Dirty Reiver doesn’t need much introduction these days. The UK’s most US-like gravel grinder, the event features three different distances and attracts some of the top talent on two wheels each year as well as thousands of gravel lovers. We caught up with Shimano Gravel Alliance rider Josh Ibbett for his front-of-the-pack experience.

Take ten with Josh Ibbett from the Shimano Gravel Alliance

Gravel Union - How did you end up on the start line of Dirty Reiver?

Josh - Going to Dirty Reiver has become something of a tradition - I try to get there every year. I’ve ridden the event ever since it started and even before that I often raced in Kielder as a mountain biker.

Gravel Union - An average speed of 27.1 km/h is pretty snappy for a gravel race, how competitive was the field this year?

Josh - Dirty Reiver is always pretty quick, but it has sped up over the years as the course has become tamer and more gravel-like and the sport has grown to attract more people. It’s on pure dirt roads now. You see a lot of riders from domestic UK road teams, specialist gravel racers, some top MTB racers, and top-10 national cyclocross riders too. The level has really gone up and as a result, the nature of the course and the level makes it really, really fast. It’s like an off-road road race, which I think is very cool.

Gravel Union - How useful is your road racing background when you want to be up at the front at an event like the Dirty Reiver?

Josh - Having some background, or at least knowledge of road racing is useful given how fast the bunch can move along the terrain. At a certain speed, aerodynamics and knowing when to keep out of the wind come into play – especially this year as it was so windy. Providing you can hide in the bunch and position yourself well in crosswinds, then you can save a lot of energy. In a race that’s over 200 km, that really adds up. By the end of it, it’s about who’s got what left in the tank and that’s how it’s won.

Gravel Union - What’s a moment in the race that really stuck out to you?

Josh - It was a race of two halves for me: one half in the group, and one half when I wasn’t. It’s a big clover-shaped course with a start loop that includes some bigger climbs, then after you’ve ridden by the start-finish area and across the main road, there’s a fairly long climb with some steep pitches in it. This year I didn’t have the legs on the steep sections so dropped off the back of the group and I was on my own in the wind in some really exposed sections. If the first half was like a road race, the second half was a 4-hour individual time trial.

Gravel Union - We know it gets pretty windy around Kielder, how were the conditions?

Josh - The conditions can vary. I’d class 2022 as a ‘good year’ - I’ve raced there previously in the snow and torrential rain, so this year’s dry and windy conditions were a treat. The ground was hard-packed and fast, although it’s probably more suited to me when the conditions are wet, and it turns the course into a bit of a slog. After a few dry weeks and so much wind, the tracks had completely dried out and were super-fast. The wind was strong with tough stretches of headwinds and crosswinds, but it’s the same for everyone. 

Gravel Union - What’s your top tip for mid-race moments of suffering, like when you got dropped by the lead group of 20 after 3 hours?

Josh - When I got dropped from the lead group, I knew I wasn’t the only one that was suffering - I was just the first to crack. I made a conscious decision to keep on the pedals, ride my own pace and have confidence that I could reel them back in. If you dig in too deep in a 7.5 hour race, then you’re going to pay the consequences. Getting dropped probably did me a favour as I could settle into my own rhythm, and I caught several riders back up. You can’t overdo it in a long race.

Gravel Union - What does it take to win the Dirty Reiver?

Josh - Firstly, it’s not a race so you can’t truly win it - although you can’t tell that to the riders lining up on the front line! As gravel riding has got more popular, you see so much more strength and depth in the field that you really have to be a first-class rider that’s able to push some pretty big numbers in order to win. There’s only a minority who can do that. For most people, the achievement is turning up and getting around and I’d include myself in that, even though I’ll always try to hang on at the front beforehand.

Gravel Union - We know you’re big into bike components and two-wheel tech, so what’s the ultimate bike set-up for the Dirty Reiver?

Josh - I’d have to say my bike. I’m a big fan of the Shimano GRX Di2 2x groupset because you really need those big gears. I think my top speed on one of the descents was something mad like 90 km/h (56 mph) as I was chasing to get back onto the group. It’s great for the high-speed sections when you’ve got that wide, wide gear range and super big gear. Make sure you’ve got fast-rolling tyres—you don’t need much tread at all—and probably a 42 or 45 mm width depending on how much comfort you demand. It’s a very fast course so you want a fast set of wheels. I’ve got the Hunt Limitless Gravel wheels, which are pretty aero. I also used a Lauf fork, which I think is a great benefit as it takes the edge of all the bumps and this added comfort pays over the course of a long ride to make you faster overall. Shoe choice is important too—I always wear the Shimano RX9 shoes which are great for both power transfer and comfort. 

Gravel Union - What would you say to someone that’s intimidated by 200 km and a big bunch of riders?

Josh - The bunch spreads out quite quickly, so you could always hang back at the start or even pick a later start time when the bulk of people have set off. After the first climb, the field will have split up, so you don’t have to be surrounded by people if you prefer to ride in peace. As for the distance, my advice is to divide it into small sections. The good thing about the Dirty Reiver is the number of feed stations—you can break the race down into each feed section and tick off the climbs within each part. I have the route on my bike computer, showing the elevation, and I tick off the climbs so there’s always a sense of achievement and I use the feed stations as waymarkers along the way. Eventually, you end up getting around the whole course.

Gravel Union - So, will you go back?

Josh - I suspect so! It’s a landmark in the cycling calendar and there aren’t many opportunities in the UK for a proper gravel grinder that’s predominantly off-road. 

All photos courtesy of @AndyHeading/Focal Events