GUIDEBOOK
MTB-MARATHON.CO.UK 2012
2011 Reviews The best bits from last years events
2012 Previews What’s in store this season
10 Ways
To have your best Marathon ride ever
Vitus Full Sportives rundown of the 2012 road events
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Welcome
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
to the CRC MTB Marathon Series Guidebook 2012
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thon riding to five different locations all over the UK and will combine them once again with night marathons and/or road sportives to give the riders out there five activity packed weekends.
Every year since our humble beginnings in 2000 we have tried to create exciting mountain bike marathons and 2012 is looking to be another great year for the UK mountain bike marathon scene. Now in its third year the CRC MTB Marathon Series powered by Mercedes-Benz will take mara-
2012 will see the introduction of the new location - Abergavenny (the gateway to Wales) as well as the return to new favourites like Marshbrook in Shropshire. On top of that we are extending our road sportive offerings from three to four events (the Vitus Road Sportives powered by Cycle-Ops Power to be precise) and we are running the first ever triple event at the final round in Ruthin...who
Content Page 6-13 2011 Reviews
Page 14-16
10 Ways To Have Your Best Marathon Ride, Ever! would have thought that 13 years ago?! Our trusted sponsors CRC and Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport are with us again in 2012 supporting the event and the riders wherever possible and helping us to make 2012 another great year of MTB marathon, night marathon and road sportive riding.
Page 20-35
Preview 2012 Events
Page 36-37 2012 Calendar
Page 38-40
But as you can see we have a few more changes in 2012. For the first time we have abandoned the paper version of the guidebook and are bringing you the new interactive flip-book version you are looking at right now.
Camping Tips
The 2012 guidebook is, as usual full of interesting stories, features and information about MTB Marathons and road sportives and will hopefully fill all the gaps you might have.
Page 48-55
So sit back and enjoy the read and hopefully see you at the 2012 CRC and Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport MTB Marathon Series and the Vitus Road Sportives powered by CycleOps Power.
Page 43-45
Marathon Bike Advisor
Perfect Marathon Kit
Page 56-58
Night Riding Tips
Page 60-62 Zero to Hero
Happy Trails.
Michael Wilkens Co-Organiser
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2011 CRC MTB MAR The Year that Was
Spread out across five UK rounds the 2011 series was a true belter of great British mountain biking
Round 1
Builth Wells, Mid Wales 9th-11th April 2011
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
The first part of the 2011 season got under way at the series’ spiritual home of Builth Wells. With the weather playing ball with un-seasonally warm temperatures, the courses were in absolute tip top condition and the massed throng of marathoners were in for a genuine treat.
First out of the starting blocks were 300 riders assembled for the star lit singletrack speed shake that is the Exposure Lights Big Night Out (ELBNO); under clear, crisp dark skies the riders enjoyed the extended course that co-organiser John Lloyd had laid on for them. Longer and tougher than the previous year it ensured that even the ELBNO Old Faithful would have a new, more challenging ride experience to get their teeth into. And get their teeth into it they did: with the fastest riding taking almost two hours to complete the 43km course and the last rider returning in just under 4 1/2 hours, there was plenty of time to savour the fine trails. And the tea and cake stop on the top of the moors, too. Let’s not forget that. The next morning 900 riders formally kicked off the Spring Marathon to well and truly usher into being the 2011 CRC MTB-MARATHON SERIES, POWERED BY MERCEDES-BENZ VITO SPORT. Again, the weather was extremely good and the conditions out on course exceptional – so much so that the 75km course took just 3hrs 15mins to complete. Scorching.
But, as with all the CRC MTB Marathons, the event is inclusive and empowering, helping riders, both young and old, to realise their riding dreams whether they’ve only just discovered the joys of riding on the dirt or have already racked up countless trail miles. It’s against this atmosphere that many virgin riders discover their marathon addiction, and 2011 was no different: “I had a blast doing the 50k on Sunday,” wrote Chris Schröder: “[It’s the] first time I’ve attempted anything that big and it was much more doable than I expected – thanks for a great event and a great course!”
“I had a blast doing the 50k on Sunday,”
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RATHON REVIEWS Round 2
Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales 21st-22nd May 2011 The final flurry into the start/finish area through the sinuous singletrack descent through Cefndyrys Woods was a popular way to finish; it also ensured that everyone finished their ride on an endorphin high, which is just as it should be. It was official: the 2011 series was well and truly cooking on gas.
(Click on our TV to watch the event video)
The second round of the series saw the premier of a brand new venue in Llandovery, together with the first outing of the CycleOps Power Road Sportive alongside the MTB Marathons, and delivered a true belter in both. The CycleOps Power Road Sportive offered two different courses on the Saturday with some of the most demanding climbs the area has to offer. The ride was both tough but rewarding, with stunning views, and memorable roads that took in both the Sugar Loaf and the infamous Devil’s Staircase. Praise for both sportive courses was high, with some riders declaring them, “One of the best courses we have ridden!” The tough proposition of the courses themselves were made harder still by consistently strong winds which saw tents and marquees flitting like litter on the breeze. The first rider who conquered the 2,000+m of climbing of the short course was back in the event village after 2hrs 44mins, while the last rider who conquered
“One of the best courses we have ridden!”
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2011 CRC MTB MAR the 90mile and 2,500m of climbing long course did so in a time of 7hrs and 49mins.
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
Next morning it was the fat tyre brigade’s turn to be unleashed on the terrain surrounding Llandovery, and despite a strong downpour, the enthusiasm of the riders couldn’t be dampened: “After driving through torrential rain on the way I must admit I was a bit worried however the weather eased to give just the right amount
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ing: the 28km mini marathon, the 45km half marathon, the 70km middle distance marathon, and the 88km full marathon. Luckily when the riders lined up for the start at 10am on the Sunday morning, the Sun came out and stayed out for the rest of the day, too. Taking riders into the heart of the Brecon Becons National Park and through some outstanding scenery on true grit trails – some of which had never been used before for mountain biking – all four mountain bike courses wrung the maximum potential that the Brecon Beacons have to offer. With a magic mix of open hill, rocky trails and passes, fast descents, forest roads, dual- and single-tracks, and a genuine ‘out there’ feel amidst a stunningly imposing landscape.
Despite this bright blessing, the trails were still tough going, requiring many riders to grit their teeth and get their mind’s locked in to the slip, sliding fun that was the universal truth of the day’s riding: you either went with the flow or you got dumped unceremoniously into some slop. Despite this, riders posted some impressive times with the first rider on the mini marathon coming home in 1hr 23mins. The final rider home
of mud to make things entertaining,” wrote Ian Woodier, so much so that “I have done several of the events over the years and Llandovery rates amongst my favourites.” For the first time in the 2011 series all four marathon distances were on offer, includ-
“...to give just the right amount of mud to make things entertaining,”
RATHON REVIEWS from the full marathon to a warm shower and a well-earned hot cup of tea did so in 7hrs and 16mins.
Llandovery had been on the mental radar of course designer John Lloyd as a venue for the CRC MTB Marathons and, going by the feedback from the finish line, it was clear that despite the mud plugging, it was a choice well-made, whether riders hugged the black top or the dirt.
Round 3
Marshbrook, Shropshire, England 2nd-3rd July 2011 This is England! But more precisely, it’s the area of this sceptered isle that boasts possibly the longest singletrack section in all of England, housed unpretentiously in the secret jewel that is the Long Myndd (Long Mountain). It’s also an area of outstanding natural beauty that blends incredible riding
with awesome scenery. With such ingredients on-tap for the third round of the CRC MTB Marathon, it was all but guaranteed that course designer John Lloyd would bake up a recipe for biking success. And man, he did not disappoint.
“Having been riding events for seven years,” said Steve Jones, “I’d say this ranks amongst the best, if not the best event I’ve taken part in.” High praise indeed, but he wasn’t alone: the majority of comments that came back to MTB Marathon HQ agreed wholeheartedly. “It was a fantastic weekend,” wrote Terry Walsh, “and several times on the long course I thought, ‘This is one of the best days biking I have ever had!’ The descents were brilliant the views excellent and I enjoyed the balance of singletrack double track and linking quiet roads.” So should Selkirk’s legendary status be worried? In a word, yes. Marshbrook delivered some of the greatest, most inspiring, and downright fun riding the MTB Marathon Series has ever seen. The kind blessing of fine weather was just the sweetest cherry on top. With five brand new courses on offer – including two road sportives, and three MTB Marathons – the whale backed plateau that is the Long Myndd has it all: hidden within its clefts and folds is some truly sumptuous riding – including the famous Minton Batch descent
“This is one of the best days biking I have ever had!”
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2011 REVIEWS
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
that is, according to both What Mountain Bike and MBR magazines, one of the best singletrack descents in Britain. And yes, Minton Batch was deployed to great effect. As was the former NPS (National Points Series) venue of Forest of Eastridge. And many, many more fine trails, too.
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The route quality for both the road and mountain bike events were through the roof, but so was the challenge: one look at any of the course profiles showed virtually zero flat – riders were either going up or coming down, and this meant that the rides were all challenging. The road sportive saw riders winching themselves up 20% gradients and 2800m of climbing, whilst the going was no different for the mountain bikers. The first rider sportive rider conquered the 1,700m of climbing short course in 2hrs 39mins, while the last rider home from the 85 mile long course, was welcomed back after 7hrs 21mins. The mountain bikers saw the first short-course rider romp home in 1hr 15mins, whilst the long course took 7hrs 41mins for the final rider to complete. A long day in the saddle for sure, but also ones that will fuel each and every rider’s mind’s eye for years to come as some of the greatest riding this country has to offer.
Quite simply, if you missed Marshbrook last year, you missed out.
Round 4
Selkirk, Scotland 23rd-24th July 2011 The ancient and Royal Burgh of Selkirk stands high above the Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys with a deep and rich history. The landscape surrounding the town is a perfect marathon playground both on and off the dirt; augmented by some of the world’s best purpose built trails that Pete Laing, the course designer and CRC MTB Marathon’s man on the ground, has taken full advantage of for the past years, and last year’s event was no different. Saturday saw the final instalment of the CycleOps Power Road Sportive and almost 300 riders turned up to test themselves on the Tweed Tarmac. And what a test, too: both courses on offer – the shorter 47 mile and the 95 mile long route – saw altitude profiles like the ECG trace of a heart attack: never level, just surging up or dropping downwards. With four major climbs on the shorter route and double that on the longer route – and with only one of them
...one look at any of the course profiles showed virtually zero flat...
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2011 CRC MTB MAR being less than 100m of vertical ascent – the riders well and truly earned the scenic and sweeping descent rewards. After 2hrs 28mins the first 47 mile rider came into the event village while the last 95 mile rider made the most of the perfect sun-spoiled weather and took 7hrs and 48mins to come full circle.
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
The next day it was the turn of the mountain bikers to hit the saddle and take on the world-famous Tweed Valley trails. With lung, arm and leg busting climbs Selkirk certainly made the riders work for their gravity rewards, peppered as they were with gob smacking views of the Scottish borders. And then there’s the riding: fast, rolling singletrack with centrifugal berms, gnadgery rock sections, timber bridges, drop offs and snaking, sinewy trail that seemed to last forever, rewarding both fitness and finesse with Zen-like flow. What’s more, the fine weather continued to deliver great riding conditions under tyre and crystal visibility for riders to truly savour the life-affirming scenery.
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The grins on people’s faces as they finished confirmed that yet again, Pete had done a great job. Blend in the great weather and the post-ride buzz, the finish line became a great place to relax, cheer and heckle riders, and welcome back the weary with a very well-earned cold drink. The first rider on the Mini Marathon made it over the line in just over 1hr 30mins while the last rider on the 88km full marathon took 8hrs 23mins to complete the challenging course. But what a ride.
Round 5
Ruthin, North Wales 17th-18th September 2011 The final round of the CRC MTB Marathon returned to the now traditional close of season venue that is Ruthin, north Wales. The 2011 swan song event mirrored the format of the first of the year by being both a night and day marathon double-header with the second Exposure Lights Big Night Out (ELBNO). And what a night… More than 140 riders clicked on their lights to skewer the darkness with their high powered lumen lightsaber before heading out along the challenging 42km course. The route climbed to Moel Famau and its blend of wooded double and singletrack for speeder bike thrills, before descending the Firth Mountain. Climbing upwards once again brought riders to the moorland stretch from where they were on top of the world and immersed in the genuine thrill of being ‘out there’. The route then crossed the famous Offa’s Dyke Path and descended rapidly to Gellifor and, finally, back to Ruthin.
...hit the saddle and take on the world-famous Tweed Valley trails...
RATHON REVIEWS The first rider over the line managed to finish the course in 1hr 53mins while the last night rider made their return in 4hrs 17mins. The next morning the final course of the entire 2011 series got underway with a huge crowd of riders. The weather had been unstable, bequeathing a decent lashing of moisture and mud to the trails – although not as bad as the biblical crud-fest of the 2010 version. Thankfully. With four courses on the menu – with the half and full marathons being the most popular – there was something for everyone, no matter what their riding ability of experience. Yet again, the MTB Marathon Series’ experts on the ground – the Llanferres Playing Field & Recreation Association (LPFRA) – delivered an overall riding experience that was nothing short of incredible. Each course made the most of the riding that’s available here: with oodles of curvaceously gorgeous singletrack lacing the length and breadth of the hills – and a fair collection of steep, fast and pumpy descents that offer genuine ‘devil may care’ speed thrills – the Clwydian’s are benevo-
lent hosts to literally hundreds of kilometres of trails. And once again, the LPFRA served them up for the collected throng of singletrack surfers. The fastest rider on the 30km mini marathon was back in an incredible time of 1hr 17mins while the last full distance rider made his way over the finish line at the Ruthin Rugby Club 8hrs 23mins after they headed off to bring to a close the 2011 CRC MTB-MARATHON SERIES, POWERED BY MERCEDES-BENZ VITO SPORT. 2011’s series was without doubt an absolute belter with some incredible highs – chief of which was the surprise of Marshbrook pushing Selkirk hard for the crown of the must-ride jewel in the MTB Marathon crown. But whichever round you rode, they were all proof if ever proof were needed that Britain has truly world-class trails: and they’re just out there ready and waiting for your tyreprint to return… We would like to thank once more our great sponsors in 2011 in particular Chain Reaction Cycles and MercedesBenz Vito Sport for their ongoing support. We would also like to thank Saris, High5, Schwalbe, MBUK, Exposure Lights, Birzman, Buff, Fibrax, Polaris, Squirt, FFWD, Stan’s Notubes, Phase 9, USE, PPG, Ernest Press and last but not least the great skills coaches from Cycle Active. Above all we would like to thank all the riders who came to the 2011 events and who made them once more a big success. We hope that we can welcome you all again in 2012.
(Click on our TV to watch the event video)
...the 2011’s series was without doubt an absolute belter...
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10 WAYS
TO HAVE YOUR BEST MARATHON RIDE, EVER!
Whatever distance of ride you’re doing, these tips can help make the difference between enduring it and enjoying it…
1
Give yourself time
Arrive early and get everything ready and prepped well before the start time – be that the night before or early in the morning of the ride. Before you even leave home make sure that your bike is in perfect working order, too. If you’re no good with a spanner then take it to a good local bike shop in plenty of time for any problems it may have to be sorted out. Do everything to reduce the faff-factor come the morning of the race: running around like a headless chicken does not make for the best way to start your ride – especially if you actually miss the start itself! So think ahead and plan. Get your riding pack packed the night before; get your gear all together and ready to go; get your bike primed, doublecheck the suspension sag and settings, as well as tyre pressures and saddle height the day before if you can. And whatever you do, don’t go bleeding brakes or swapping on a brand new chain just minutes before you head off into the hills!
2
Eat well, ride well
Have a good feed the night before, lay off the booze, and come morning eat an hour or two before the start. But tempting as that full fry up may be, leave it for tomorrow’s post-ride brekkie. What you need is plenty of good slow release carbs in your belly to help fuel your ride – not a gut full of grease. Some toast, fresh fruit, porridge, or wholegrain cereals would be just the ticket. And drink plenty of water, too to ensure you’re as hydrated as you can be.
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3
Get in shape
The fitter you are, the easier you will find the ride and the more fun you can have. After all, it’s always preferable to enjoy rather than endure something. But that doesn’t have to be ‘training’ per se – any exercise you do, from playing footie, to commuting by bike to work is all good. But if you want to focus on getting fitter then the best and most time-effective way is to go out and do regular hilly rides. As most mountain bike rides are inevitably taking you up hill and down dale, the reality is that you’re probably already doing this! So don’t view it as training – see it as more riding opportunities!
4
Be self-sufficient
Don’t rely on the kindness of strangers: take all that you need with you to be as self-sufficient as possible – after all, it can be a long walk out! Conversely, it’s easy to get carried away with the amount of gear you can take out on a ride: the truth is that you only need what you use (barring emergency kit, of course – which we hope you won’t need but should take nonetheless); so be realistic and ask yourself whether you actually do need to take the kitchen sink? And if you do, do you really need to take the taps, too? The bare essentials are undoubtedly a good multi-tool, puncture repair kit, tyre levers, mini-pump, spare inner tube, food and drink, basic first aid and, if the weather is changeable, a warm and waterproof jacket. Don’t forget your mobile phone and the emergency contact numbers, too, just in case.
5
Self seed
Position yourself sensibly in the pack before the start. With several hundred riders on the course, the first few kilometres can involve a lot of hold ups. If you’re there to go hell for leather then try and get near the front. If you just want to get round then opt to be nearer the back to ensure you’re not holding up the keen speedsters, but also to give yourself a more relaxing ride where you’re not being buzzed by overtakers every few metres.
6
Be conservative
When you go get started, don’t get carried away: you have a long way to go and so you don’t want to use up all your energy in the first 20km or so trying to keep up with the fast boys. Take it slowly. Use easier gears than normal up climbs. Don’t power up stuff unless you have to – save your power for later in the ride when you’ll really need it. If you’ve never done a ride of a similar distance as that which you’ve entered on then it’s always better to start slower than you think so you can finish strongly. There’s nothing worse than starting fast only to fade and to little more than a whimper later on.
7
Be courteous.
Everyone wants to ride singletrack, and as hard as John Lloyd and Pete Laing work to put in as much as possible, it’s inevitably going to lead to bottle-necks at points. Don’t barge your way through the crowds – everyone’s heading in the same direction after all. Chill out, be patient, make conversation with other riders or drink in the scenery and remember that you’re out in the hills, not in the centre of London.
8
Bring supplies
The feed stations are supposed to allow you to top up your drink and food supplies – they aren’t substitutes for it. So ensure you have plenty of food and drink from the start but also remember to drink and nibble a little and often. About three to four mouthfuls of liquid every 15mins or so should keep you hydrated (more if it’s hot), and try to eat something every quarter of an hour, too. The idea is to keep your engine topped-up with fuel rather than running it close to empty before doing anything about it. Before the event itself it does pay to experiment with different energy drinks and foods to see what works best for you: they’re deeply personal and what works for one person may not be palatable or even agree with the digestion of another. Once you’ve found what works for you, stick with it.
9
Make friends
Take time to talk to the people you find around you out on the trail: many a friendship has been sparked up on the trails, and even some love, too. After all, if they like you after seeing you all hot and sweaty dressed in Lycra, you’re probably onto a winner! You’ll also find that the people around you after about an hour of riding or so will most probably be the same folks you will cross the line with later on, so enjoy both the ride and the company, too.
10
Enjoy yourself!
Riding bikes is supposed to be fun so make the most of your two-wheeled adventures. Have a giggle. Smile. Laugh. Take the good-natured mick out of each other. Whatever you do, have fun and love the ride!
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2012 preview
&
Each event up close and in depth for 2012
Round 1
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
Builth Wells, Mid Wales 7th-8th April 2012
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Exposure Lights Big Night Out (ELBNO) Night Marathon (Saturday night) & Spring Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series Powered By Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport MTB Marathon (Sunday) The first Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport of the 2012 season will follow in the fine steps of the previous year being, as it is, a double header of day and night time marathon action. Returning to the spiritual home of the UK’s mountain bike marathon phenomenon, Builth Wells, you can be assured of stunning scenery and great riding with plenty
of pumpy, swoopy singletrack tempered with epic moorland riding and full-bodied climbs. The sweetener? More than its fair share of great gravity plummeting as a just pay-off for the hard earned altitude gains. Whether you’re an experienced marathoner or a virgin rider this round has something for you: choose from the biggest mass start night time marathon in Britain, the fantastic Exposure Lights Big Night Out (ELBNO) on the Saturday night, with its challenging and exhila-
2
rating 40-45km (approx) route, or either the 28km mini marathon, 55km half marathon, or 70km mid marathon on the Sunday for a daylight romp around the hills. Or tackle both if you really want to squeeze the maximum fun from one of the longest established mountain bike host towns in Britain. What’s more, the routes for both the day and night marathons will be almost entirely different, so you will get maximum mileage under your tyres. Now we can’t say fairer than that now can we guv’nor?! Oh, go on then: we’ll also throw in a moorland tea and cake stop on the ELBNO to help warm your cockles…
MTB Holidays & Courses with CycleActive 15 Years of Mountain Bike Travel and Training At each round of the series CycleActive (www.cycleactive.co.uk), one of Britain’s premier mountain bike skills and holiday providers, will be offering advice and special discounts on their wide range of courses and holidays. They’ll also offer a number of introducory skills sessions for children and parents on the Sunday, while the riders are out on course. CycleActive courses have been endorsed by some of the most infleuntial people in mountain biking - they’ve coached everyone from hardened trail riders to elite racers, total novices and the Olympic Talent Team. Their latest video for What Mountain Bike led to the new skills series running in the magazine throughout this season - look out for Chris Ford and his team from May onwards.
Exposure Lights (www.exposurelights. com) will also be on hand throughout the weekend for you to browse their latest and greatest range of lights – for both performance and commuting purposes – as well as bringing along their essential charging station should your lights need a final top-up; if you like the look of the eye candy being displayed then Chain Reaction Cycles (www.chainreactioncycles.com) will also be on-hand should you wish to buy a new set of lights – or any other marathon essential, too.
Discount prices for all courses are available if you book while at an event - all marathon riders get 20% off any skills course if they quote their ride number when they book. Junior Skills But that’s not all: to support the younger riders who are not yet old enough to complete a marathon, on the Sunday the CycleActive team will run a morning and afternoon skills session for juniors and their parents too. The first of these will run half an hour after the marathon start, the second will run at 12:30pm, and youngsters are encouraged to attend both sessions as they will cover different skills. Sessions are free and there is no need to sign up in 21 advance.
Event Details When? 7th-8th April 2012
What? Exposure Lights Big Night Out(ELBNO) 40-45km (approx.) Night Marathon is on the evening of Saturday 7th, and the Spring Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series Powered By Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport (28km mini marathon, 55km half marathon, 70km mid marathon) are on Sunday 8th April. Distances are approximate.
• • • • • • •
Waterproof jacket. Tools and inner tubes. Energy food and drink. Space / foil blanket. Backup light. Sufficient lights for offroad night riding. Red LED rear light burn time in between three to five hours (depending on your abilities and how long you expect to be out there).
Further Details? Please go to the ELBNO and/or Spring Marathon event pages on www.mtb-marathon.co.uk
Where? The Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Mid Wales. As with all rounds of the series, the event village will be signposted from Friday afternoon onwards.
Registration? Saturday from 12pm – 8pm Sunday from 7am – 9am
Start Times? The Exposure Lights Big Night Out (ELBNO) Night Marathon starts at 7.30pm on Saturday. The Spring Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon starts at 10.30am on Sunday.
NEW
Round 2
FOR
2012
Selkirk, Scotland 19th-20th May 2012
The Vitus Sportive powered by CycleOps Power (Saturday), Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series Powered By Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport Marathons & The National Marathon Championships (both on Sunday).
Special Requirements? Due to its nighttime nature, there is a mandatory kit list that riders tackling the ELBNO need to carry. Please note, this compliments our usual recommendations for any of the events of the CRC MTB Marathon Series:
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Moving up the CRC MTB Marathon Series, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport calendar is one of the legendary rounds of the entire event’s history: Selkirk. Home of the brave but also of some utterly, utterly world-class riding, if you love single-
!
The second round of the 2012 series also plays host to the first Vitus Sportive powered by CycleOps Power of the series. Kicking the weekend’s proceedings off on the Saturday, it’s the perfect way to test your early season sportive legs. And what a course… Course designer Pete Laing has worked hard once again to showcase the fantastic road riding in this part of the world: with rolling mountain roads, sweeping hairpins, long and challenging climbs and aw-inspiring scenery there is nothing that you will want for from the course. It really is that good. Next morning sees the turn of the mountain bikers to pick up the riding baton. This round, however, also plays host to something very special alongside the traditional mix of non-competitive marathon riding – including the full compliment of MTB Marathon distances (28km mini-, 45km half-, the 70km mid-, and the 85km full-marathon). That is namely the first National Marathon Championships.
way the racers get a clear run at the singleloop course to duke it out for the silverware whilst the regular marathoners can marvel at the spinning, dusty dervish of the massrace start. Then, once the racers have shot off like bats out of hell, the regular riders can set off for their own trail adventure in a genuinely more sedate manner. Utilising the world-class trails of Glentress and Innerleithen, together with the cream of the Tweed Valley’s natural network, expect lashings of rolling singletrack with centrifugal berms, gnadgery rock sections, timber bridges, drop offs and snaking, sinewy trail that lasts forever and rewards both fitness and finesse with Zen-like flow. This is a world class riding destination for a reason and you can be sure that Pete has a vested interest to showcase it in the best light possible: he is one of the trail builders who has contributed significantly to this mountain bike Mecca. Although we say it every year it’s still as true today as it ever was: if you only ever do one MTB Marathon then make sure it’s Selkirk. You will not be disappointed.
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
track and lust after high proportions of it, together with the genuinely gob-smacking scenery of the Scottish Borders, then you absolutely, positively, definitely must ride Selkirk. Quite simply, it has it all – and more.
For all those endurance racers who have been hungering after the next step for their palamares, this is your chance to prove your mettle by gunning for glory and the national marathon title. The race will be run over the same long-course 85km course as the full marathon, however as it will be highly competitive the National Marathon Championships will start just before the usual MTB Marathon rides – including the full marathon riders. That
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It’sallallabout about It’s balance. balance.
vitosport @thevitosport vitosport @thevitosport www.vitosport.co.uk www.vitosport.co.uk
Desirable and accessible.
Who says you can’t have one without the other? A 3 year unlimited mileage warranty, 5 years or 60,000 miles free servicing, 24 hour roadside assistance definitely make the Vito Sport range desirable. And as all these come as standard, it’s entirely accessible. With great finance deals available, it’s the perfect choice for your bank balance too.
Event Details When? 19th-20th May 2012
What? The Vitus Sportive with a choice of two course lengths – the 47mile Standard Sportive, and the 92mile Classic Sportive – on Saturday 19th May, the National Marathon Championships – run alongside the CRC MTB Marathon events on the same course as the 85km full marathon (racers start ahead of the 85km non-competitive marathoners) – on Sunday 20th May, and the Selkirk Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series Powered By MercedesBenz Vito Sport (28km mini marathon, 45km half marathon, the 70km mid marathon, and the 85km full marathon) are on Sunday 20th May. Distances are approximate.
Where? Selkirk RFC (Rugby Football Club), Scottish Borders, Scotland. As with all rounds of the series, the event village will be signposted from Friday afternoon onwards. The guys at the rugby club always put extra effort in with local music acts in the bar on-site on Saturday evening. So kick back, unwind and enjoy!
Registration? Friday from 6pm – 9pm Saturday from 7am – 8pm Sunday from 7am – 9am
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Start Times? The Vitus Sportive powered by CycleOps Power start line is open from 8.30-9.30am on Saturday. The National Marathon Championships starts at 10am on Sunday, with the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon starts at immediately afterwards, also on the Sunday.
The National Marathon Championships? • Run alongside CRC MTB-Mar• • • • • • • •
athon. One lap of 85km. Championship riders start just ahead of CRC MTB-Marathon riders. Race starts at the Selkirk Rugby Club, Ettrickhaugh Rd, TD7 5AX, 10am Signing on: Sat 1pm - 8pm and Sun 7pm - 9am. Registration closes for Championship riders on 7th May 2012. A racing license is required for championship entry. National jersey for winners of 1st senior male, 1st senior female, 1st vet male and 1st vet female. Championship medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd for senior male, senior female, vet male and vet female.
Further to this please click here (PDF download) for further details on the ‘Feed/ Technical Assistance Zone Regulations’. If you should have any further questions regarding the National Marathon Championships please call John Lloyd on 01982 552923 or email us at info@mtb-marathon.co.uk.
Please go to the Selkirk Marathon event page on www.mtb-marathon.co.uk or visit the VITUS SPORTIVE page at www.roadsportives.co.uk.
Round 3
Marshbrook, Shropshire, England 14th-15th July 2012
The Vitus Sportive powered by CycleOps Power (Saturday), Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series Powered By Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport MTB Marathons (Sunday). Last year’s new kid on the marathon block made a name for its self as one of the very best events in the entire 12-year history of the MTB Marathon Series. And the good news is that it returns for 2012 ready to unleash another incredibly exhilarating weekend of road and mountain bike riding in one of the jewel in the crown locations of the British cycling scene: the mighty and majestic Long Myndd (long mountain). In case this area on the Welsh border has passed you by, here’s what makes the area such a gem: The Long Myndd is a whale-backed plateau that’s owned and protected by the
National Trust. Some ten miles long, and rising to 516m above sea level, it covers nearly 6000 acres and provides some stunning panoramas. Hidden within its clefts and folds is some truly sumptuous riding – including the famous Minton Batch descent that is, according to both What Mountain Bike and MBR magazines, one of the best singletrack descents in Britain. It would be sacrilege to imagine that this fine piece of trail won’t be used in the MTB Marathons, especially considering it is only a few minutes away from the event’s base at the Shropshire Hills Mountain Bike & Outdoor Pursuit Centre (www.mtb-shropshire. co.uk). So you can be sure you can savour this descent to finish on a fantastic high. On the road side of things the quality is no less than high. As Steve Thomas wrote on RoadCyclingUK.com, “The borderlands of South Shropshire are perhaps some of the best for road riding in all of Britain! The whole area is smothered in a blanket of deserted back roads. Whatever you want you’ll find it in the area; there are plenty of tough climbs, including the legendary leg bending Burway – which [has been used] for the National Hill Climb Champs. If you’re looking for more rolling terrain then the area between the Long Mynd and the Welsh border is
perfect, as are the roads directly to the south of the Mynd.” Think seemingly endless traffic-free rolling roads, challenging
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
Further Details?
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The final day of our “High Atlas Singletrack� 8-day Marocco holiday
Discover some of the world's greatest mountain biking on our guided holidays, and get ready for the challenge with our renowned skills courses. Since 1996 CycleActive has specialised in creating breathtaking adventures for mountain bikers of all ages and abilities. Check out our website, our YouTube and Facbook sites and find out how we can get you riding better, faster, further - whether in the UK or half way round the world. Visit www.cycleactive.co.uk, call 01768 840400, or come and chat to us at any of the marathon events.
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climbs, fast and flowing descents, castles, and the most breathtaking scenery the area has to offer – all served up with a hefty side order of quintessential countryside charm. Course designer John Lloyd has put together two fine road courses for the Vitus Sportive powered by CycleOps Power on the Saturday (the 50mile Standard Sportive, and the 85mile Classic Sportive) and three superb mountain bike courses (25km mini-, 45km half-, and the 75km mid-marathon) so whatever your level, you will find a ride to suit you. But be warned: if you’re asking why no full-marathon it’s because there is hardly a flat piece of terrain around the Long Myndd. As such, the routes (both road and mountain bike) either head up or point down with little chance for rest or easy spinning. Yes, the riding here is certainly robust but it’s also incredibly rewarding and the memories of your ride will stay with you for years, and years...
Event Details When? 14th-15th July 2012
What? The Vitus Sportive powered by CycleOps Power with a choice of two course lengths – the 50mile Standard Sportive, and the 85mile Classic Sportive – on Saturday 14th July, and the Marshbrook Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series Powered By Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport (25km mini marathon, 45km half marathon, and the 75km mid marathon) are on Sunday 15th July. Distances are approximate.
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Where? The Shropshire Hills Mountain Bike and Outdoor Pursuit Centre, Marshbrook. Riders will benefit from all facilities provided at the campground and event village across the weekend. It will be signposted from Friday afternoon onwards. As with all rounds of the series, the event village will be signposted from Friday afternoon onwards.
Registration? Friday from 6pm – 9pm Saturday from 7am – 8pm Sunday from 7am – 9am
Start Times? The Vitus Sportive start line is open from 8.30 - 10.00am on Saturday. The Chain Reacion Cycles MTB Marathon starts at 10.00am on Sunday.
Further Details? Please go to the Marshwood Marathon event page on www. mtb-marathon.co.uk or visit the VITUS SPORTIVE page at www.roadsportives.co.uk.
NEW
Round 4
FOR
2012
Abergavenny, Wales 4th-5th August 2012
The Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series Powered By Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport MTB Marathons (Saturday), Vitus Sportive powered by CycleOps Power (Sunday).
!
The fourth round of the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series, powered by MercedesBenz Vito Sport heads to a brand new venue, as well as mixing up the established order a little, too.
The mountain bike routes will enjoy a mighty blend of open hill, forest trails and miles of singletrack. Heading north from town, the courses will take in many of the key parts of the local landscape as possible, including: the Gwyne Fawr Reservoir; the summit of the Black Mountains (713m) with its jaw-dropping views; the forest of Pen y Gadair Fawr (715m); 10km of continuous singletrack; and over the distinctive Sugarloaf mountain. It should be an abso-
lute belter. And for after the ride – we have a great line-up of live music, on site bar and more planned! For the sportive riders, the routes and scenery are no-less mouth watering: taking you through some stunning valleys – including the haunting Vale of Ewyas, a steep sided once glaciated valley that has the haunting remains of the Norman and gothic Llanthony Priory – and through some of south Wales’ finest scenery, the route will take you through the Black Mountains and over Hay Bluff, with its views over the snaking Wye Valley; down into the Wye Valley and westwards towards Brecon and the Usk Valley; along the Monmouth canal to Llangyndir and the monumental climb over Llangydir Mountain; descending steeping down the notorious Blorenge; before meandering back to Abergavenney. It may be the newest addition to the CRC MTB-Marathon Series, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport and Vitus Sportive canon, but it will more than hold its own in a series that showcases some of the best riding in Britain. Be assured, South Wales delivers in spades. And course designer John Lloyd will ensure that the riding is of the very highest order indeed.
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
Abergavenny in Monmouthshire is the gateway to Wales; steeped in history, it is only 20 miles from the English border and is famous for the quality of riding and fullbodied Welsh scenery it enjoys being, as it is, in the shadow of the Brecon Beacons National Park. As it’s the first time the MTB Marathon caravan has ever visited Abergavenny there will be no less than five brand new courses, made up of three mountain bike (30km mini-, 50km half-, and the 78km mid-marathon), together with two road sportive routes (55mile Standard Sportive, and the 90mile Classic Sportive). In a departure to the normal event weekend timetable, it’s very important to note that the mountain bike marathon rides will take place on the Saturday, whilst the Vitus Sportive powered by CycleOps Power tackles the Tarmac on the Sunday.
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Event Details When?
Marathon event page on www. mtb-marathon.co.uk or visit the Vitus Sportive page at www.roadsportives.co.uk.
4th-5th August 2012
What? The Abergavenny Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series Powered By Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport (30km mini marathon, 50km half marathon, and the 78km mid marathon) are on Saturday 4th August, and the Vitus Sportive with a choice of two course lengths – the 55mile Standard Sportive, and the 90mile Classic Sportive – on Sunday 5th August. Distances are approximate.
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
Where?
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Abergavenny – exact location of the campground is TBC at the time of going to press. For updates, please check back regularly to the Abergavenny Marathon event page on www. mtb-marathon.co.uk. As with all rounds of the series, the event village will be signposted from Friday afternoon onwards.
Registration? Friday from 6.00pm – 9.00pm Saturday from 7.00am – 8.00pm Sunday from 7.00am – 9.30am
Start Times? The Chain Reacion Cycles MTB Marathon starts at 10.00am on Saturday. The Vitus Sportive start line is open from 8.30 9.30am on Sunday.
Further Details? Please go to the Abergavenny
Round 5
Ruthin, North Wales 15th-16th September 2012
The Vitus Sportive powered by CycleOps Power (Saturday), the Exposure Lights Big Night Out (ELBNO) Night Marathon (Saturday night), and Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series Powered By MercedesBenz Vito Sport MTB Marathons (Sunday). They say it’s good to save the best ‘til last, and the final round of the CRC MTB Marathon Series, powered by MercedesBenz Vito Sport, hosted by Ruthin in north Wales, does just that. And then some. Quite simply, the final round of the series is the biggest of the entire year. Yes, you read that right: it’s the full-spectrum of road and mountain bike riding the series has become famous for with no less than seven rides on offer, including two road sportive routes, one night time marathon, and the full compliment of four day time mountain bike marathons.
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Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
The Vitus Sportive powered by CycleOps Power will kick proceedings off on the Saturday with a choice of either 45 or 80mile routes. Expect some truly fantastic road riding around the greater Clywdian Hills, be ready to savour classic mountain passes such as the iconic Horseshoe Pass, which tops out at 417m (1,368 ft); and, as befits the greater Clywdian area, plenty of hills to challenge on the way up and invigorate on the way back down. This part of Wales also enjoys an enviable blend of wooded river valleys, sinuous and seemingly remote mountain roads, and big country scenery.
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Next on the riding agenda is the closing Exposure Lights Big Night Out (ELBNO) on the Saturday evening. Following the same format as the opening round in Builth Wells, the ELBNO will see the massed night time marathoners fire up their lights in fizz of searing S-LED power before heading out into the wilds of the Clwydians to tackle the challenging 40km course. Loaded with singletrack, open moorland, forest roads and flowing Tarmac sections, it’ll be a great experience for both novice and experienced night time riders. So if you’ve never tackled a night ride, then why not aim to make this your target come the end of the season? Like the Builth ELBNO, the majority of the night time course is ELBNO specific, with little shared with the next day’s daytime marathon, should you wish to tackle both.
right place right time Photo Call! Our roving photographer is always in the right place at the right time to record your twowheeled adventures! Don’t forget our event photographer, Jon Brooke, will be at every event taking photographs of you all. The photos will be up on www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk to view and purchase a few days after each event and are the perfect memento and record of your two wheeled adventures.
Again, don’t worry if you find your lights are only half-charged before the start as Exposure Lights will be in attendance with their charging station. But if you haven’t any lights and are tempted to give it a bash then Chain Reaction Cycles will be offering Exposure Lights for sale too. Sunday’s four mountain bike marathon routes (29km mini-, 55km half-, 70km mid-, and the 80km fullmarathon) will tackle the sumptuous and exhilarating riding that the Clwydian Hills hold hidden from the spotlight. Yes, there will be slab-loads of climbing to be done but take it easy, click down into an easy gear and
pace yourself – you’ll get there. And when you do, you will be rewarded with some outstanding vistas of this north east corner of Wales, as well as some truly memorable riding including a descent that What Mountain Bike magazine’s editor, Matt Skinner, describes as, “up there as one of the best, most varied natural descents I’ve had the pleasure of riding.”
Where?
So yes, expect big climbs, but also expect some enormous downhills, epic hill-top views, challenging and technical singletracks, and adrenaline aplenty. The Clwydian’s really are a ‘best kept secret’. There’s plenty of vertical ascent to be had but the pay off is sublime and giggleinducing. And there’s plenty more fine trail hidden in them there hills…
Friday from 6pm – 9pm Saturday from 7am – 8pm Sunday from 7am – 9am
Ruthin RFC (Rugby Football Club), North Wales. As with all rounds of the series, the event village will be signposted from Friday afternoon onwards.
Registration?
Start Times?
Event Details
The Vitus Sportive start line is open from 8.30 - 9.30am on Saturday; the Exposure Lights Big Night Out (ELBNO) Night Marathon starts at 7.30pm on Saturday evening, and the Chain Reacion Cycles MTB Marathon starts at 10.00am on Sunday.
When?
Special Requirements?
15th-16th September 2012
What? The Vitus Sportive powered by CycleOps Power with a choice of two course lengths – the 45mile Standard Sportive, and the 80mile Classic Sportive – on Saturday 15th September, the Exposure Lights Big Night Out (ELBNO) 40km (approx.) night marathon is on the evening of Saturday 15th September, and the Ruthin Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series Powered By MercedesBenz Vito Sport (29km mini marathon, 55km half marathon, 70km mid marathon, and the 80km full marathon) are on Sunday 16th September. Distances are approximate.
Due to its nighttime nature, there is a mandatory kit list that riders tackling the ELBNO need to carry. Please note, this compliments our usual recommendations for any of the events of the CRC MTB Marathon Series: For details please check the Builth Wells ELBNO page.
Further Details? Please go to the Ruthin ELBNO and/or Marathon event page on www.mtb-marathon.co.uk, or visit the Vitus Sportive page at www.roadsportives.co.uk.
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2012 calendar all OUR EVENTS on one page The 13th season of the MTB Marathon Series is here and offering a broad range of courses and locations to all you MTB Marathon enthusiasts, skinny tyre riders, night owls, novices and intermediates alike. So whatever your skill or fitness level, we have the right course length and level of difficulty for your ability with the choice of course length to progress over time – whilst enabling you to experience and discover challenging and exciting biking terrain across the UK. Besides the five Chain Reaction Cycles day marathons we once again have a packed calendar in 2012 with 12 individual events in total – the NEW for 2012 RITCHEY TrailMasters powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport three day XC Enduro event; VITUS Road Sportives powered by CycleOps Power; and two Exposure Lights Big Night Out Night Marathons on offer. To reach your MTBing goal of the year - say tackle a longer more technical course, why not come along to one, two or all three of the road sportives and gain some extra mileage to get the legs of steel needed to endure a full marathon course. Or if your dream is to step up to your next endurance challenge - why not come along to the new RITCHEY TrailMasters event.
Dates & locations of the CRC Marathons & ELBNO Builth Wells: 7th – 8th April (ELBNO) www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/builth.php Selkirk: 19th – 20th May www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/selkirk.php Marshbrook: 14th – 15th July www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/marshbrook.php Abergavenny: 4th – 5th August www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/abergavenny.php Ruthin: 15th – 16th September (ELBNO) www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/ruthin.php
So whether you are looking forward to a long day on your trusty steed, race action with short bursts against the clock, additional training for the TrailMasters, a crack at the UK Marathon Champs or just want to take in some of the most breathtaking views and trails the UK has to offer - we will have something in the mix for you. So come along and join us for an action packed season of mountain bike and road events.
Where to find details and entry facilities:
www.mtb-marathon.co.uk
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mAsters
TRAIL
Dates & locations of the VITUS Road Sportives
Dates & location of the RITCHEY TrailMasters
Selkirk: 19th May Marshbrook: 14th July Abergavenny: 5th August Ruthin: 15th September
Start / Finish – Llanwrtyd Wells: 17th – 19th August
Where to find details and entry facilities:
Where to find details and entry facilities:
www.roadsportives.co.uk
www.trailmasters.cc
Polish up your skills with Bike Riders United Check out the latest skills videos from the Vito Sport powered Bike Riders United team of Martyn Ashton, Sam Pilgrim, Steve Peat and Blake Samson. Click on our little TV to view the first session and to find further skills videos.
See www.bikeridersutd.com for all the details.
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CAMPING TIPS
10 ESSENTIAL CAMPING TIPS
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
Our tips will help you be a camping master (or mistress) – rather than a disaster – so you can concentrate on having a great Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series, powered by MercedesBenz Vito Sport.
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1 Practice your Pitch If you’ve just bought a tent, don’t wait until the day you arrive at the event to work out how to put it up: take some time beforehand to figure out its foibles in the comfort of your back garden or local park. 2 Take Spares Always take a selection of spare pegs and guy ropes in case any should get broken, bent, or otherwise put
out of action. A spare ground sheet or tarp can be worth its weight in gold if it’s particularly wet on the ground. They can also come in handy for a makeshift washing line. 3 Hammer Time! The ground can range from concrete-hard to soft as sand: taking a rubber headed mallet can help save your hands, feet and even the pegs themselves, by giving them the necessary persuasion to slide home in even the most obstinately hard ground. Always remember to place the pegs at a 45 degree angle, pointing away from the tent, too.
4 Pitch then Play Before you do anything once you’ve pulled up on site, find your pitch and get the tent up sooner rather than later. Getting your camp established early means that you can enjoy the rest of the day without worry. Your ideal pitch should: - Be on level, high ground (in a hollow or in low-lying ground means it may get flooded if the weather turns wet). - Clear of any sharp debris (sticks and stones) that may damage the ground sheet and/or make you uncomfortable. It should also be clear of animal muck. If things are turning windy or stormy then you also want
Steve Peat and his Birzman Dragonfly Chain Tool photograhed by Dom Worral
INFO: www.birzman.co.uk
CAMPING TIPS the smallest part of your tent facing directly into the wind direction to limit the wind’s effect on your comfort; use all your guy ropes.
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
5 Make Friends With The Neighbours Not only will making friends with your neighbours add to the camaraderie of the event, but it’s also a good way of bolstering security – if you all know who is in which tent/group then any tea leafs (thieves) trying their luck are more likely to be challenged and thefts averted. For bike security tips, see the Bike Security piece in our TrailMaster guidebook.
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6 The Bare Necessities Although all facilities onsite will be well lookedafter, stocked and supplied by the organisers, shortages can happen despite their best efforts. So always, always, always bring spare loo roll. Keep it dry by storing it in a waterproof (or plastic) bag, and keep it to hand in case you need to make a midnight journey… 7 Warm & Dry For a good night’s sleep a camping bed should both keep you insulated from the cold of the ground as well as comfortable; so use a good, comfortable roll mat, inflatable bed, or Thermarest-type self-inflating mat.
Also remember to keep shoes and wellies out of the sleeping compartment to prevent moisture creeping in. And don’t let anything inside your tent push the inner compartment onto the flysheet as this will let water in: remember to regularly check for this.
9 Let There Be Light Having enough light to see by whatever you’re doing – whether cooking or traipsing to the loo block – is an absolute must. A headtorch is great for when you need your hands free, as is a small camping lamp for more communal purposes.
8 Feet First Keep your feet dry from the morning dew or post-deluge mud by taking sensible footwear – walking boots, wellies, or Gore-Tex ‘trail’ shoes are all ideal. Having a decent grippy sole will be a bonus, too.
10 Wrap Up Taking properly warm hats, scarves, and clothes for the evening – from fleeces, through to snug softshells, down jackets and beyond – will make the night out under the stars much more balmy despite the drop in air temperature.
w w w. a l p i n a - h e l m e t s . co. u k
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
BIKE CHOICES WHAT’S THE IDEAL BIKE?
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BIKE CHOICES
A lot of people get hung up on what sort of bike they should ride for this type of event. The good news is that the bike you ride really won’t make that much difference to your overall speed or enjoyment of the event, within reason. Put simply, the rider always counts more than the bike, and obviously that’s good news to those who don’t have the luxury of several bikes to choose from. But (there’s always a but isn’t there) if you do have the luxury of having a fleet of bikes to choose from, or if you’re seriously thinking of buying a new bike, a quick look at the pros and cons of the different bike types might prove useful. So, here goes... Lightweight Short Travel Full Suspension... Weight 24-28lb Bike weight is always going to be an issue in events that involve going uphill from time to time. Any pro racer will tell you that most races are won or lost on the hills, and many riders would say that a ‘race-ready’ short travel full susser is the perfect bike for a marathon event, long or short distance. But what does short travel mean? Well, the lightest race-bred full sussers usually have about 100mm of suspension travel front and rear, although some will happily take a 120mm travel fork. Such a bike doubles up as a perfect trail centre or big day out bike too, so you’re not just buying a bike for one purpose.
Inevitably, the cost of the ‘perfect’ lightweight short travel race-bred full susser is going to be high: World Cup level race bikes like this are often £4000+. But the good news is that you can get something pretty special for around £2500. Above that the law of diminishing returns kicks in, with just tiny weight losses for each extra £500 spent. For an average rider of average fitness and weight it’s hard to justify much more than £2500. Getting fitter, losing a little weight or working on your trail skills would probably reap more speed reward, although it has to be said that the feel-good factor of a superlight bike has been known to turn carthorses into slightly faster carthorses. Medium Travel Full Suspension... Weight 26-32lb Lots of riders opt for a 120mm travel full suspension rig as their go-anywhere do-everything bike, and this makes perfect sense. The cautious overbuilding, and consequent extra weight, of bikes like this means they’re not as quick up the hills. But the extra suspension travel and the confidence that can give will often mean you’ll end up going a little faster across really challenging terrain and quite a bit faster on the downhills. Few riders would say that a 120mm+ full susser is the perfect marathon bike, although there are some very low weight ones around if you’re willing to shed enough mon-
ey, but the attraction of such a bike is that it’s going to be a lot of fun to ride on other big terrain rides when gravity assisted speed and damage avoidance are the main priorities. Expect to pay £2500+ for something that weighs in at just under 30lb. If you’re less than fussed about being up among the fastest riders in a marathon, but want to focus more on having a blast on challenging terrain, this might be the bike for you. Hardtail... Weight 21-28lb Almost any hardtail short of a jump bike will be suitable for marathon riding. A suspension fork will be an obvious advantage but we’ve seen riders on rigid forks and even a few on skinny tyred cyclo cross bikes enjoying themselves as much as anyone else in previous marathon events. The weight range of hardtails reflects the price range. The ideal marathon hardtail is probably the lightest one, but that’s the one that’ll cost
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BIKE CHOICES
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
you the most too... World Cup level marathon hardtails cost upwards of £3000 and the really special ones weigh close to 20lb.
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An ‘average’ marathon-capable hardtail can be a do-everything mountain bike too. Okay, you won’t get the comfort of rear suspension but that lack of rear suspension will save you 2-3lb of weight and usually quite a lot of money. A typical £1000 hardtail will weigh in at around 26-28lb, or a couple of pounds more if you prefer the idea of a harder hitting one with a beefed up frame and a longer travel fork. 100mm of fork travel is the norm for cross country terrain but there are plenty options around with 80mm or 120mm.
The Big Wheeler Options Big wheelers (29ers) are an increasingly popular option in all bike types. The 29in aspect refers to the wheel size from tyre edge to tyre edge, so overall radius is 3in wider than the usual 26in wheels. There’s an in-between 27.5in (650b) option too but those are currently pretty rare. The shallower angle of attack on bigger wheels means that they roll more easily than smaller wheels over bumps and holes, and that’s the main reason for the growth in popularity. The downside is that they weigh a little more and the ride feel is not as lively as that of 26in wheels. Not everyone appreciates them but there’s no doubt that the extra stability of 29ers make them easier to ride over rough terrain.
Big wheeler hardtails have become very popular for pro’ riders in marathon events. Because of their more forgiving ride feel they’ve almost taken over from short travel full suspension bikes. There are loads of excellent 29ers to choose from £1000 upwards. As with 26ers the more you pay the lighter they tend to be. So far, full suspension 29ers have had less appeal, partly because the redesign of the back end (to accommodate the bigger wheel as well as the suspension) often results in them being noticeably heavier than their 26in wheeled counterparts. But they’re getting better, and can generally be made with less suspension travel than 26ers because of the softer roll.
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THE complETE mounTain bikE magazinE No.133 April 2012
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ENGAGING FEATURES
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Scotland Mini-tools test Ride! Retro Revived Suspension forks tested Ballater, No.133 April 2012 The Best £1500 Bikes Get Up, Go
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WORLD BEATING TESTS
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Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
EQUIPMENT CHOICES
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Even the most experienced riders have totally different ideas of how to equip their bike and what to take on a marathon event. Obviously a lot depends on the distance you’ve chosen to ride and the conditions you expect to be riding in. Be aware that conditions can vary enormously from hour to hour in big hilly terrain. Clear mild sunny weather can turn to cold blustery wet weather and a dry trail can turn to sticky mud after a single heavy rain shower. Provided you appreciate the risks it’s up to you to decide whether to opt for a minimalist or a ‘better safe than sorry’ approach. Use your common sense and think about how long you’re likely to be out there. Remember, there may not be anywhere to shelter for hours and you’re likely to get colder as soon as you stop. If you can’t handle the ‘back of beyond’ idea, consider the shorter distances.
The Bike
We’ve dealt with the bike itself already, but what about adaptable choices like gearing and tyres? Not everyone has the luxury of being able to choose different gearing or different tyres for each outing, and most people can’t be bothered to. If you’re one of them simply go with all-rounder tyres that roll well and grip well in most conditions, and a gear range that offers an easy to pedal bail-out option for when you’re tired and tackling the steepest rideable climbs. If you’re someone who likes to think carefully about tyres, you’ll be cursing if you get it wrong. Just bear in mind that every tyre is a compromise. If a tyre rolls fast, it will probably be compromised in grip in some trail conditions. And if a tyre is incredibly grippy it will probably slow you down and/or get blocked with mud in some trail conditions.
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EQUIPMENT CHOICES Our best advice in all but the wettest events would be to opt for one of the new generation of big profile fast rolling tyres. By big profile we don’t mean deep treaded, as deep treads simply block in the mud. We mean high profile for comfort and shock absorption but with a fairly shallow fast rolling tread pattern. Such treads offer a great mix of speed and traction. We would also favour going tubeless (UST or DIY) with liquid sealant inside the tyre, simply because this vastly reduces the risk of punctures. The sealant will instantly fill thorn type holes and the fact that there’s no inner tube means you can’t get pinch punctures. Only tyre splits can disable you.
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
Another point worth bearing in mind on tyres is pressure. Tubeless tyres can be safely run a little softer than tubed tyres, because there’s no risk of pinch puncturing the tube on hard edge
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bumps. Less pressure means more traction but a more squirmy ride. A happy medium is around 35psi for a 180lb rider. Other than gears and tyres, you might like to give some consideration to the comfort of your bike’s contact points. Saddle comfort in particular is obviously crucial on long rides. If you’re a big ride novice you might not realise that big padded saddles tend to get less comfortable as you ride further, because they chafe, whereas the slimline specialist saddles tend to support your sit bones and crotch better on long rides because they’re designed to relieve pressure at all the points that sink into the saddle surface. But saddle choice is a very personal thing, as all our bottoms are different. We know a lot of guys who’ve found that they prefer the slightly wider back and central softness of women’s saddles, and it’s very noticeable that a lot of leading saddle brands are now designing obvious dipped channels into the centre of their mens saddles too. Try to get a ride on a few saddles before you buy. Some shops have demo saddles available for loan. Think carefully about your grips and pedals too. Lock-on grips won’t slip and soft compound grips will chafe less. Some riders prefer thicker grips, some prefer thinner and some prefer the new breed of anatomically shaped grips with extra support. Like grips, pedals are a personal thing too. Few riders will go back to flat pedals and soft shoes once they’ve discovered the pedalling efficiency of the clipless variety with cleated shoes, but if you’re using clipless pedals for the first time think carefully about whether you’ll want to be tightly fixed to them or whether you prefer to have some ‘float’ and an easy release. Most clipless pedals can be adjusted for easy release but only a few brands offer the ‘float’ that riders with dodgy knees tend to prefer.
Altitude measurement version 2.0
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EQUIPMENT CHOICES WHAT TO WEAR
Common sense might dictate what to wear to a certain extent, but we’re still surprised at how many marathon riders we see wearing cotton T shirts and undies under cycling shorts. Cotton absorbs sweat, stays wet then gets cold, and proper cycling shorts should have padding in the seat/crotch area.
*Shorts
It’s up to whether you want to wear lycra or baggy shorts. Racers wear lycra. If you choose baggies go for a lightweight baggy that won’t absorb too much moisture from sweat or puddles. Almost all lycra shorts will have a decent pad sewn into them and they’re made to be worn without your undies, which tend to have the seams in the wrong places. If you wear baggies, wear a cycling-specific inner short with them. Some baggies have inner liners, some don’t. You can choose between lightweight inner shorts specially made to go with baggies in warm weather, or a slightly heavier lycra short that can be worn on its own or under baggies, or if the weather is colder you could opt for below the knee threequarter length lycra on its own or under baggies. As a rule, we prefer bib type lycra shorts to ones with a waist band: they’re more comfy to wear and they keep your vest in place and your midriff warm.
*Vests
Your mum was right when she told you to wear a vest. Just don’t wear cotton. Most racers wear lightweight mesh material vests in the summer and either wool or synthetic in the winter. Whatever the material, it needs to allow sweat to pass through to the next layer. If you wear a cycling shirt next to your skin it will get clammy if you’re a sweater. Some of us sweat more than others. You need to choose your vest material according to how much you sweat and
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the weather conditions. If it’s in the slightest bit chilly wear a long sleeved vest or arm warmers: you can always roll them away if the weather improves.
*Shirts
Cycling specific shirts are getting better every year. You can choose anything from a skimpy race top made from meshed technical material for hot summer days to a thermal long sleeved fleecy lightweight for chillier rides. Obviously the sensible thing to do is to pack a choice of two or three tops in your kit bag, essentially something for whatever you can possibly imagine that the weather is likely to do on marathon day.
*Other Stuff
Shoes are always going to be a personal choice, but if you haven’t ridden a marathon before bear in mind that soft soled shoes are not a good idea. Over distance, the pressure on your feet can become unbearable, even if you have big flat pedals that spread the load. Cyclingspecific shoes are almost a must, and stiff soled cleated shoes and clipless pedals are usually the most efficient and the most comfortable option for long distance rides. Some clipless shoes are designed almost purely for riding, some are designed to be okay for long walking sections too. You’ll probably know what sort of rider you are. Gloves are almost essential for long rides. Cycling-specific fingerless mitts or lightweight full fingered gloves are fine in the summer, but even spring rides can get very cold if it gets wet so think carefully about the gloves you take. Other clothing for cold or wet weather obviously needs to be considered. Just think about
DMT Shoes are exclusively distributed in the UK by www.paligap.cc
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EQUIPMENT CHOICES the time of year, check the weather forecast and ideally add one extra lightweight shower/windproof layer in your bag or your back pocket for emergencies. A Gilet/Vest type zip-fronted overtop is a great minimalist option for extra wind proofing in milder conditions, and there’s a massive choice of very lightweight full sleeved tops that keep out all but the worst of the weather if it gets really miserable. Heavier duty waterproof breathable tops are usually overkill in a marathon event but they’re still worth considering if it’s very cold or very wet. Some are still light enough to store in a backpack.
‘energy’ drink that you know works for you) plus a couple of gels/energy bars in the back pocket. A basic repair kit can be carried in a rag-roll in your jersey pocket or in a small saddle pack. This should always include an inner tube or two (even if you’re running tubeless tyres), mini pump and/or CO2 cartridges, patches and glue for emergency tyre/tube repairs, a multi-tool that can cope with anything on your bike and a splitter/joiner for your chain if your multitool doesn’t include one. Some racers running tubeless tyres might choose to do away with the spare tubes and take a CO2 cylinder that also pumps a liquid sealant into the tyre.
WHAT ELSE TO TAKE
*The Sensible Approach
First, are you a hydration pack or water bottle person? As a rule, this dictates whether you’re a minimalist or a ‘just in case’ rider. A thoroughbred racer often takes a calculated risk for the sake of less weight and more speed. So do you want to risk taking too little and end up looking for help in mending a split tyre or shivering because it’s started to chuck it down at a higher altitude and the temperature has dropped? These are the calculations the leading riders need to make. The ‘just in case’ rider often carries a backpack full of extra clothing, possibly a little too much food and drink and enough tools and spares to deal with just about any eventuality... amounting to several kilos of extra kit. Think carefully about this. The sensible approach is somewhere in between...
*The Minimalist Approach
Assuming decent weather and enough food and drink stops to refill a bottle or two and grab some energy food, all the minimalist race-head tends to take is a couple of bottles on the bike (perhaps one filled with water and one with an
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For long distance events even thoroughbred racers might opt for a hydration pack rather than bottles, and slower riders who’ll be out there for longer will almost always choose this approach. Hydration pack rucksacks come in all sorts of different sizes. The bigger ones are intended for all-day or expedition riders and might be overkill for marathon events unless the weather dictates that you need to carry precautionary extra layers of clothing. In most cases a lightweight pack with a one or one and a half litre bladder should suffice: you can still carry an extra bottle on the bike if you want something that’s quicker to fill at the stops. The advantage of a hydration pack is that you can bung all your tools/spares in there too, as well as a precautionary shower/ windproof top and as much extra food as you want to take. Despite the best intentions of organisers in providing nutrition stops, it’s still a good idea to take as much food and drink as you think you’ll need to get you from start to finish.
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NIGHT
RIDING TIPS Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
Opinions on the joys of riding at night, and how much it’s worth spending on your lights, vary enormously. Some riders like to be equipped
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with the sort of lighting that would illuminate the sights of London. Others are content with a single LED helmet mounted light that simply pinpoints whatever obstacles are coming up on the trail for a short distance ahead.
Suitable lighting for night-time marathon events can cost anything from £50 to £800. £50 typically scores you a mail order web site far eastern supplied LED light with a charger and a beam that gives you from an hour or so of full beam use to several hours on lower beam use. Bigger money lights offer more light, more duration and more beam options, with the very best lighting up the trail and whatever’s to the side of it for a long way ahead and for
the riders who’ll sit behind you because their lights are nowhere near as good. Predictably, the majority of riders buy lights that cost somewhere between the two extremes. Check out the superb EXPOSURE LIGHTS light range www.exposurelights.com.
Considerations
Even disregarding price, there is no perfect light set-up that will suit everyone. A lot of experienced night riders like to split their lighting between handlebars and helmet. Obviously handlebar lighting is fixed, so as you turn the steering the lights go with it, but you can’t see round corners before you turn. Helmet lights are popular because they light up where you’re looking so you can look at where the trail goes next before you start turning a corner. Some riders use a helmet light alone, some use handlebar lights alone. A lot of light sys-
NIGHT
RIDING TIPS tems come with two lights that can either both be mounted on the bars or one on the bars and one on the helmet. A helmet option is great if you need to fix a mechanical problem too, for obvious reasons, although some bar lights have a quick release lever. The other major consideration when you’re buying lights is whether to go for all-in-one units, with the battery and light in one cylinder, or whether to go for separate battery packs push-plug-wired into lights. Some battery packs will strap on underneath your stem, some fit under your top tube and some fit in your bottle cage... the more adaptable the better. Helmet lights with separate battery packs are usually designed so you can carry the battery in your back pocket or hydration pack. As minimalist LED lighting has become increasingly popular the all-in-one torch-style units are becoming the best sellers.
Slightly contrary to that initial advice, it can be a big advantage to follow the lines of other riders. Always fit a small LED rear light too. Even if the ride is all off road, a rear light lets other riders know exactly where you are, which on very dark stretches of trail means there’s less chance of shunting a rider from behind. Clear vision can often be disturbed by the ups, downs, twists and turns on a trail, or even by becoming confused with all the other lights in front and behind you. Make sure your lights are fully charged before a night event, and always try them before the event to see how long they’ll run on full charge and on the different beam settings. If you’re not fully confident that your lights will last as long as the event, take a spare ‘emergency’ light in your pack or back pocket. Also get used to adjusting your light to a less energy-intensive beam setting whenever visibility is good enough to do so.
Tactics
The tactics of night riding are slightly different to day riding. For a start, you’ll need to leave a little more space between riders on dark trails. However good your lights are, night-time trails and the moves riders might make are slightly less predictable in the dark. Trail obstacles look different so riders respond to them differently. Leaving a little more safety space makes sense. Slightly contrary to that initial advice, it can be a big advantage to follow the lines of other riders. Assuming that the rider at the front of a group has good lights, they will be seeing the trail more clearly than the riders behind. Trust them to pick the best lines, but stay focused enough on your safety space to be able to quickly seek an alternate line around them if they falter or fall. But remember that they’ll usually have faltered or fallen for a good reason. Don’t just go blundering past them. There’s may be an unseen obstacle waiting to catch you out. When you’re happy riding behind a group of riders, use the opportunity to put your light on a lower beam to save energy. But do everyone a favour by using full beam when you’re leading the group. Remember though that, as with day riding, leading a group is usually harder than sitting in the slipstreams. Sure, the slipstreams won’t be quite as pronounced when the rider gaps are bigger in the dark, but riding up front is still usually much harder than riding behind. Think about that before you push your way through to the front. Talking about pace, think carefully about speed on night rides. Regardless of the safety aspect, if your body isn’t used to putting in efforts at night you might find that you’ll run short of energy quickly... especially as temperatures tend to fall quickly after it gets dark. Take plenty of liquid and make sure you have an energy bar and/or gels ready for sudden dips in energy. Ideally feed yourself before those dips. Better safe than sorry.
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NIGHT
RIDING TIPS
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
Another obvious, but often overlooked, aspect of night rides is wearing the right clothes for the temperature. It might still be mild when you set off but it’s only really on the warmest summer nights that it stays warm enough to ride in skimpy race kit. In a lot of cases you’ll experience a 5 to 10 degree drop in temperature soon after darkness, so make sure you have enough clothing to cope, including full fingered gloves and a lightweight wind and showerproof overtop. It’s easy enough to carry such a top in a backpack or back pocket if you don’t need it at the start. Even on warm summer nights think about your clothing carefully. A full-sleeved shirt makes good sense.
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Last, but certainly not least, remember that trail obstacles often look different at night and speeds often feel different. You’ll often find yourself flying down a hill following lights, not realising that there are rocks or bumps on the trail. If a trail is generally bumpy anyway your vision will have a lot to cope with, so as much as it’s tempting to trust the fact that riders in front are still moving fast, be aware that there may be unseen perils just out of sight. Always cover your brakes on descents and be constantly ready to change your line or slow right down if you’re at all unsure about what you’re seeing just ahead of you. Most crashes on night rides are caused by obstacles seen too late to take evasive action or not seen at all because you’re looking further ahead.
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ZERO TO
HERO
Two riders recount their inspiring and life-affirming journeys from marathon virgins to being fully-paid-up members of the mountain bike lifer’s club… And you can, too!
Photography supplied by Laura Mair
The beauty of the Chain Reaction Cycle MTB Marathon Series, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport is that it’s an open house: whether you’re a mountain or road biker, it doesn’t matter. Similarly, whether you’re an Olympic athlete, a 65 year old retiree, a 13 year old, a father of three, teenager, or single mum, experienced rider or total novice, the sense of camaraderie and accessibility is the same and a highly prized component of the MTB Marathon culture. What’s more, if you love (or want to love) being outdoors and exploring on two wheels then the events are the perfect place for you to take your first steps from zero to a mountain bike marathon hero.
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With rides for all abilities, including the mini, half-, mid-, and full-marathon distances on offer together with CycleActive’s free skills coaching for both novices, experienced riders, and children alike, the event can give you both the safety net and the helping hand to achieve the ride that you might otherwise have thought was beyond you. The truth is, it isn’t. “My boyfriend was interested in doing mountain bike marathons a while ago,” explains Laura Mair from Edinburgh of how she was bitten by the marathon bug. “He showed
me a magazine article which was written by a girl who was on her third or fourth MTB Marathon. She had started off walking most of the route the first time, hating the whole experience and vowing never to do it again but she’d gone on a course and got out and rode more and subsequently loved doing the marathon events.” Soon enough, the allure of the challenge and the inspiration to get out and ride led to Laura herself following in the tyre tracks of that girl in the article. “I entered my first event in Selkirk on a very wet and rainy August about five years ago,” she says, remembering that it wasn’t quite the composed and elegant introduction that she might have hoped for: “I slid down most of the trail fell off my bike three or four times on the final descent and ended up walking my bike most of the way as I’d lost my nerve. I was one of the last people back for the mini-marathon; I hated it at the time and never planned on doing that to myself again,” she admits. Yet although it was certainly a baptism of fire, it was a baptism – a start – all the same. Fast forward five years from this near-calamatous start and Laura is planning on entering a Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon,
powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport event for the fifth time: “In fact,” she says, “I am planning on doing two this year: one in Selkirk and one in Wales.” So what has changed? What has kept her coming back for more despite her promise to herself to never again swing a leg over saddle and pedal out into the hills on a MTB Marathon? “I look forward to the ride and enjoy the banter with the other riders,” she explains simply. Yet biking has also become an integral, underlying part of her life: “Taking part in the marathon has kick-started a mountain biking lifestyle for me.” So much so that she is “now a member of a local MTB club, go on MTB holidays and get out and ride whenever I can
“I had a tear in my eye watching everyone go over the start line,” both in trail centres and wild trails.” In fact, in stark contrast to her awkward Bambi-like initial marathon experience, she counts one of her best ever days of mountain biking as being well away from any sign-posted route or idyllic weather. Instead it was in the true wilderness that is the Cairngorm National Park one rainy September day. Alone. “It was horrible weather,” she wryly admits, “but I guess you had to be there!”
when they’ll heal, and – depending on the severity of them – even if they’ll fix well enough to allow you to return to your passions. For Laura, it all came to an emotional head when she was watching the Anthill Films Follow Me DVD featuring Gee Atherton, Sam Hill, Thomas Vanderham, and many other premier freeride and slopestyle stars: “I cried because I didn’t know when I’d be able to get back out on my bike again!” But things, she is pleased to say, have definitely picked up since then. Now Laura is back on the bike and readying to make her MTB Marathon return, she is now the girl in the article: “I have definitely progressed my skills, confidence and enjoyment of mountain biking and the marathon events have provided a focus for this development,” she says. “The first year I did the marathon I was almost last home, whereas more recently I have been overtaking people and certainly not [been] last. I know it’s not a race but it is good to see the progression!” It is, without doubt. And next time, it could be you. After all, what’s stopping you?
Sadly Laura picked up an injury last year that kept her off the bike for an extended period of time, although she still came to the MTB Marathons anyway to cheer on her boyfriend. “I had a tear in my eye watching everyone go over the start line,” she admits, “as I was pretty gutted not to be taking part.” Injuries are crappy but the hardest thing with them is the not knowing: not knowing how they’ll heal,
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ZERO TO
HERO
Small World How going from zero to hero can change the world
Photography supplied by Lee Bacco
Back in 2007 Lee Bacco entered his first MTB Marathon by entering the 50km ride at Builth Wells. “My god, I died” he recalls frankly. Thankfully – and in true MTB Marathon spirit – an anonymous rider slowly pulled him through the last 20km. Yet despite his body letting him down he was “hooked with the ride and the views.” So much so that he took time to speak to British Olympic mountain biker, Nick Craig, to ask his advice to better prepare for the ‘next time’. The simple but highly effective advice was: “Train on hills.” So he did and entered the 2008 TransWales, to finish the inaugural stage race monster in 90th place. “Oh dear,” he says of that result. “Wet and cold [it was] but I came back for more in 2009.” This time fore-warned was fore-armed, and Lee leapt up the rankings to finish in a respectable 20th. Then the world shrank.
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“My daughter, who I lost contact with in Australia,” Lee explains, “Googled my name and it came up on a photo from the event. Wow!!” He then travelled to Oz and raced in the marathon champs there (finishing in 56th). “Now full of bravado I entered a race in Gran Canaria where I met John Lloyd at the start line,” a coincidence that views as highly surreal. “Now for 2012 I’ll be at all the marathons and I have an unbelievable team entering [the] Vets Ritchey TrailMasters. What this proves,” Lee says, “is if you do badly at your first event it doesn’t matter – I’ve made loads of friends; had a few pints (Matt Carr you’re a bad influence!) – and with a bit of hard work you can achieve anything!”
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