I first heard about the project in January this year, as I’m subscribing to Camille’s (main man about the whole Further thing) newsletter.

What got me in was the date, as I really like riding on the edge of Autumn and Winter, the place, as I have never been to Scotland really but always wanted to be there, and the last thing was how it was advertised, that it was going to be built mostly from the road sections with necessary offroad connections between them. I knew Camille’s other events from the stories, media, and social media, and I do realize what they look like, and what they have included. I didn’t check it on my own skin but generally, I could imagine lots of very bad roads, hike-a-bike, bike carrying, slow going, river crossing and some relentless stuff, so-called “art for the sake of art only”. I didn’t really want that, but the slogan “There will be a lot of roads” was buying me in. Also, having a chance to see Further, be part of it, and discover it from this perspective, sounded interesting.

Well. I was waiting for more info, the year was going on, and I did a race in Rwanda, and finished the Trans Am Bike Race in the meantime, and there was not so much news from Scotland. Some Instagram photos, one or two emails maybe and that’s it. Anyway, the race was still growing in my head.

Finally, some months back from now, there was an email, to sign in, and as I was super busy back then I didn’t know if going to Scotland after all the US, Rwanda, and some other bicycling adventures would be possible. So I postponed the decision to the very last minute.

Another thing that happened in the meantime, was that the road event with only short gravel sections, changed into a gravel race, with some hike-a-bike included. I did get a 500-kilometer loop with nearly 40% off-road (by RwGPS). It was now looking like a proper gravel race. And the final thing to add more spice to the whole situation was the Babet. The storm that hit Scotland a few days before the planned race start. It destroyed some roads, flooded bridges and crossings, and generally made some rideable sections, unrideable. The whole thing didn’t sound to me like the one I had seen in my head in January, but the decision was set to join the race. Even after my accident, about two weeks before the event I was still a believer, and here I am. “Rady” to start the last 2023 year race.

If you are interested, you can check the route here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44812570

As I said before, I don’t know Scotland but the expectations are big. Surely it will not be all flowers and honey. The weather challenge will definitely be the main factor there, but I’m also expecting some extra adventures, that were put in by the race director, who’s well-known for surprising riders, and showing them how much the border can be broken.

What is pretty unique here, is the gear requirements that we, riders all have to comply with. We have to be ready to camp outside, and in order to check that, we all will be camping out the night before the race start on the edge of Loch Ossian! How cool is that?

The bike I’ll use will be my typical choice., actually the one I have at the moment. After all the storm and route announcements, I just hope it will not be a similar story like in Maroko a few years back when I took a gravel bike, but I actually needed to have a hardtail.

But hey, it is only a bike ride at the end, and I’m used to ride crazy, so just let it be!

Wish me luck and follow along!

Follow My Challenge tracking page:

https://www.followmychallenge.com/live/further-scotland-2023/

You are welcome to support my adventures. If you like what I do in the bike-packing community, you can simply get me a coffee!

BUY A COFFEE to pikopulawski

Follow the Further Instagram account:

https://instagram.com/frthr.co?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Oh and the bike:

“Kajak Custom”, a custom build steel bike, with lots of carbon parts on it and equipped with Shimano Ultegra Di2 full groupset, geared 34/50T (from Absolute Black) and 11-34T. Wheels are custom build, 45mm carbon rims with Son Deluxe hub up front and DT240 on the back. Tires are Pirrelli Gravel M 35mm. I also have Tubolight EVO inserts, for better rim protection. Dynamo light Beacon 2 from Sinevawe is a must, but I also take a head torch, Mactronic Vizo.

I’ll be using an Apidura racing pack series and all the clothing by Assos Switzerland is from the very new spring/fall long-distance Mille collection, mixed with some winter “elementals” also from Assos.

Apart from food, water, and spare batteries for my Garmin eTrex on my bike, I’ll be having lots of small tools, spares and a small medic kit. All these small things I’ll be having in my special kit item: Assos spider bag C2 that worked really well in Rwanda.

The detailed kit list will follow after the race!