The toughest mountain bike race on earth? Says who?

Riding for 24 hours – 17 of those in darkness – in the depths of a Scottish winter may not seem like everybody’s way to enjoy a bike ride, but it has certainly caught the imagination of a lot of cyclists. At 10am today hundreds more will be charging towards their bikes for the 13th annual Strathpuffer.

Every year an online stampede to get a place at the event means it sells out within minutes and many of those who are successful have entered on numerous occasions.

The fact Red Bull, a doyen of extreme sports, asked on its website: “Is this the toughest mountain bike race on earth?”, lends a certain credence to the claim and for many, me included, a challenge that is like the proverbial red rag to the bull.

Despite all the hype that is heaped on the Strathpuffer, it remains an extremely accessible event for all. For a start, the course isn’t overly technical, which opens it up to many riders who may be put off by events that exceed their riding skills. Perhaps more appealing is the event’s team aspect. Of course there is the option to ride as a solo rider, and many do (some masochistically with a single-speed mountain bike). But the option to ride as a team of two, four or even 10 allows a wider range of people to experience the delights of the event.

And I mean that literally. The Strathpuffer is perhaps one of the most joyous events I have ever been part of. There is a sense of togetherness and camaraderie in the build up, and genuine bonhomie exuding from everyone throughout the actual race.

Even at 3am, when the mercury is hitting negative figures, there is a party atmosphere. I once described the event village as a hastily erected gold-rush era shanty town, the air thick with smoke emanating from the wood-burning stoves in many of the tents and shelters.

Impromptu karaoke bars spring up from some campervans, others have supporters sitting out on deck chairs under piles of blankets, cheering on every cyclist that passes by.

It doesn’t take long to be sucked into the “Strathpuffer bubble” where you become completely self-absorbed by your immediate surroundings. Your life becomes fixated with a metronomic routine of: ride your bike; clean your bike; change into dry clothes; get some food; get on your bike; ride your bike.

The outside world becomes a forgotten concept. It is hard to explain what is so appealing about this, but all I can say is that in the years I have participated in the event I have felt genuinely sad and emotional at the end.

This year I had an entry for a solo spot, but had to pass that on to a friend when it turned out I couldn’t ride due to work commitments.

Passing my entry over was a very difficult thing to do and as I write this I am genuinely feeling down that I can’t be there this year.

But I can console myself with the fact that I know I will go back in 2019 and

I am already looking forward to “the toughest mountain bike race on earth”. Where to Ride: The Strathpuffer 24hr MTB race Where: Contin, Strathpeffer-Invernessshire

When: Annually in January Description: Entries for the Strathpuffer open around June each year and details can be found on the event website. strathpuffer.co.uk

Join the Blazing Saddles Strava Club at: www.strava.com/clubs/Blazing SaddlesWeekendCourier Participants in last year’s Strathpuffer.