Selkirk event 1 – 2nd August 2009
Selkirk has been the most liked and talked about location of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series since its introduction a few years back. Even the rather ‘interesting’ weather condition of 2008 was not able to change that. The superb course which incorporates some of the purpose build tracks surrounding the greater Selkirk area, the fantastic view and the superb facilities at the Selkirk Rugby club makes this event one of the highlights of the series. Pete Laing our man on the ground is not just sorting out the course for the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Selkirk round but has also working with us on the 2007 Chain Reaction Cycles TransScotland and will make sure that his home round will stay on top.
 With the 7stanes trail centres Glentress and Innerleithen less than 30 minutes away Selkirk is crying out for a little mountain bike holiday with the perfect finish at the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon. So if you have not had the chance yet to sample some of the superb trail centres in the Scottish borders – this is your chance to make the possibly long way up worth your while.
The Selkirk round will offer 4 different courses. Starting with the approx. 25km Mini Marathon which is more aimed at the younger and less experienced rider, followed by the approx. 50km Half Marathon. The Half Marathon is more demanding from a technical riding point of view as well as from a physical point of view. On top of that we will have the approx. 75km Middle Marathon and the Full Marathon with an approx. distance of 100km. The Merida Bikes MTB Marathon will take place on the Sunday (2nd August ‘09). You can find details on registration and start times below.
The event will be based once again at the Rugby Club in Selkirk which 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 plus making sure that all the facilities are always in tip top shape.
GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportives
Following the launch of the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportives in 2008 we will again have three rounds on offer for the 2009 season.
• 1st round: Llanwrtyd Wells 4th July 2009
• 2nd round: Selkirk 1st August 2009
• 3rd round: Ruthin 19th September 2009
The Gore Bike Wear Sportive will take place on Saturday of the event weekend. The round in Selkirk has a very special 3rd sportive distance up its sleeves which will be a real test even for hardened sportive enthusiasts. Besides the standard (approx. 40-50mile) and the classic (approx. 80-100mile) the Selkirk round also offers an ‘Extreme Sportive’ with an approx. distance of 130mile. The series has now its own website www.gorebikewearsportives.com where you can find all the details on the three 2009 events and where you can enter the events. You will also find lots of tips and a long list of hopefully helpful FAQs.
 Course Profile Download:
Download - Further course details (including profiles) CLICK HERE - PDF File: 120 KB
Camping, registration and start time:
Camping will be available (included in the entry fee) from Friday night through to Monday morning at the Selkirk Rugby Club In Selkirk.
Start times:
- The Merida Bikes MTB Marathon ride will start at 10am on Sunday the 2nd August '09 at the Selkirk Rugby Club in Selkirk.
- The GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive will start 8am onwards (open start till 9am) on Saturday the 1st August '09 at the Selkirk Rugby Club in Selkirk.
Registration opening times:
Friday from 6 – 9pm
Saturday from 6am - 8pm (Please note: from 6 - 9am Saturday only road sportive riders can register)
Sunday from 7 - 9am
Entry fees:
- The entry fee for the approx. 50, 75 and 100km Merida Bikes MTB Marathon ride is £30 per rider and £25 per rider for the approx. 25km Mini Marathon. If you are in between 12-15 years old and are taking part in the Mini Marathon then your entry fee is only £20 rather than £25.
- The entry fee for the approx. 50 and 100mile GORE BIKE WEAR Road sportive is £25 per rider.
- Discount: If you enter both event at the same weekend we will give you a £10 discount on your over all entry fee.
Your entry fee for the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon includes:
- Ride entry
- Free pasta party (held on the Saturday night before the ride on Sunday)
- Free usage of service stations
- Free usage of facilities
- Free skills and riding tuitions (run on Saturday)
- Finishing T-shirt
- Free camping and parking
Your entry fee for the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive includes:
- Ride entry
- Free post event food
- Free usage of service stations
- Free usage of facilities
- Free skills and riding tuitions (run on Saturday)
- Finishing present
- Free camping and parking
Please check www.gorebikewearsportives.com for further details on the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportives 2009.
 Helping Hands
Keep yourself fit to ride with a little help
MTB Works offers first class maintenance, and pre- and post race treatments to athletes. They provide advice on injuries, self care, stretching and maintenance routines, using a wide range of techniques from orthopaedic massage and facilitated stretching to electro-acupuncture and cryotherapy. In addition to hands-on work they also supply sports supports, taping, medicated anti-inflammatory plasters, anti-contusion liniments and advice on sports nutrition. These services will be available throughout the series – see www.mtbworks.com for more.
CycleActive Skills Arena
New for 2009 will be the Skills Arena, brought to you by the UK’s leading mountain bike instructors at CycleActive. This will be the place to come to on Saturday to learn to hop, drop, manual, corner faster, brake harder and control your bike in testing situations.
“It’s a new format for this season – instead of taking groups off-site we’ll be running focused, intensive 1 hour sessions in a custom built skills arena. We’re building the woodwork this winter, so be prepared for some timber trails and exciting riding,” said CycleActive boss Chris Ford.
We’ll bring you more on this as the season progresses. Skills sessions will have restricted numbers but you’ll be able to sign up online closer to each event. All the sessions are free as well, so take advantage of this chance to learn from the best in the business, and push your skills up a level before the Sunday event.
Skills on Sundays
The Sunday sessions provided by CycleActive have been incredibly popular with younger riders, but also many adults who are not riding the event. This year there will be a split of sessions on Sunday, with those for youngsters alternating with adult sessions. “We’ll use the same course as Saturday, with a few modifications, so youngsters and adults of all abilities can come along and learn something, and have a lot of fun too,” explained Chris.
Teaching great technique to young riders makes a huge difference. This programme of CycleActive junior training is something we’ve seen at Merida events for 3 years now, and many of the youngsters who started with CycleActive back then are now blasting round the 25 or even 50 courses with real confidence. Again, it’s completely free and you don’t need to sign up for the Sunday sessions – just check times on the board when you arrive.
Location and our man on the ground:
The Selkirk Rugby Club is the location for the Selkirk round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon (2nd August) and the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive (1st August)
Our man in Selkirk is Peter Laing who is renowned for his excellent course and trail building. For the last four years running the event in Selkirk was the most loved by the riders and this is certainly down to the excellent skills Peter has been showing over the years. If you haven’t done this one yet it is worth the trip!
We will add any course news and last minute updates to our regular newsletter. If you have not subscribed yet please go onto the home page and click the newsletter button on the right hand side.
 SELKIRK
The ancient and Royal Burgh of Selkirk stands high above the Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys. Sir Walter Scott served as sheriff here for 33 years and his former courtroom features a fascinating audio-visual presentation telling the story of Scott's associations with the area and its people.
Halliwell's House, the town's oldest dwelling, is now the local museum, with the building's links with the ironmongery trade recreated, and the Robson Gallery providing a venue for exhibitions. Clapperton's Daylight Photographic Studio is a working museum and photographic archive.
Visitors to the town can enjoy free parking, and local publications include a Town Plan, Town Trail, mini-guide and countryside walks. Selkirk Common Riding in June is recognised as one of the oldest of the Border Festivals, with a tradition going back to the Battle of Flodden in 1513, with as many as 400 riders taking part. The town's industrial background is reflected in the number of specialist tweed outlets, whilst local glass works offer the chance to buy products and see skilled craftsmen at work.
Three miles west is Bowhill House, a Georgian mansion, with woodland walks and an adventure playground in the extensive grounds. Its Little Theatre hosts drama and music performances.
The twin valleys of Ettrick and Yarrow contain some of the most glorious scenery in the Scottish Borders, with St Mary's Loch, Southern Scotland's largest stretch of water.
The area's rich heritage provided inspiration for such writers as Sir Walter Scott and James Hogg. In the old byres of 16th Century Aikwood Tower, an exhibition features the life and work of James Hogg, known as 'The Ettrick Shepherd'.Local places of interest include Aikwood Tower, Bowhill House & Country Park, Halliwell's House Museum and Robson Gallery, Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom, Lindean Mill Glass, Selkirk Glass, Selkirk Golf Club (9 hole), The Woll Golf Course (9 hole), Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre.
Local Information
For information about local services and accommodation please get in touch with the local Tourist Information Centres and check out the local web sites.
SELKIRK
Tel: 0870 6080404
Fax: 01750 21886
Email: info@scot-borders.co.uk
Address:
Halliwells House
Selkirk
TD7 BL
Web: www.scot-borders.co.uk and www.selkirkonline.org
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