Selkirk event 2–3rd August 2008
 Selkirk has been the most liked and talked about location of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series since its introduction a few years back. 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 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 BIKEWEAR Road Sportives
New for 2008 we are offering something for the road riders out there by adding a sportive to most of the rounds of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series. Amongst the events in Ruthin, Penrith and Builth Wells, Selkirk will also feature two different road sportive courses to choose from. The road sportives will be run on the Saturday of the event weekend with an open start from early in the morning onwards. Following the huge trend of non-competitive road events the GORE BIKEWEAR Road Sportives are trying to set themselves apart from the rest by offering a high quality event package with outstanding courses and first class support around the course plus all inclusive camping, parking, facilities, event meal and finisher present…pretty much the same deal the riders of the marathon series have been enjoying since the very beginning.
The road sportives will have two courses on offer – an approx. 80-100mile and approx. 40-50mile loop. The GORE BIKEWEAR Sportives are run very similarly to the Merida marathons by being one loop events with the start and finish being in the same location as the event village, registration and event camping. Due to legal reasons the Sportives will be started in small waves of riders at set intervals. The start will open at a certain time and will stay open for approximately 2 hours to give everybody the chance to have a relaxing start at the time of their choosing.
The courses are fully marked but every rider will get a small ‘backup map’ given in case that marking is not 100% clear or gets damaged or removed. Around the course our energy food sponsor High5 will be present with energy drinks, bars, and gels as well as with bananas and water. Alongside the energy backup, mechanics will be out there to help everybody with any technical problems. The feeding stations are normally between 25-35miles apart but should not be relied upon as the sole source of your food and drink.
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 3rd August '08 at the Selkirk Rugby Club in Selkirk.
- The GORE BIKEWEAR Road Sportive will start 8am onwards on Saturday the 2nd August '08 at the Selkirk Rugby Club in Selkirk.
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Registration opening times:
Friday from 6 – 9pm
Saturday from 6am - 8pm (Please note: from 6 - 9am 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 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 BIKEWEAR Road sportive is £25 per rider.
- Discount: If you enter the road sportive on Saturday and the mountain bike event on Sunday (at the same weekend) then 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
- Free usage of service stations
- Free usage of facilities
- Free skills and riding tuitions (run on Sunday)
- Finishing T-shirt
- Free camping and parking
- Spot prizes
Your entry fee for the GORE BIKEWEAR 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 Sunday)
- Finishing present
- Free camping and parking
- Sport prizes
CycleActive Skills Training:
CycleActive, the UK’s leading mountain bike instruction and holiday company, will be working their magic at the MTB marathons again in 2008.
Saturday will be a day of skills coaching rides, all free, headed by some of the most experienced and highly qualified tutors around. There are two levels of ride – one focussing on core biking skills while the other looks at more advanced techniques for the experienced rider. Each ride will last for about 1.5 hours and will get you warmed up and skilled up for the following day.
On Sunday their guides will provide active support during the 25km Marathon, while their much loved and appreciated kids skills course, now sponsored by Buff Headwear, will be running in the main arena throughout the day. Besides that they will also be on site answering all sorts of questions about their broad range of UK and international holidays and nation-wide skills weekends.
If you want to improve your skills before the event then check out the new range of trail centre courses run by CycleActive all over Britain, as well as their weekend courses in The Lake District.
To find out more about CycleActive visit them at www.cycleactive.co.uk
To book a space on a skills ride email them at admin@cycleactive.co.uk
New for 08 – CycleActive TT for young bikers:
With so many young riders now riding the 25km Marathon we’ve brought in the experts from CycleActive to run a Total Training, or TT, programme. Before each event you can sign up any young rider to the TT course and know they’ll benefit from the best tuition on Saturday, then join the instructor for the 25km marathon on Sunday.
The 2-hour training session on Saturday is all about total event preparation. There’ll be plenty of skills coaching, a bike setup clinic, informal talks about nutrition and hydration as well as plenty of practical advice on surviving and enjoying a marathon ride.
On Sunday the small group of riders who were trained on Saturday will ride the 25km marathon with their instructor. This will be a group ride so parents can feel confident that their aspiring young bikers are in safe, qualified hands.
The cost for the TT course is £30, plus £20 marathon entry fee. We expect demand to be high and spaces are strictly limited to 8 per instructor, so book your TT course by emailing admin@cycleactive.co.uk as soon as you know which events you’ll be attending.
Location and our man on the ground:
The Selkirk Rugby Club is the location for the Selkirk round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon (3rd August) and the GORE BIKEWEAR Road Sportive (2nd 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.selkirk.bordernet.co.uk
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