AN EPIC and highly eventful attempt at one of mountain-biking's most fearsome tests, the TransAlps Challenge, has left a Kendal man exhilerated and frustrated, bloodied, sore and out-of-pocket, but still ready to come back and try again in next year's race.

Paul Trott has just returned from completing the eight-day challenge, which takes riders through valley-hugging forests out into the alpine meadows and on to the rocky, barren reaches of the highest mountain passes on the border between Austria, Swizerland and Italy.

It sounds picturesque but the reality is a brutal examination of man and bike covering 662km and featuring 22,455m of ascent - an average of 82.7km and 2,806m of climbing a day in temperatures climbing to 30 degrees.

Twelve months ago, Paul and Wheelbase team-mate Stuart Reid, from Staveley, completed the challenge and on the back of that effort they were hopeful of leading the English contingent this time as last year they finished 46th of the 550 teams after the first-day mass start in Ausria.

But when the second day's riding began, there were signs all was not well with Stuart, who showed unusual signs of fatigue and lagged behind Paul despite being a more powerful climber.

After the duo slipped to 53rd, it was clear there was something wrong. Into Switzerland on the third day from Scuol, the test of the 2,600m Idjoch pass took the cyclistsc on to ompacted ice and there was more than the odd tumble from the bike to be concerned about.

A listless Stuart was devoid of energy and reduced to pushing his bike with head bowed and racked with pain.

It turned out he had a kidney infection, was showing blood in his urine, and the only option was for him to pull out of the race.

With the help of their support team of two friends in a camper van, they got Stuart to medical attention and he was put on antibiotics.

"He was devastated, " said Paul. "He had put so much time and effort into preparing for the event and was worried for me because he couldn't carry on."

That was not the end of the story, however, for Paul contacted the race office and found two Americans to link up with to continue, though his ride would not count on the official record.

The hottest day and a long 18k stage from Naturnes in Austria followed and Paul wondered if he had made the right decision, but was consoled when the Americans finished 19th.

In to Italy for the fifth day Paul's usefulness to his new team-mates was demonstrated when one of the Americans suffered a blow-out on the descent. Paul mended the damaged wheel. They dropped to 33rd before improving to 28th on the sixth day.

"The cameraderie among the riders was incredible," said Paul. "One rider snapped a chain and someone passing handed over a spare."

Dehydration was a major problem as they entered the Dolomites on the seventh day for the longest stage of 123km. Paul drank almost six litres of water without counting swigs taken from bottles offered along the roadside.

The eighth day still had its own terrors with a very technical rocky descent causing riders without disc brakes to feel their inner-tubes explode underneath them.

Paul crashed in torrential rain on the way to the finish at Riva del Garda overlooking Italy's largest lake. He skidded across the road, put a hole in his hip and removing skin from his knee and elbow for "souvenirs" to take home.

The adventure had a final despairing twist. Overnight after the pasta party for competitors, the Wheelbase team had two well-secured bikes stolen from the back of the camper van in a locked hotel compound.

"We were obviously gutted," said Paul. "There was a top-line racing bike worth £4,000 which was still not paid for and another of about £2,500 - and it's not loking hopeful on the insurance claim because of loopholes in the small print."

Yet the experience had not put off Paul, who has qualified for the World Trailquest (bike orienteering) Championships in Australia in the autumn. And with veteran status awaiting him next year, he is already planning for another taste of the TransAlp experience.