Should I Go Bigger? Thoughts After Riding the Borderland 150
Last year, I rode the 150-mile route at the Borderland 500, and honestly… I loved it.
It had everything I want from a long ride — tough climbs, quiet backroads, incredible scenery, and that special kind of atmosphere you only find at events like this. It was hard, for sure, but not soul-destroying. The good kind of hard. The kind you still think about weeks later.
Now the event’s coming round again, and I’m asking myself a familiar question:
Do I go bigger this year?
The full 500-mile route is calling. It’s another level of challenge — more miles, more isolation, more mental and physical effort. It’s the kind of thing that leaves a mark. And part of me wants that.
But then again… there’s something to be said for doing the 150-mile route again.
You still get to tackle some of the best climbs in the area. You still ride some of the most stunning, remote roads in the UK. And you're still part of the full event atmosphere — the same people, the same shared energy, just without quite as much suffering.
So now I’m stuck in the debate I think a lot of riders face:
If you could go further… should you?
Or is there value in choosing to ride well, ride hard, and still have something left in the tank?
Why do we even do these events?
It’s not just about miles. There’s something more going on here.
Some people are chasing limits. Some are chasing peace. Some just want an excuse to ride somewhere new with no pressure and good company. And honestly, it might be all of those at once.
Whatever it is, there’s something magnetic about the Borderland 500. The kind of event you don’t forget easily — whether you’re riding 150 miles or all 500.
Thinking about entering?
I’d say go for it — whatever route you pick. You’ll find your own reason out there. And who knows… maybe next year you’ll be tempted to go even bigger too.
See you out there?