So picture the scene, I'm sitting at home minding my own business when I receive a phone call from one Philip Kelman, ex Deeside Thistle MTB guru. The story goes, that since he didn't think he'd got an entry to the Red Bull 24hr, he was putting together a team to do the Corrieyairack Challenge, and did I fancy being part of it? 43 miles over the Corrieyairack Pass on MTB's for charity as a team of three. Now not being of exactly a sound mind or body and it being for charity and all that, I agreed without giving it much thought.

Moving forward one week spectating at the World Cup Downhill at Fort William, while walking up to the Ben Nevis viewpoint I meet one Anthony English and the future Mrs English walking down. While engaging them in the usual "fancy meeting you here" type conversation, I mention the above phone call from Phil and suggest that Anthony becomes our third team member.

Since Anthony is an associate member of The Deeside we could have almost been an official Deeside Thistle team, made up of, The Hare, The Tortoise and their mate with the Big Rucksack (see later), but officially we had now become the "Are we there yet?" MTB team taking on the Corrieyairack Challenge for 2002.

So what is this Corrieyairack Challenge business then? It's basically a charity event to raise money for the Badaguish Outdoor Centre for handicapped kids. There are three ways of taking part, one is a 17 mile hill run/walk over the Corrieyairack Pass, second is the 17 mile hill run followed by a 26 mile bike ride (duathlon) or thirdly all 43 miles on MTB's from Fort Augustus to Kincraig via the Corrieyairack Pass.

As for the condition of the Pass itself, intensive research had found only 2 pictures on the internet which made it look pretty reasonable and when we did find somebody who had cycled over the pass or done the challenge before, all they would say was "you'll see" said with a knowing smile and a glint in their eye. What was going on, was this some sort of conspiracy or what? From looking at previous years times, it seemed like it was going to be a mountain bike race followed by a 25 mile time trial type effort that was required. Erm, perhaps some extra training would be a good idea at this point in the story.

I won't bore you with the intensive (read panic) 3 week training period leading up to the event, but a short and scenic drive to the B&B in Kincraig on Friday left us raring to go for the following days charity ride.

Following some carbo loading (ahem!!!) a Mexican meal followed by an ice cream in Aviemore then tea and doughnuts back at the B&B. The talk was all about us being participants and not competitors and 4½ hours being a reasonable target time etc etc, all very laid back and sensible. Who were we kidding.

Saturday dawned still and overcast, perfect weather conditions for a charity ride if a little early. Munching breakfast with loads of tea at 6.30 in the morning ready to catch the bus round to the start. Yes, buses were laid on to take "participants" from Kincraig round to the signing on at Fort Augustus, a 2hr trip. During this trip attention was drawn to Anthony's rucksack. Now Phil and I were travelling light, but Anthony has this rucksack, and it was big, really BIG and heavy. We're talking "what on earth have you got in there" type heavy. Speculation around the bus on large flasks of tea, sandwiches, complete change of clothes, full toolkit and spares to rebuild several bikes, all proved unfounded. The rucksack remained resolutely closed as did Anthony's lips on the subject. We never did get to the bottom of it, the rucksack that is, ho ho. Look it was 2hrs on a bus, what do you expect "big" mountain biking kids to do! Onwards.

To say we were well looked after during the day would be an understatement, the signing on tent was a Marquee in the grounds of a local hotel. The toilets were in the hotel itself (no portaloo's here), they didn't seem to mind hoards of bikers and runners wandering through the hotel in cleats and trainers. Amazing.

A quick pin on with the number, a token gesture of a warm up and it was on to the start line along with 100 odd other mountain bikers (the runners were off later, there being almost 300 competitors taking part altogether). The tape drops and a few cries of good luck and we were off. Elbows out, up the gears, passing on the left, passing on the right, Phil up ahead dicing with the leaders, Anthony and me spinning along in the big ring mid-pack. All pretence of "participation" had gone right out of the window, charity ride - what charity ride, this was a RACE!

Now if you think I'm going to tell you what it's like to cycle over the Corrieyairack Pass (the highest mountain road in Scotland I'll have you know) then all I'm saying is "if you want to know what it's like, you'll have to go and do it yourself and then - you'll see" I'm not breaking the conspiracy, no way .

.after the pass itself, it was on to the road section from Garva Bridge to the finish in Kincraig. According to Phil, the leaders had a police escort all the way and for the rest of us, each road junction was closed as we approached. And I really mean closed - marshals standing in the middle of the road stopping the traffic for each individual competitor. There were even spectators cheering everybody on along the route. Amazing.

The finish was just as impressive, just before the final 1 in 5 hill (phew) there was a marshal sitting at the side of the road with a walkie-talkie, he was calling ahead your number so when you eventually got to the finishing line, the announcer could call out your name and team to the crowd. "And here comes Malcolm Gallon across the line give him a big cheer" - and the crowd goes wild! Well perhaps not quite, but after 43 miles it left you feeling well chuffed!

Since the race was now over, the charity ride bit came back with a very welcome vengeance. Every finisher got a medal, sandwiches and coffee, free massage if you needed it and generally looked after at every turn. Amazing.

The official bit:

Philip (The Hare) Kelman finished 4th in 3hrs 6 mins only a couple of minutes off the lead, Anthony (Big Rucksack) English was 31st in 3hrs 51 mins and Malcolm (The Tortoise) Gallon was 41st in 3hrs 59 mins. Our team "Are we there yet?" finished 8th overall and we raised over £500 between us.

Will I do it again - yes definitely, hopefully with the same team, perhaps all in Deeside colours this time! And how about more than one Deeside team, you've got almost a year to prepare and beat our thrown together in a few weeks effort. Raise money for charity, feel good inside, take on a challenging ride, get looked after and cosseted for a whole day and get to join the Corrieyairack Challenge conspiracy.

"You'll see" - we did.

Malcolm Gallon