Ratalogue Summer 2011

www.ratrace.com

Ratalogue

from city to summit - store • events • urban gym

Meet YOUR CHALLENGE at ratrace.com

Store: Technical outdoor sports kit from tri to climb events: Challenges across the UK from 5k to 100 miles TRAINING: From Urban Gym circuit training to mountain biking in the alps

shop online or visit our york showroom

Off-Road Centre

eyewear, terrex and running

City Events

Wilderness Events

4

The River Rat Race Series: Glasgow and Stockton-On-Tees - 21/28 August

6

Rat Race Urban Adventure - 24/25 September

8

Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest - 2/8/16 October and 12th November

10

Scotland Coast to Coast - 17/18 September 2011

22

The Wall - Late Summer 2012

features

Soldier Challenge - 19 May 2012

Countryside Events 12

Green Belter - 28 May, 4 June, 2/16/30 July

14

Notorious Night Runs: 3/10/17/24 March 2012

18

Trailblazer - 7/14/22 May

Event Key

20

16

Event Planner

24

Lightweight gear for the Great British Summer

27

Felt Bikes

29

Adventure Base mountain bike trips

30

Urban Gym

Running

Climbing

Urban

Kayaking

Cycling

Forest

Mountains

Editor – Jim Mee, Managing Editor – Russ Thorne, Designer – Ed Clews, Rat Race Store – David Powell, Contributors: Chris Johnstone Like more info? Email info@ratrace.com, we’d love to hear from you.

Ratalogue is published by Rat Race (Events), ltd. While the publisher makes every effort to ensure that the content of the magazine is accurate at the time of going to press, it cannot accept responsibility for any errors that may appear. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of Rat Race (Events), ltd.

Copyright 2010 Rat Race (Events), ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or stored in any form on a retrieval system without the prior permission of the publisher.

2

Welcome to our spring/summer 2011 Ratalogue

T

his summer, our Rat Race Adventure Sports event portfolio is back with plenty of bite – we’re welcoming some dramatic newcomers to the fold in 2011, plus a bunch of old favourites. We’ve also made a major investment in some of adventure’s most techtastic threads and shiniest toys in our newlook Rat Race Store.

With Urban Gym street circuit sessions taking over our city centres nationwide, there’s never been a better time to get fit for adventure, and remember: everyone’s a winner with our Rat Rewards scheme. Once you take part in an event or buy something from the store, you get 15% off everything else you do with us for the rest of the year.

We begin with a cracking new trail running season, followed by a romp through the Shires with our expanded Rat Race Green Belter

multi-sport series. Our fantastic sponsors Redwood Creek will be on hand at numerous events with their premium selection of Californian wines, ensuring we work hard and play hard in equal measure...

Our urban events will continue to fascinate too, with Glasgow joining the team along with our River Rat Race on Teesside and the finale of the series in London. Together with the Scotland Coast to Coast and the Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest series bringing up the rear, you’re guaranteed more fun than a Rat in a drainpipe factory!

Rat’s all for now...

Rat Race Adventure. Not Your Normal Nine To Five.

Jim Mee - Rat-in-Chief

THE PANEL Behind the scenes there are numerous Rats at work to bring alive the world of Rat Race Adventure Sports. Here are some of the team that generate the Rat Chat in this edition of the Ratalogue.

Simon ‘The Scientist’ Powell Head of Retail

Gary Tompsett Event Planner

Puts his science degree to work to make sure we buy only the best technology and fabrics for the store.

Completion of over 30 mountain marathons are just the start of Gary’s endurance exploits.

Stewart Caithness Event Planner

Gary Vallance Event Planner

International orienteer who brings you routes in both town and country with his sense of discovery.

Gary’s frequent ultra marathons and mountain bike leader status means he is our go-to-man for kit testing.

Chris Johnstone Head of Urban Gym

Paul ‘Smudge’ Smith Store Manager

His qualifications, such as a Masters Degree in Strength and Conditioning, help you get the results you want from the Urban Gym team.

The Cytec Level Three bike maintenance badge makes Smudge the man to show you around a bike.

21

AUG

glasgow

28

AUG

stockton

T

here’s nothing we Rats like more than messing about on the river, and we’ve created two wet and wild events for people just like us. If you’re into fun in, on or near the water, the River Rat Race is the one for you.

Now, we’re not talking about a gentle spin on the boating lake. We’re talking the rivers Clyde and Tees. We’re talking leaping, running, and generally splashing your way around 10k of aquatic fun. And we’re talking about doing it all in two great cities in August – the perfect time of year to fling yourself into the drink.

Competing: a challenging course to test your strength and endurance in unusual conditions Completing: wet yourself around your friends, colleagues and thousands of others - but in a good way

4

“The beauty of the River Rat Race is that you can take it deadly seriously, or – like me – just enjoy splashing around!”

Jim Mee

What’s included in the entry?

Where: Stockton-on-tees Standard Price: £35 Early Bird Deals available • A race like no other • Unique opportunities to access amazing venues and activities • Open to all abilities • Special Edition Tech Tee • Music, live MC, food, drink and kids’ activities • Electronic timing • On-course water station + water and chocolate at finish line • Kayaking equipment supplied

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

Saucony ProGrid Mirage

New Balance 749 The ultimate all round adventure trail running show ideal for both beginner and experienced trail runners alike.

From the same minimalist stable as the the Kinvara, it’s designed to aid the considerable majority of runners that slightly over-pronate.

A shoe that encourages forefoot running.

RRP: £65.00 Members pay: £55.25

RRP: £87.00 Members pay: £73.95

running shoes from ratrace.com

Salomon XT Wings 2

La Sportiva Crosslite

Consistently top rated for comfort, the XT Wings 2 is a quality all-rounder for training or multisport activities. Tons of tech and look great. Worth the premium price tag.

Favoured by elite mountain runners across the World, it combines low profile with decent cushioning. Particularly suited to anything a bit gnarly where traction matters.

RRP: £95.00 Members pay: £80.75

RRP: £74.95 Members pay: £63.70 5

24

sep

25

sep

T

his is where it all started. The King Rat, if you like. Our trademark team race takes the nation’s capital and turns it into the world’s largest adventure playground, with so many challenges and daredevil tasks that we need two days to fit it all in.

2011 will be our biggest year yet: we’re inviting 1500 hardy souls to form pairs or trios and head to the Big Smoke for foot-based fun on the Saturday and two-wheeled adventures on the Sunday.

Previous years have had Rats abseiling down iconic buildings, paddling on the Thames, pottering past the palace and even munching the odd jellied eel – just like London itself, there’s something for everyone...

Competing: test your skills and fitness in a totally unique urban adventure race Completing: have a weekend city break like no other and see London in a totally new light.

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“The Urban Adventure is all about using the city in unique ways. An Urban Gym session is great preparation!” (see p24) Stewart Caithness

What’s included in the entry?

Where: Central London Standard Price: From £35 Early Bird Deals available • Spectacular city-centre event venue next to Tower Bridge • Totally unique event format and the UK’s largest adventure race • Abseil, kayak and experience adventures right in the heart of the city • Special Edition Tech Tee worth £15 • Music, live MC, food, drink and kids’ activities • Electronic timing • Free wine sampling!

• Kayaking equipment supplied

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

Osprey Talon 22 Top quality features for a multitude of adventures from one of the world’s best pack manufacturers

RRP: £64.99 Members pay: £58.24

day packs from ratrace.com

Inov-8 Race Pro 18 Award-winning superlight day pack with masses of features. One of our best selling packs - perfect for any one day adventure, you’ll see loads of these at Rat Races.

Horizontal bladder compatible.

RRP: £54.99 Members pay: £46.74

Camelbak Mule Classic MTB pack complete with 3L reservoir.

Superbly designed for stowing supplies and hardwear.

RRP: £64.99 Members pay: £55.24 7

2

oct

cardiff

A

ny race where we team up with Men’s Health magazine is going to offer more than a jog around the block. We’ve created some devilishly entertaining obstacle courses in three city centres to challenge and thrill competitors of all abilities – and of both sexes, of course.

As you crawl, clamber and sprint (perhaps) your way through 10 obstacle zones split across the 10k distance, you can take comfort in the fact that you won’t be alone.

Some 10,000 people will compete, so it’s a chance to get through it together and turn those mud streaked, sweaty strangers into new friends...

Competing: a fast and furious race to really push yourself to the limit Completing: challenge yourself and see a great city from a rather unusual perspective

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8

oct

notts

16 12

oct edin

NOV

london

“Whatever your fitness level, this event will challenge you in different ways, from strength to stamina – but it’s always a laugh.”

Chris Johnstone

What’s included in the entry?

Where: Cardiff, Nottingham, edinburgh and london Standard Price: £36 Early Bird Deals available • City centre event villages • Amazing obstacles • Special Edition Tee worth £20 • Premium goody bag worth £10 • Music, live MC, food, drink and kids’ activities • Electronic timing • Medal for all finishers • On-course water station + water and For Goodness Shakes at finish • Rat Race on-site Gear Store with bargains a-plenty

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

2XU Elite Compression Tights If you could only buy one item of compression wear, a pair of tights should be the one. These are top end price-wise, but will last much longer than inferior competition, as well as giving the best performance year round. A product ‘hero’ for us.

RRP: £80.00 Members pay: £68.00

compression and recoverywear from ratrace.com

Skins A400 Long Sleeve top Along with the 2XU Elite top, this is one of the best compression tops available. If you are used to the standard Sport range, A400 is a big step up in tech and quality. Simon P tested it for 12 weeks and all good. The silicon hem gripper is an excellent feature.

RRP: £60.00 Members pay: £51.00

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19

MAY

london

2012 Event

A

fter a successful skirmish in London in 2011, the Soldier Challenge will return in 2012. True to form, the Rat Race Adventure team have teamed up with ABF The Soldier’s Charity to bring you another day of fun and unusual events in the centre of our capital city – and all for a good cause.

You don’t need to be a member of the forces to take up the challenge: this one is for soldiers and civvies alike. We like to keep a few surprises to ourselves, but there’s plenty to look forward to. Will you be leaping around monuments, tackling assault courses to the cheers of the crowds or something even more extreme? Find out next year, and support our soldiers at the same time!

Competing: another chance to let London put you through your paces, Rat Race style Completing: try something a little different and support a great charity while you have fun

10

“This event is perfect for those who are still relatively new to adventure racing: fun, but still a great challenge.”

Stewart Caithness

What’s included in the entry?

Where: Central London Standard Price: From £35 Early Bird Deals available • Unprecedented access to world famous venues in the Capital • Event village Waterloo International, in the heart of central London • Open to all abilities • Professionally run by UK’s largest adventure sports provider • Event T-shirt and medal for all finishers • Music, live MC, food, drink and kids’ activities • Electronic timing • Kayaking and abseiling equipment supplied

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

Suunto t3 RRP: £125.00 Members pay: £106.25

Enter the world of the Training Effect. The simplicity of the concept masks massive technical innovation. Fatty or fitty, you need one of these.

training watches from ratrace.com

Suunto t6 Suunto t4 As T3d, plus Suunto Coach personalised training programmes.

A sports laboratory on your wrist plus altimeter to track your hill and altitude performance.

RRP: £175.00 Members pay: £148.75

RRP: £370.00 Members pay: £314.50 11

28

May

thames

S

4

jun

sussex

2

jul kent

16 30 jul

scots

jul

yorks

ometimes it’s good to get out of the city and into the fresh air, and that’s exactly what the Green Belter offers. Epic events in five different locations give you the chance to fill those lungs with the good stuff, Rat Race style.

“For a multi-sport enthusiast, the Green Belter events really have it all. It’s a great chance to test yourself across several disciplines!”

The Green Belter is a multi-discipline challenge: you’ll be on foot, on your bike and even in your kayak as you negotiate the route. Chuck in our legendary ‘Green Machine’ obstacle course and some free wine at the finish (courtesy of our sponsors Redwood Creek), and you’ve got the recipe for a delightful day out in the country. Bring a picnic rug and you’ll be laughing...

What’s included in the entry?

Competing: see how you measure up as an all-round athlete across three tough stages Completing: plenty of thrills and spills in the great British countryside make this a grand day out

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Gary Vallance

Where: Hambleden, pippingford, bedgebury, carron valley and newburgh priory Standard Price: From £35 Early Bird Deals available • Stunning countryside venues • Special Edition Tech Tee • Free car parking • Free camping • Music, live MC, food, drink and kids’ activities • Electronic timing • Free wine sampling!

• Solo, pairs and relay classes • Kayaking equipment supplied

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

Adidas Evil Eye Half Rim Pro Red Dot Award winner 2011 - Top end multisport eyewear doesn’t get any better than this.

• • • • •

• • •

RRP: £200.00 Members pay: £170.00

Decentered Vision Advantage™ PC Lens Quick-Change Lens System™ TRi.FIT™

Double-Snap Nose Bridge™ Auto Fit Grip Systems Ventilation System Helmet compatible

Multi-sport kit from ratrace.com

2XU Compression Tri Short

Camelbak Octane 18X

An essential for any multisport kit list. Top pick for Green Belter series.

Ultra light expandable hydration pack. Consistently top-rated.

RRP: £75.00 Members pay: £63.75

RRP: £75.00 Members pay: £63.75 13

3

10 17 24

MAR mar mar Notts

yorks

scots

Mar

thames

legends Sherwood

of

Forest

2012 Events

F

or those after a little night-time lunacy that doesn’t require a dodgy nightclub, may we present the Notorious Night Running Series. Inspired by our nocturnal namesake, the series includes dark and dirty deeds in four different locations, with two distances to choose from.

Strap on your torch as our Horseplay, Deerstalker, Yorkshire Terrier and Legends of Sherwood Forest events plunge you into 5k or 10k of glorious muddy mayhem.

Each event has its own unique flavour (maybe it’s the mud) but you can expect hills, rivers, curious obstacles and lashings of fancy dress. Free campsites, cracking after parties and ear to ear grins come as standard.

Competing: pit yourself against the night to get the best possible time over some tricky terrain Completing: don your fancy garb and whoop it up in the wilds with other likeminded souls

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“Tough off-road courses that take a certain kind of person to dress up and run off into the night.”

Gary Tompsett

What’s included in the entry?

Where: Sherwood Pines, newburgh priory, innerleithen and hambleden Standard Price: From £25 Early Bird Deals available • Stunning venues and outrageous courses • Special Edition Tech Tee • Free Car Parking and Free Camping* • Music, live MC, and food stalls all day • Beer tent and live bands ‘til late • Medal/Rosette for all finishers • Electronic timing • On-course water station + water and chocolate at finish line * charges apply to camping at Deerstalker

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

Petzl Myo XP RRP: £65.00 Members pay: £55.25

Premium light for those that are nearer the front and need plenty of reach. Powerful headlamp with 4 lighting levels, Boost mode and Wide Angle lens

Night trail run kit from ratrace.com

Ronhill Winter Tight

Inov-8 Mudclaw 333 Ultra durable and ultra grippy for ultra slippy adventures like Deerstalker.

RRP: £85.00 Members pay: £72.25

The lovely brushed lining makes this a great value proposition for those Winter Epics.

RRP: £45.00 Members pay: £38.25 15

Event Planner City Riverside Rat Race Glasgow Riverfront 21st August 2011

The Soldier Challenge Central London 19th May 2012

Riverside Rat Race Stockton-On-Tees 28th August 2011 Rat Race Redwood Creek Urban Adventure Central London 24th/25th September 2011 Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest Cardiff/Nottingham/Edinburgh/London 2nd/8th/16th October and 12th November 2011

Wilderness Scotland Coast to Coast Nairn to Isles of Glencoe 17th and 18th September 2011 The Wall Carlisle Castle to Newcastle Centre Summer 2012

Countryside Rat Race Redwood Creek Green Belter Hambleden, Pippingford, Bedgebury Carron Valley and Newburgh Priory 28th May, 4th June, 2nd/16th/30th July

The Mighty Deerstalker Innerleithen, Scotland 17th March 2012

Legends of Sherwood Sherwood Pines, Notts 3rd March 2012

Horseplay Hambleden, 24th March 2012

Yorkshire Terrier Newburgh Priory, N Yorks 10th March 2012

Runner’s World Trailblazer Clumber Park, Bedgebury and Forest of Dean 7th, 14th and 22nd May 2011

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7

May Notts

N

ew for 2011, our Trailblazer events will give experts and novices alike a chance to get their trail running shoes on and get out into some of the loveliest tracks we could find. We’ve scoured forests up and down the country to bring you three cracking off road challenges.

Each course is 10k and will offer runners of every ability something to enjoy. It might be the wide, fast and flowing trails; or simply the chance to replace pounding the pavements with leaping over leaves. With entertainments, great facilities and loads of parking, our shiny new events are sure to become regulars on the trail running calendar.

Competing: a fresh challenge with fast courses to push for your personal best Completing: get out into the woods to challenge yourself in some glorious locations

18

14 22

May kent

May

gloucs

“Our latest events are great for trail running veterans, but they’ll be just as good for people who want to try something new.”

Gary Vallance

What’s included in the entry?

Where: CLUMBER PARK, bedgebury and forest of dean Standard Price: £29 Early Bird Deals available • Special Edition Tech Tee worth £15 • Premium goody bag worth £15 • Free car parking worth up to £8 • Music, live MC, food, drink and kids’ activities • Professionally run event on beautiful woodland trails • Water station at 5km and at finish line • Medal for all finishers • Free instant text timing after your run • Free wine sampling!

• Rat Race on-site Gear Store with bargains a-plenty!

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

Adidas Supernova Riot Highly technical multisport and trail running shoe. Continental rubber, just like your Merc!

RRP: £82.00 Members pay: £69.7

trail running shoes from ratrace.com

New Balance 876

Regular winner of Mountain and Ultra Marathons. Need we say more?

The New Balance 876 is one of the best mixed terrain shoes available. All the best features of on and off-road design, and stable enough for longer distances or use on a flat pedalled mountain bike. Genius!

RRP: £90.00 Members pay: £76.50

RRP: £75.00 Members pay: £63.75

Inov-8 Roclite 315

19

17

sep

18

sep

I

t sounds simple in principle: start at one side of Scotland. Keep going until you hit the other side, ideally as quickly as possible. In practice? Nature has carved lochs, glens and mountains and put them right in your way. But that won’t stop Rats like us...

The Coast to Coast challenge is our ultimate race. It combines running, cycling and kayaking to cover a distance of over 100 miles through some of Scotland’s most breathtaking scenery, taking in views of Loch Ness, Glen Coe, the Great Glen and Ben Nevis. You can choose to tackle it in one day or two, with options for solo or dual racing.

Competing: become a master of endurance and try to get the best time over our toughest course.

Completing: set your sights on getting to the finish line and basking in a great achievement

20

“A lot of our events have a cycling element, but the chance to get on your bike in the wilds of Scotland is a real treat.”

Paul Smith

What’s included in the entry?

Where: nairn to isles of glencoe, scotland Standard Price: from £150 Early Bird Deals available • The UK’s largest and most iconic multi-sport adventure race in stunning scenery • Traverse Scotland by foot, bike and boat • Results texted to your mobile • Special edition Tech Tee worth £15 • Free half-way camping with hot showers, real ale bar and food available • Free bag transfer service for Challengers and Racers • Music, live MC, food and drink at finish line • Electronic timing with stage splits • Medal for all finishers • Post-event party with bands and beer • Kayaking equipment supplied for Challengers and Racers

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

Necky Chatham 16

The best performing RMP boat available. Fast and responsive but excellent in rough water.

RRP: £1275.00 Members pay: £1083.75

kayaks from ratrace.com

As used in our events

Ocean Kayak Malibu 2 RRP: £499.00 Members pay: £424.15

Great value and great fun for up to 3 people.

A top multisport family choice. Try one at your nearest Green Belter.

21

summer

2012

2012 Events

I

n mid-summer 2012 we’ll be raising the standard and sending a call to the legions of ultra-Rats out there to come and sample our latest epic challenge. We’re setting up our first ultra-run at the frontier of ancient Roman Britain: Hadrian’s Wall.

“The Wall is a pure ultra-run for those who just love the distance. This course is what the Romans did for us...”

Gary Tompsett

Starting from Carlisle Castle and visting the path of the wall through over 60 miles of astounding countryside, the course will end in the centre of Newcastle in the shadows of the Tyne Bridge. Around 1000 Rats can tackle the course in a single day; as a relay; or as a two day double marathon challenge with an overnight encampment (bring your own shield). Are you ready to join the legion?

Competing: our first pure ultra-run will be a fine addition to our events and a stern test for serious athletes.

Completing: however you split it, this is a mighty challenge – tackle it as a relay team or on your own terms over two days, and unleash your inner legionnaire.

22

Ratistics Where: carslisle castle to newcastle city centre When: Mid Summer 2012 Standard Price: TBC Early Bird Deals available

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

Haglofs Ozo Pullover

Black Diamond Ultra Distance Trekking Poles

One of the world’s lightest Gore-Tex pullovers for intense activities. Contains the optimal amount of water and wind protection you need while maintaining maximum breathability.

You will not find a faster deploying Z pole anywhere on earth. Self aligning sections and single click deployment – genius.

RRP: £200.00 Members pay: £170.00

RRP: £119.00 Members pay: £ 101.15

Ultra running kit from ratrace.com

Adidas Terrex Fast X Mid GTX

Adidas Terrex Fast X FM Low GTX

Award winning lightweight, highly technical mid boot. Think The Wall – walk the ups, jog the downs.

Super stable technical shoe for fast paced adventures and multi terrain training like Urban Gym.

RRP: £123.00 Members pay: £104.55

RRP: £87.00 Members pay: £73.95 23

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

Lightweight Gear Focus Whatever your particular flavour of adventure, we know that most Rat Racers share a few common strands of DNA:

Simon Powell Head of Retail

•

You enjoy a challenge.

•

You do multiple activities throughout the year. On foot, rock, water and wheel.

•

You appreciate lightweight kit for your high output activities.

So, for your delectation, here is a small selection of some of the lightest (but still utterly fit for purpose) kit available at any price. We call them ‘Product Heroes’, and while some may seem geeky at first, if you’re embarking on anything that for you may be a little ‘epic’, saving weight saves calories, reduces fatigue and improves your performance and enjoyment of the challenge.

Plus, sometimes it’s just nice to feed the inner Gear Geek!

lightweight kit from ratrace.com

Terra Nova Laser Ultra

Salewa Krypton

The ultimate mountain marathon tent.

Guiness World Record Holder and multiaward winning

A multisport masterpiece weighing just 285g. Certified for climbing, cycling, white water and horse riding.

RRP: £650.00 Members pay: £552.50

RRP: £110.00 Members pay: £93.50 24

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

CAMP Nano 23 Carabiner

Montane Slipstream GL Jacket

World’s lightest climbing certified carabiner. The less bold of us may pick something that feels slightly more substantial.

Ridiculously light.

World’s Lightest Windproof. For those that cut size labels off to save weight!

RRP: £45.00 (6 pack) Members pay: £38.25

RRP: £85.00 Members pay: £72.25

lightweight kit from ratrace.com

Inov- X-Talon 212

Mammut Serenity

Super lightweight off-road shoe with all the support and stability you need for cross country and mountain marathons.

World’s lightest single rope. If the CAMP Nano isn’t for you, this definitely isn’t.

RRP: £79.99 Members pay: £67.99

RRP: £195.00 (60m) Members pay: £165.75

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members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

Fizan Compact Trekking Poles

CAMP Alp 95 World’s lightest climbing harness. Suitable for ski mountaineering, alpinism, mountaineering, adventure racing. Fully tested and certified according to UIAA and CE norms.

World’s lightest 3 part telescopic pole. Great value aluminium trekking poles for ultras, mountain marathons and multisport epics.

RRP: £55.00 Members pay: £46.75

RRP: £45.00 Members pay: £38.25

lightweight kit from ratrace.com

Adidas Terrex Feather Jacket

Mountain Equipment Xero MM

Featherlight and durable jacket with FORMOTION™ technology and a GORE-TEX® Pro Shell giving you superior comfort in even the most trying weather.

Superlight down sleeping bag. If you’re doing any self supported race this season, this should be on your shortlist.

RRP: £302.00 Members pay: £256.70

RRP: £180.00 Members pay: £153.00 26

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

Paul ‘Smudge’ Smith Store Manager

OK, confession time. I came to mountain biking pretty late - in my 30s – not until I was permanently based in the UK when serving in the Army. It wasn’t until “Follow The Dog” at Cannock Chase that I realised that I needed to gather some skills, get a decent bike and replace the fear of riding a red route with the thrill of riding it.

So my first real taste of mountain biking was on a Felt Q620 (2005). This bike ate up the flat, glided on rocks and soared over tree roots.

Its geometry was easy on the eye and the golden yellow was like a warm summer’s day no

matter what the weather.

To be in a position to sell, maintain and ride these awesome bikes is a privilege and an enjoyment beyond belief. When buying a Felt bike for triathlon, road or out on the trails you are guaranteed a welldesigned, high-performance bike which will meet, and likely exceed, the expectations of even the most demanding rider.

As Felt put it themselves: “We don’t want to be the biggest bike company in the world, just the best.” It’s a maxim often uttered by Jim, Bill and Michael - Founders of Felt.

Felt Bikes from ratrace.com TRI/road

Felt B16

TRI/road

Felt B10

A full carbon, sub 10 kilo TT bike for £1,800.

Awesome value, top end performance.

Easily the most advanced TT/Triathlon bike available at this price point. We may ask you for your car keys if you test ride it though!

RRP: £1800.00 Members pay: £1530.00

RRP: £4400.00 Members pay: £3740.00 27

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym Hard tail

Hard tail

Felt Q720

Felt’s top spec hardtail. You know you want one.

Fully featured hardtail with competition components like hydraulic breaks, top end front fork and Shimano shifters. Try one at the Rat Race Urban Adventure and Green Belter events.

RRP: £1250.00 Members pay: £1062.50

RRP: £850.00 Members pay: £722.50

Felt Q920

Felt BIKES from ratrace.com Full Suspension

Edict Pro Matt Carbon

Full Suspension

Felt Virtue Sport

A top end Carbon full suss XC mountain bike.

Makes our expert Gary Vallance go Mmmm.

Premium aluminium full-suss all day mountain bike with top spec components.

Why not be a test pilot at a Green Belter?

RRP: £3700.00 Members pay: £3145.00

RRP: £1700.00 Members pay: £1445.00

28

C

hamonix has a fearsome reputation as the home of ‘steeps’ in skiing circles and doubles as a year-round Alpine climbing Mecca.

However, the steeps are not just confined to the skiers - the mountains that give the climbers their kicks also cater to the two-wheeled crowd come the summer months, when passionate mountain bikers from all over the world come to tackle the technical terrain that the valley has to offer (and for those who prefer tarmac over trail-head, the legendary mountain Cols of the Tour de France are only a peddle away).

A

The French love of cyclisme is clear to see for the visiting cyclist: beautifully kept trails, well-marked long-distance routes and a surprisingly accommodating driving public who always seem to give the vélos a wide berth on the mountain roads. In this 15 mile long valley, the five different ski resorts provide a huge range of mountain biking options with uplift services via the lift network and a variety of gradients and trail quality for all levels of biker.

Get out there and ride...!

Spin Peaks

Chamonix isn’t just for skiers – it’s also a mountain biking Mecca. No snow? No problem!

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dventure Base operate bespoke and scheduled mountain bike holidays, which are based at their comfortable chalets in central Chamonix. Fully inclusive trips include all airport transfers, guiding by fully qualified mountain bike guides, as well as delicious catering options.

Or alternatively check in for bike-friendly accommodation from 30 Euros pppn (room only).

Ratalogue readers get 10% off all Adventure Base published prices. Simply call them up on 0845 527 5812 and quote Rat Race when booking to claim your discount.

Find out more at www.AdventureBase.com

FREE TRAILS available at London Broadgate, London St Pauls, Nottingham, Edinburgh, York, Glasgow

If you’ve encountered a group of people merrily exercising in a city centre near you, you might have stumbled into one of our Urban Gym sessions. Our expert Chris Johnstone explains all...

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he Urban Gym concept is essentially a unique play on a simple studio circuit class, albeit on a much larger scale. Our studios are the streets of the city centres where you live, work and play. All exercises are performed as a group at predetermined locations in the heart of the city to create an exciting outdoor multi ability group workout session.

Urban Gym sessions take place at 6:30pm on different nights depending on your nearest city venue and will last 55 mins. The Urban Gym currently has sessions running in London (St Pauls), Nottingham, Edinburgh

and York, together with NEW London (Broadgate) and Glasgow venues due to commence sessions before the end of May 2011 (see the website for more details).

What happens?

The sessions themselves employ an interval styled, circuit based approach to training with an effective blend of intense body weight exercises and cardiovascular elements. Interval training is a style of training which uses phases of higher intensity work alternated with phases of lower intensity work or even complete rest,

SIGN UP TO THE URBAN GYM AT WWW.RATRACE.COM 30

dependent on the fitness levels and ability of a class. Interval training has not only been shown to significantly build aerobic capacity, allowing participants to exercise for longer periods of time, but has also been validated as a more effective exercise intervention for fat loss when compared with performing a moderate intensity exercise for a similar duration of time.

We pride ourselves on offering an ‘INCLUSIVE’ exercise environment. All fitness levels and abilities are welcome at our classes, whether you’re just setting out on your fitness journey or you’re an elite level performer. No matter what your background, participants can expect a fun, varied and most importantly effective workout session.

Getting involved The Urban Gym fitness product will effectively compliment any traditional gym programme. It’s also a great exercise solution to compliment a training programme that’s focused on the completion of a specific challenge or sport (e.g. triathlons or Rat Race Adventure Sports Events).

Head to the gym at

WWW.RATRACE.COM Anyone interested in attending a session should visit the free trial page of the Urban Gym website and fill in the online form to book their place ASAP as places on classes are limited!

To find out more about the Rat Race Urban Gym, why not have a look through our FAQ page on the website?

We also have a dedicated and diligent customer service team on site to handle queries and answer any questions you might have. Contacting us at the Rat Race URBAN GYM has never been easier - you can either:

Call us directly on: +44 (0)203 195 0185 E-mail us on: info@ ratraceurbangym.com Or visit www.ratrace.com

The Benefits of training with the Urban Gym • Improved health and wellbeing • Improved cardiovascular endurance and capacity • Increased muscular strength and tone • Possible reduction in your ‘Body Fat’ percentage and/ or Body Weight • Training as part of an inclusive group has many social benefits, such as meeting new people and working out with peers as a part of a team in a challenging and engaging environment, keeping you entertained throughout. (Unlike the boring four walls of health clubs) 31

members save 15%

STORE, events and urban gym

Join the Rat Race and save 15%

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15%

SAVE

1. Make a purchase from our Rat Race Kit, Events or Urban Gym websites 2. Receive your Member’s Rat Reward code in your payment confirmation email 3. Save 15% on future purchases that season by entering your code at the checkout. You can even pass on the code to a mate.

E R AT TH R

• Find out about special offers, discounts and more • Keep up to date with the latest from the Rat Race Store • Get more info on our range of amazing adventure sports events • Fitness advice from our Urban Gym instructors • Check out all the race day pics and get inspired Number One for Adventure Sports

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Like us on our new Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RatRaceAdventureSports

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MEMBERS

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We want to give our repeat customers and their mates the best value possible. Once you make a purchase you’re a member for that season and you’ll save 15% across everything we sell.

Joining our Rat Rewards members scheme is as easy as 1, 2, 3:

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