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UNITED KINGDOM · GRAVEL

DIRTY REIVER
TRAINING PLAN.

Dirty Reiver is the UK's flagship gravel event — 200km across Kielder Forest with 2,500m of climbing on forestry roads, single track, and open fell crossings. Self-supported navigation, weather-exposed. The event that established UK gravel.

200 km·2,500 m climbing·8-14 hours·April

PICK YOUR WINDOW

HOW LONG TILL YOUR DIRTY REIVER?

Count back from your event date. Pick the weeks-out plan that matches your window. Each one is a week-by-week framework built around the demands of this specific course.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE DIRTY REIVER ACTUALLY DEMANDS

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • ✓Forestry roads in Kielder — fast, wide, surprisingly rolling
  • ✓Weather can shift from sunny to snowy inside an hour in April
  • ✓Self-supported: carry what you eat/drink
  • ✓Short 130km + 65km options for first-timers
  • ✓Borderline mountain bike terrain in sections

COMMON MISTAKES

  • ✗Running road tyres — you will puncture
  • ✗Underdressing because 'it's April' — Kielder makes its own weather
  • ✗Pacing like a sportive — gravel eats your legs faster than tarmac

PACING

Gravel events punish overpacing effort because the surface varies. Target heart-rate rather than power — aim for high Z2 / low Z3 as your all-day ceiling. Let others go early on the fast sections; you'll catch them when the rough stuff starts. Eat on the flat sections when you can chew safely.

FUELLING

Self-supported means you pack it. 70-90g carbs/hour, more if cold. One water refill at the mid-point feed stop (if it's there — not guaranteed). Real food works better than gels when the ride stretches beyond 8 hours — sandwiches, bars, waffles.

KIT

Gravel bike with 40-45mm tyres — Rene Herse Humptulips, Challenge Getaway, WTB Nano. Tubeless with sealant. Mudguards help in wet years. Frame bag + top tube bag for food. Rain jacket that actually works. Head torch if you're a slower finisher.

FAQ

DIRTY REIVER TRAINING, ANSWERED.

How long should I train for the Dirty Reiver?

For the Dirty Reiver (200km with 2,500m of climbing), most riders benefit from at least 12-16 weeks of structured preparation. If you've been riding consistently, 8 weeks of focused work can still be enough to transform your result. Pick the weeks-out plan that matches your window.

What's the typical finish time for the Dirty Reiver?

Most amateur finishers complete the Dirty Reiver in 8-14 hours. The spread is driven by climbing fitness more than flat speed — the course has 2,500m of vertical, and pacing the climbs is what separates a strong finish from a suffering one.

When does the Dirty Reiver take place?

The Dirty Reiver typically runs in April. That sets the training window: count back from your event date and pick the weeks-out plan that matches.

What's the biggest mistake riders make at the Dirty Reiver?

Running road tyres — you will puncture

How should I pace the Dirty Reiver?

Gravel events punish overpacing effort because the surface varies. Target heart-rate rather than power — aim for high Z2 / low Z3 as your all-day ceiling. Let others go early on the fast sections; you'll catch them when the rough stuff starts. Eat on the flat sections when you can chew safely.

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

READY FOR A PLAN MADE FOR YOU?

The framework above gets you in the right territory. Roadman coaching builds it around your FTP, your life, and your weeks remaining.

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