Hardest Gravel Event In UK - Dirty Reiver 2024

The Dirty Reiver the UKs hardest gravel ride/race. One of the toughest days out on the bike in some of the harshest terrain the UK has to offer. In this video I will talk about my prep, set up and how I faired.
Next up is the Gralloch UCI Gravel World Series.
Raw ride footage can be seen here
• Dirty Reiver 2024 - Ra...
Thanks / andy.smith_photo for the banging photos.
The Strava file can be seen here
/ strava
Merch Available here
nowtdaft.bigca...
The links to all the products I used.
www.syncros.co...
www.scott-spor...
www.scott-spor...
uk.kineticaspo...
#gravel #cyclingvlog #cycling #gravelbike

[@nickfitzpatrick5302]

Well played Tony. Sign up again and imagine that ride without the cramping, you’re just one (pie) variable away from cracking the Dirty Reever formula! Great vid and top effort, nice one.

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

🤣😂🤣Pie and pork product are possibly key to success in all walks of life.

[@cd66061]

I had 3 cheese topped Pork Pies during the 130k, felt very fresh at the end, should probably have cracked on really. Defo some savoury required!! 🥧

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Feed on point there. Cheese topped very flash.

[@adamfeatherstone4045]

lol kind of mirrored you, 10 mins quicker than last year, put that down to better weather, cramp in back of thighs which I don’t normally get nearly killed me on last climbs, well done mate

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

It was such a battle the last 40miles. Well done and thanks for watching.

[@thefechancyclist7615]

Totally agree Tony after doing the 200 last 2 years done the 130 this year defo a better day

[@kurtminter9723]

Great result, you could been eating a pork pie on the sofa, but you did the gravel event. Well done.

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Sofa and pork pies sounds good. Thanks for watching.

[@TroyTempest0]

Great one Tony - 7:22 is an excellent result! You shouldn't be so 'ard on yerself! Well done!

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

I am never happy always critical even if I won I would moan about something

[@BikepackingAdventures]

Year 1 200k, Year 2 130k (last year, miserable), Year 3 300km road audax (happens every year apparently) -10.30pm overnight start from Morpeth - it was so, so so, cold overnight, well under zero, passed through Kielder. Much more pleasurable than forest tracks looking at yet another tree. Well done =)

[@TriathlonDan]

Great effort Tony! I didn't think you'd go back after last year!

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Neither did I🤣😂🤣

[@jimsmith7888]

I wish I was moaning about 7hours 22mins!!!!! I took 10hours and had abscesses on my arse😢 Great work Tony and vid😄👍

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

🤣😂🤣It is along time on a bike.

[@peterlanganke6716]

Always awesome Tony. Keep up the great work legend 😊

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Thanks for watching. Positive comments help massively

[@MP-th4nx]

Well done Tony .... an amazing effort mate. Well done.

[@tefer1982]

Well in Tony. My pal did it again this year after the 200 last year but I couldn't bring myself to do it, so fair play for jumping back in.

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Last year the weather was horrific. Weather should have made it much more enjoyable this year. But to be fair it was equally as tough. Thanks for watching.

[@grahambell9831]

Chapeau Tony 👏 👏An adjustment to training , a tweak to a food strategy & consider a specific hydration strategy to include a regular salt & mineral intake?

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

TBH my hydration was doomed from start I don’t think I drank enough leading up to event.

[@paultowns9880]

Well done Tony. I never thought i would hear you say that you walked up some of the later climbs. It must have been a bloody hard event! Great video and treat yourself to some pork pies. Take care.

[@MrAlexshellard]

That will give the other half a chuckle seeing her C1 in front of you driving there. I was next to you in the car park but you looked busy with the leg cream. First ever cycling event for me, did the 200km on a 26inch mtb fully rigid with drops, took me 12 hours, aiming for sub 10 next year. Also aiming for sub 100kg and sub 20kg bike, marathon plus's just will not flat but are 1200g each! Less than 24 hours after and I wanted it again. Hammy went 40 miles in so feel you pain and by feed three I was fully bonking and anything more than zone 2 was killing me, so loved the last climbs! With a group of guys from work we raise over £7.5k for a local youth charity. The speed you guys went at is just nuts! Hats off to you bud. You should bring Frances next year for a laugh!

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

That is a huge amount of money raised well done. Should have said hello I love it when people recognise me. It proper massages the ego. 😂 Good luck and thanks for watching

[@lukehoneythunder]

Top man, keep going Champ . . . . And nowt daft 👍

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Thank you.

[@matcharlie2379]

Well done Tony. Type 2 fun - see you there next year! I had mechanical issues so ended up doing the 130. Vowed to give it full beans in the 200 next year. Be good to get a motivated group to do a fast even paced one.

[@333wheeler]

Cann't keep a good man down ! I think that event would be a toughie whatever the conditions. Maybe with top Summer fitness you might handle it a tad easier .

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Always someone faster so you end up pressing on just a little and it catches up with you eventually. Fitness is just not where I want it.

[@simonwhitham5471]

Dead jealous in a strange way, well done Tony 👍

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Get it entered.

[@mattfenn1373]

Top job Tony. Gravel is just harder!! I live in Australia and a 200km day on the dirt is no mean feat....particularly if you average 27km/hr. Maybe you need to make an Aussie trip to the gears and beers event in Wagga Wagga( so good they named it twice😂). I'm sure Scott would pay your way!! Top vid as ever

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Australia sounds like the dream. Warm and dusty trails. Gear and beers is that the one Docker normally does. Total legend that guy.

[@mattfenn1373]

Don't think Mitch has done it for a couple of years...too many other commitments probably. But yeah, as you say proper legend!!

[@charliecook6909]

Mega effort dude 👌

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Thank you. Cheers for watching.

[@nicholasvipond2205]

Nice vid, great ride sounds super tough- hope to enter at some point ✌️

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Thank you. It’s as tough as you make it. I stupidly keep chasing a time. Loads of people ride around with mates and just have a great time. Event village at the end is really good, everyone just sitting about talking about their day.

[@cycloboyriley]

Well done, amazing event! What a great day, the 200 sounded epic! Hoping to step up to the 130 next year

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

It is such a hard terrain that any distance is tough. Thanks for watching.

[@brianridley1102]

Pork pies laden with salt, maybe you didn't replace that salt in your drinks etc ? Good effort getting out there.

[@kevinlyon9501]

Blooming good effort lad it's not the sort event you normally do or train for so not all bad. The cramps might be down to salts e.g. no pork pies. 😃

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

As always Kevin thanks for watching.

[@simonguard5087]

Been a cramp sufferer all my life and the savoury salty dirty food definitely helps me 😉

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

I think the cramp was some stupid mistakes I made pre event. Not enough fluids and had a sauna day before. Stupid really.

[@simonguard5087]

We live and learn 👍

[@toomaslehtonen5055]

Well done, Tony! Sounds like the cramping had to do with your blistering pace; power PB after power PB, and all that.

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Hahahah yeah classic bit of over reaching.

[@Eddie_Tyler]

Awesome effort in a brutal event. Pack some liquidised black pudding and return for the 200k next year? 😀

[@daveridesagain]

Nice one mate 🫡

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Thanks mate.

[@jamessteele2640]

Mate, you're being overly-critical on yourself. Hopefully you feel better on reflection once you've processed it. You know yourself you can go sub 7. You said it. Back yourself, you gained 20 minutes on last year, nothing to say that you can't do that again in 2025. It would feel class to get sub 7. I would be over the moon with your time as well! Great effort, maybe bring an emergency pork pie next year!

[@wsbygt]

The bike setup looked so leet and mean! N o w t D a f t

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

Never let me down. However my legs…🤣

[@wsbygt]

@@NowtDaftTonyFawcett 😄 nah they did good! 👍

[@davidrae8475]

You'll be back till you get the result you want.... 😄

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

More than likely. 🤣 Thanks for watching.

[@cb6866]

Thanks Tony ...you sound tired , go eat some pork pies and rest , after you chin wag !

[@NowtDaftTonyFawcett]

🤣love a good chin wag.

[@cb6866]

@@NowtDaftTonyFawcett Because you've got the gift