lap 20, it became really difficult both physically and mentally and he was finding it very hard to get motivated to go out again, but he managed – luckily a changeover was due for fellow riders in the camp so he rode along with them over the final 2 laps as being with someone kept him more focused.

He finished the race extremely tired and very sore but had done 22 laps and was 4th Male Senior (out of 148 Solo’s) having ridden about 180 miles in total.

Not bad for his first ‘Solo’ 24hrs endurance race!!

The race was won by his mountain biker friend Kyle Beattie, who well deserved it.

Kay