Jason Black:

“ After checkpoint one at 170km I was feeling great in control physically and mentally racing hard, by now probably placed 7 or 8th overall and feeling confident as the night would come I'd pick some riders off moving myself higher in general classification, again like Oman nutrition and hydration was on point following the same strategy and feeling strong I rolled into checkpoint two just before dark, however things went badly downhill from here and all my own doing.. I'd decided to go super light and when I say super light I mean nothing nada and then the unexpected cold came at 11pm I knew I was in trouble I started shaking and by 12.30am at approx 500km I was uncontrollably cold and I had no clothes no thermal top or bottom hands or head to keep me warm, I couldn't brake, hold the handlebars my chest was in agony with the severe cold and my adrenaline was pumping my heart to the sound of a marching band. Knocking on doors in remote villages I could get no help spotting a few cars along the road all locked except the last little white Citroen van, it was open and it was like Christmas morning ... I jumped in parking the bike up alongside. I was as cold in as I was out , taking the car seat cover off it was my only hope of warmth, in fear of the household owner and van owner arriving I pulled it over myself and looked exactly like the seat - no joke what else could I do, it was fight or flight , I sat it out till 6.30am spoke with my wife on the phone and she simply told me "get you fucking ass on that bike and get to the finish line" under no elusion I took off climbing higher and higher awaiting the sun to come up and it did but not till after nine am as I was on the leeward side of the mountain - never in all my days on the coldest most remotest mountains in the world was I as cold as I have been on this night...you bollocks Jason I called myself over and over again. Until I decided right let's get to this finish line” Jason finished the 700 km race in forty hours.

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Riders at the AMR

Shots Selection.

PICTURES

Racing bikes in Kenya

chasing Fabian Burri (an article for theradavist.com)

a few bike rides in Portugal.