1. You are using a machine: make sure that machine works as well as it possibly can!
 Make sure your bike (mountain or road) is in perfect condition when you come to the events. If you are no good with a spanner yourself then take it to a good bike shop and ask the guys there to give it a quick check over. Otherwise get the spanner and the oil can out and prepare your steed by getting it in tip-top condition. You will be surprised what a difference it can make to yourself and to the safety of others.

2. You are out on your own: make sure you can sort most problems out on the trail!
The Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series (powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport) and the Road Sportives are mass participation events. Although it is probably very unlikely that you will be on your own at any time during the event, but we believe that it is essential that you take some emergency tools and spares with you – so that you can sort out problems without relying on others. Look at the detailed list in the FAQ (below) and the technical section. Take the time before the event to learn how to fix all the common trailside or roadside mechanicals, if you can’t already (fix a puncture, fix a broken chain, how to set up gears and brakes, and so on). If you need some last minute help at the event then get in touch with the mechanics who will be on-site at every marathon of the season.

3. You’re the engine of your machine: get in shape for the ride!
I know it might be difficult to imagine at this stage but mountain bike marathons and road sportives (doesn’t matter what length you are choosing) are supposed to be enjoyable. From personal experience we can tell you that it is far more likely to be fun not just after but also during, if your body is capable of tackling a long distance ride. Try to get some of those long rides in so that your legs, back and bum get used to being in the saddle for long periods of time. To help you get in the best shape you can, you will find lots of helpful training tips in the training section of this website.

4. Fuel your engine!
Please don’t just wait until you’re hungry or thirsty to eat or drink because when those feelings occur you’re already running at a deficit. A good rule of thumb is to drink 500 – 750mls of fluid and to eat one energy bar or three gels per hour of riding. There are food stations out on course but they are purely for topping up your supplies. Check out the High5 offers in the event village before the ride: it is good stuff and it works! You can find some more in-depth info on the diet pages.

5. Don’t be late! You might miss the fun otherwise.
The registration opens at 6pm on Friday of every event weekend and stays open until 9pm that evening. It opens again on Saturday from 6am – 8pm and then again on Sunday morning from 7am–9am. We seem to get more and more day entries at the events which makes running a smooth event very difficult. You have to enter/register it yourself and we can’t accept a friend or family member to do it for you. If you have not signed on then we’re afraid that we can’t let you join the ride.

6. Enter soon! It is always good to have something to look forward to.
The events have been very popular over the years and even with us adding extra rounds at new locations the attendance at each individual event has been growing. We have come close to the maximum number on all the locations which will probably result in day entries soon being a thing of the past. To avoid disappointment of becoming one of the Marathonists we have to refuse entry to, make sure you enter well in advance. Also with the fields of the Road Sportives being restricted in size we can again only recommend to get your entry in early to avoid disappointment. The newsletter which you can subscribe to on the web site will keep you updated on how entries are going.

7. Toilet traffic jam on Sunday morning: be prepared!
Unfortunately everybody has to go to the toilet between 7am and 10am on the Sunday morning. It is impossible for us to have toilets for more than 1,000 riders at the same time so we can only suggest to keep the ‘toilet traffic jam’ in mind and to go earlier rather than later, if you can.

8. Pace yourself: no point burning out in the first couple of hours!
100km – or even 50 or 25km off-road or 100 and 50 miles on-road are a long way. You have plenty of time to put the hammer down once you figure that you have some juice left. It is very easy to get carried away by all the people storming past you at the first hill but you will be surprised how many of those you will pass later on if you just keep it steady.

9. Respect other riders and other trail/road users: this is not a race!
You will be out there with around 1,000 other riders on the marathon and with a few hundred riders on the sportives. It can mean that you might be in someone’s way or that someone is in your way. If you struggle with a climb or a downhill in one of the MTB marathons and you have to get off please clear the trail straight away so that riders behind you can keep going. If someone in front of you can’t get out of the way quickly enough be patient and polite and remember: this is NOT a race! The same goes for other trail users like walkers or horse riders – please treat them in the way you would want to be treated. If you are taking part in the sportives, please keep in mind that there are not just other riders but also other road users out there as well. Please treat them with the utmost respect – they are bigger than you and will almost always win.

10. Help others: remember it could be you!
The emphasis at our events is very much on ‘riding together’ rather than in the good old racing days of ‘racing against each other’. Besides being respectful that also means that if you see someone in trouble then you should try to help. PLEASE stop and make sure that they are okay and PLEASE get help if necessary.

11. Don’t forget to have fun: it might hurt but it is fun!
It might hurt and it might not even feel like the greatest idea even while you are doing it but believe me: you can’t get tired of the feeling of achievement once you have passed the finish line. If you keep this in mind then the whole ride is going to be one big FUN experience.

12. Smile when you see a camera: in fact, smile all the time!
We will have our event photographer Jon Brook at most of the events. You want to give people who think that you are slightly insane the impression that this is mega fun (you are going out for a 100km mountain bike ride on a Sunday when other people are taking it easy in front of the TV with the paper and a cup of tea)! So, make sure that you smile whenever you see a camera. The photos will be up on http://www.rightplacerighttime.co.uka few days after each event.

13. Equip yourself properly: the weather can change quickly out here!
As we have seen in the recent 2009 season, the weather is not the most reliable in the UK - we had super wet conditions pretty much at all locations. Different conditions open different challenges to the riders and making sure that you have the correct clothing with you is half the battle. But, it is not only the weather conditions which you need to consider, also think about the basics of making yourself comfortable. Make sure you have comfortable riding shoes (it’s best if you have been using them for a while), a comfortable pair of riding shorts, a quick drying top, good gloves and a wind/waterproof in case the weather changes. As you have to carry a fair amount of bits and pieces you probably want to consider a little backpack with a bladder. For the night/camping: It can get cold at some of the locations and it is no fun to be cold at night and not get a decent night’s sleep. Camping facilities are in place for the whole weekend and the campgrounds are open from Friday afternoon until Monday morning.

14. Wear a helmet: no helmet, no ride!
Don’t forget to bring your lid. No helmet, no ride: no further comment necessary.

15. When tiredness kicks in!
If at any stage of the ride you feel that you cannot carry on just take one of the marked shortcuts back to the event village or make your way to the next service station from where we will arrange a pickup.

16. Marathons are little adventures – be prepared for everything!
If you took part in the 2009 series then you probably know what we are talking about if you weren’t – listen up. The 2009 season was the year of extremes. Super wet conditions pretty much all round. Every location, time of year and general conditions presents a different challenge for the event organisers as well as for the individual. Make sure you prepare yourself as good as you can for those challenges by for example, carrying extra water, having the right clothes with you and by simply keeping an open mind. We will do our best from our end and hopefully we will have an enjoyable and successful 2010 season ahead of us.

17. Respect the traffic on the open road
Please keep in mind the parts of the MTB Marathons, obviously the Road Sportives and other planned events are run on the open road and that you will be mixing with other traffic. Make sure that you had a good look around before you overtake other riders or go into blind turns. Always ride on the left hand side of the road even when the roads appear to be one directional, single lane or extremely remote. There can be oncoming traffic at all times. Always watch out and don’t rely on other riders.