Mountain Biking Events

There are far too many Events nationwide to list, but we'll try to keep you abreast of the key events during the year.

In times past, Mountain bike races were 2-3 hour intense affairs which were generally for the more "racehead" orientated rider. Over the last decade, 'enduro' or 'marathon' style events have become more and more popular. The format being a longer, more endurance style event rather than a racing snake blast. These events bring more of the elements of a long cross country ride into the equation, with emphasis being on, pacing, endurance and self sufficiency. Some of these events are listed below:

Chain Reaction MTB marathon series 2012 date are as follows:

Builth Wells - Wales
7th April 2012 - Exposure Light Big Night Out (Night Marathon)
8th April 2012 - Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon

Selkirk - Scotland
20th May 2012 - Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon

Marshbrook – England (Shropshire)
15th July 2012 - Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon

Abergavenny - Wales
4th August 2012 - Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon
(Please note that the MTB Marathon is running on Saturday!)

Ruthin - Wales
16th September 2012 - Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon

Howies Dyfi Enduro

The Howies Dyfi Enduro is a non-competitive long distance mountain bike challenge held on the May bank holiday

The overall ride format of the event will remains, with the big group lead out on the back road up to Ceinws, followed by a demanding 45ish km off-road loop in the Dyfi forest, as in previous years, the route will be technically, as well as physically challenging. Due to changing trail conditions, and forestry work the exact route has yet to be confirmed, but rest assured it will be up to the usual high standards. Because the route uses some sections of private land will not be posting a route map.

The Dyfi Enduro is a single 60km loop in the Dyfi forest, near Machynlleth in Mid-Wales. Its a tough route, with long climbs (around 2000m of ascent) and long rough demanding descents.

The Coed Y Brenin Enduro, at the famous CyB Forestry trail centre in North Wales has 30km and 55km route options. They cover a wide variety of terrain, from trail centre and natural single-track, to byways, grass and some tarmac back lanes. The longer route has around 1700m of ascent.

Both events are mass start endurance challenges, you can go as fast or as slow as you like, and we do not award prizes based on finishing time or position, the emphasis here is on riding some great hard to find trails, all signposted, gates open, with the added bonus of finding dancing cheerleaders, banjo picking rednecks, or a free bar and disco stuck out in the woods somewhere.

The best way to keep up to date on both events, and to get some feedback on what they are really like to ride, is to join the respective Facebook groups. We will post more info in the form of FAQ’s soon.

UK Gravity Enduro Series

If downhill racing has left you cold as you waited for uplifts for a minimal number of runs and classic cross country racing has failed to provide the thrills that you’ve earnt on the ups, then the Gravity Enduro is the format for you.

There will be five events across England, Wales and Scotland, taking place from May to September and we’re looking forward to both supporting, attending and taking part in the events. If you can hustle the downs as well as you can sweat it out on the climbs and you fancy getting real value for money from a race along with an epic, fun, day out then this is the race series you need to be part of.

Entry costs £70 per round and for that you will get two full days of riding your bike. At each race, Saturday will be taken up by open practice on the race route followed by a seeding run to get riders in order for race day. On Sunday there will be five, timed, competitive stages of varying lengths. The linking climbs must be completed within a set amount of time, much like a car rallying event. The final stage at all rounds will come into a DH type finish arena, where friends, family and fans can stay and cheer riders in.

While previous Enduro events in the UK have suffered due to poor timing, this series promises to get it right, with all stages being electronically timed and manually backed up. An enduro event has never been timed to the level in the UK before. Organisers include ex British Downhill Series organiser Steve Parr, so the team have plenty of experience in running well timed, fun and highly organised events.

Round 1 will be at Ae forest Dumfries, 7-8 May

Round 2 will be at Kielder, Northumberland, 11-12 June

Round 3 will be at Innerleithen, Peebleshire, 16-17 July

Round 4 will be at Eastridge, just outside Shrewsbury, 6-7 August

Round 5, the final, will be at Bryn Betws 4x track in Afan South Wales, 10-11 September

Original Source Mountain Mayhem

It’s that time again…This year will be the 15th Mountain Mayhem and it still remains the biggest and best 24 hour event in the UK, and the only one that can claim to be the ‘Glastonbury of mountain biking’

Don’t delay in getting your entry form filled in – we know from past experience that it usually sells out within a week of entries going out. You might not feel like racing a 24hour now, but once the long evenings roll around and the trails dry out, you’re going to be glad you made the effort now and got your entry in – as you lounge trackside, cooking the bacon and tormenting the solo riders at 8am…

Talking of time too, this year, for the first time ever, Mountain Mayhem will start at NOON. This means (in a way…) that it’ll be over quicker and you’ll have more of Sunday to get packed up and head home (or to get even more food on the barbecue and stay over)

The Event this year will take place on the 22nd, 23rd, 24th June 2012

Entries open on the 29th February 2012

For further information about the event please click HERE