Skip to content
COHORT 2 IS OPEN8 hours left
APPLY

PEAK PHASE · 4 WEEKS OUT

DIRTY REIVER — 4 WEEKS OUT

Event-specific sharpening. Volume drops, quality rises. Built around the 200km / 2,500m profile of the Dirty Reiver in United Kingdom.

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

THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW

SHARPEN FOR THE DATE.

Four weeks out, you stop building and start sharpening. Volume drops 15-20%. Intensity gets very specific to your event. Long rides mimic race pacing. The goal is to arrive fresh, not fitter — if you're still building now, you peaked wrong.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

EVENT SIMULATION

One 3-hour ride that mimics the first 3 hours of your target event. Same pace, same fueling, same kit. If your event has a big early climb, include one. Your legs learn what race pace feels like.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 4 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST

Protect recovery aggressively now.

Tuesday

THRESHOLD (3X10MIN)

Shorter, sharper threshold reps.

Wednesday

60MIN Z2

Just keeping the legs open.

Thursday

RACE-PACE INTERVALS (5X5MIN)

At your target sportive pace.

Friday

REST

Full rest — no bike.

Saturday

3H EVENT SIMULATION

Dial in pacing + fueling + kit.

Sunday

90MIN Z2

Easy, social.

DON'T DO THIS

The peak phase is when amateurs panic-train. Resist. Extra volume here creates fatigue that sits in your legs on race day. Trust the base.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE DIRTY REIVER ACTUALLY DEMANDS

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.

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.

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

COACHED FOR YOUR EVENT.

Not Done Yet is the coached five-pillar system built around your actual event date. Personalised TrainingPeaks plan, weekly calls, expert masterclasses. 7-day free trial.

Apply for Not Done YetHow Coaching Works

$195/month · 7-day free trial · Cancel anytime

FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS AT 4 WEEKS OUT

Is 4 weeks enough to train for the Dirty Reiver?+

Yes, if you already have a reasonable aerobic base. 4 weeks out means peak and taper — we can sharpen and refine, but we can't build new aerobic fitness from scratch. If you're starting from zero now, aim for finishing rather than personal bests.

What's the hardest part of the Dirty Reiver?+

Forestry roads in Kielder — fast, wide, surprisingly rolling. running road tyres — you will puncture — so pacing discipline is the single biggest lever most amateurs miss. Gravel events punish overpacing effort because the surface varies.

How many hours a week should I train at 4 weeks out from the Dirty Reiver?+

Reduce to 8-10 hours with rising intensity quality. This is the peak phase — fewer, sharper sessions. Long weekend ride stays but drops slightly (3-4 hours with event-specific work). Weekday sessions are shorter and more intense.

Do I need a coach to train for the Dirty Reiver?+

You don't need a coach to finish. You do need structure. If you're new to sportives, have a target finish time, have a plateau you can't break, or have a history of peaking wrong, a coached plan pays for itself. Inside Not Done Yet the plan is built backwards from your event date — base, build, peak, taper timed to the week the Dirty Reiver runs. 7-day free trial, $195/mo.

What gearing should I run for the Dirty Reiver?+

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.

OTHER PHASES FOR THE DIRTY REIVER

Earlier phase ← 8 weeks out

BUILD PHASE

Later phase → 2 weeks out

TAPER