Is the Chan Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series (powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport) a race?
No. The Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series (powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport) is a non-competitive series of endurance events. The emphasis of the series is on riding together rather than riding against each other: we don’t have prizes or rewards for positions but we give away lots of spot prizes. There are strict bridleway laws in England and
Wales which restrict us to run the events as ‘tests of speed’ (i.e. races).

Are the Road Sportives races?
No – the same applies here as it does at the MTB marathons. The sportives are non-competitive and are run on the open road rather than on closed off sections.

How old do I have to be to take part in the Chain Reaction cycles MTB Marathon Series (powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport)?
The Mini Marathon (25km) is open for riders of 12+ years as long as they ride with parent or a guardian, otherwise for riders aged 16+. The 50km course is open for riders of 16+. The 75km and the 100km courses are open for riders aged 18+. The EXPOSURE LIGHTS BIG NIGHT OUT is also open to riders aged 18+.

How old do I have to be to take part in the Road Sportives?
Minimum age is 16 years but the rider has to be accompanied by parent or guardian. 18+year old rider can take part unaccompanied.

Do I need to bring a map and find my own way around?
No. The Chain Reaction cycles MTB Marathon (powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport) events and the Road Sportives are fully marked and there is no need for a map or any navigation skills. The courses are clearly marked. If you have not come past an arrow for a few hundred yards (on the MTB Marathons) then it is very likely that you are not on the course any longer. In this case, re-trace your steps and return to where you left the course. For the road sportives you will be equipped with a basic map as a backup for the marking around the course.

Are there escape routes and short cuts?
Yes. If you’re struggling to carry on there are marked escape routes that will take you back to the event village via a shortcut. These escape routes are marked with different coloured signs. Alternatively, you can make your way to the next service station from where we can organise a pickup.

Are there service stations around the course?
Yes. We have feed stations as well as technical support stations. You will find a feed station roughly every 15-25km on the MTB marathons and every 25-35miles on the Road Sportives and a technical support station at every other feed station. Please check the map when you arrive at the event for the approximate distances in between the service stations. The feed stations are for replenishing your supplies but they are not to be relied upon as the only source of your provisions. Please make sure that you bring plenty of food and drink, especially if the weather is hot and sunny.

Do the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathons (powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport) have mass starts?
Yes. All events have mass starts. We ask riders to be ready around 30 minutes prior to the start and to line up so that last minute instructions can be given. All categories will start together but will be asked to line up according to their category. Please follow the markers and instructions.

Do the Road Sportives have mass starts?
No they don’t. The start is run as an open start where riders will either be ‘released’ one by one or in small groups. The start is normally open from 8.30am on Saturday morning and will stay open for approximately 1 1/2 hours.

Do we have to ride behind a pace car for a few miles?
Yes. All events are led out by a pace car and all riders have to stay behind this pace car for the first few miles. The pace car will go at a fairly speedy pace to spread the field out as much as possible and will eventually pull away to make way for the field to go past. We will have cars in between the various categories. These cars are not to be overtaken until they leave the course or pull over.

Are camping facilities available?
Yes. All events have camping facilities in close proximity to the event village and the start and finish area. Showers and toilets are in and around the event village and there are extra toilets to be found within the campground.

Can we reserve an area in the campground?
No, we don’t take any reservations. We have lots of space at the events and ask everybody to find their own pitch and to leave plenty of space for late arrivals.

Can I bring my family?
Absolutely – the more the merrier. All event villages and campgrounds are located within walking distance of the town centers of the host town and we are constantly improving our kids and ‘left behinds’ entertainment. You can find further details and contact numbers on the ‘ Local Services page

Is it possible to arrive on Friday and stay all the way up to Monday morning?
Yes, no problem. The campground is open from Friday afternoon onwards and stays open until the Monday morning. We will make sure that facilities are in place so that you can enjoy your mountain bike weekend away.

Are bike cleaning facilities available?
Yes. We will have between 2 – 4 power washers with us which will be available on Saturday
and Sunday. As you can image they do get rather busy at times so please be patient and watch the queues for quiet periods.

Is there a caterer on site?
Yes. We will have a caterer on site that will have a breakfast and a lunch/dinner menu. Besides that we normally have a Café2You van on site serving high quality hot drinks.

How long is it going to take me?
This obviously depends very much on your abilities. Riders finish the long course in four to eight hours and the short course in between two and five hours. The average is probably around six hours on the long course and three hours on the short course. The Mini Marathon will probably be done in one and a half to three hours.

Is there secure bike storage?
No. You have to look after your own bike. So far we have never had any problems with bikes going missing but please come prepared just in case.

Are there showers near the campground?
Yes. Showers are located in close proximity to the campground and will be open from Saturday morning onwards.

It is possible to enter on the day?
Unfortunately we can’t guarantee that. Entries to the various events are limited and are likely to fill up before the event weekend. We recommend entering well in advance. If you want be kept informed of how the entries are going and when we will get close to the maximum capacities please subscribe to our newsletter. With the Road Sportives being restricted in numbers it is definitely a good idea to enter early as there might not be a ‘enter on the day’ facility available. Please keep you eyes on the site to keep updated. There is a £ 5 entry surcharge on the day.

Do I have to sign-on myself or can get a friend or family member to do it for me?
Yes, you have to do it yourself. If you can’t make it to the registration (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) before it closes we can’t let you take part in the event.

Is it possible to sign-on on the morning before the ride?
Yes. 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. So if you are riding the Road Sportive you can sign on from 7 – 10am (at 10.30am on Saturday morning the start to the sportive will close) and if you are riding the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathons (powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport) then you can register in between 7 – 9am on Sunday morning.

What are the mountain bike routes like?
All our courses are off-road courses that run primarily on singletrack, forest roads, grass trails and country lanes. The riding is physically demanding but the courses are designed to be ridden and enjoyed by a broad group of people rather than just specialists.

How does the entry process work?
If you enter via the paper entry form please fill it out and return it together with your cheque. Once we receive your entry together with your cheque we will send you your confirmation by post or by email. You can also enter via the online entry facilities. When you get to the online entry page just follow the on screen instructions. You will receive an email confirmation (so please make sure your email is correct and working). The confirmation will not have your start number as they will be determined the night before the event. You will find your number at the alphabetical listings we will hang up around the event village. The signing on sheets will be in alphabetical and numerical order so that your name and number are very easy to find.

How can I find out my start number at the event?
Simply go to one of the alphabetical listings around the event village and look up your name. You can also go straight to registration where the signing on sheets will be in alphabetical and numerical order which will make for a quick and straightforward identification of your number and signing in line.

Are the events easy to find and signposted?
Just make your way to the towns where the events are taking place. The event villages (start and finish) will be clearly signposted from Friday afternoon onwards. Please check on the Local Services page for further information on the various locations.

Are there alternatives for me to stay if I don’t fancy the campground?
There are plenty of affordable hotels and B&Bs in the area(s). Please have a look on the Local Services page on our website (www.mtb-marathon.co.uk) for contact numbers. Are spares etc. available at the event? You should be able to get most spare parts that you might forget through the retailers that are exhibiting at the event. If you need something very specific please make sure that you have that item with you.

If I have technical problems, is there anybody at the event who can help out?
The mechanics will be on site to help riders with any last minute problems, but please don’t rely on that and make sure that your bike is in perfect working order before you come to the event.

What is happening on Saturday?
Saturday is now the new Road Sportive day. If you are only there to enjoy the mountain bike marathon then you should use the time to sign-on, have a good look around the event village, pitch up tents and the equipment for the next day, ride some test bikes, join one of the organised rides, enjoy the pasta party and just chill out in and around the campground. CycleActive, a regular part of the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series (powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport) and the UK’s leading mountain bike holiday and training company, will be doing their magic at every round of the series in 2010.

If you are there to take part in the Road Sportive then you will be most likely sit on your bike for the first part of the day. Once you are back you can enjoy your free post ride food, have a good look around the event village, maybe (time providing) head out for a guided MTB ride or maybe just recover so that you can give the MTB marathon a go the next morning.

What is happening on Sunday?
Sunday is the main marathon event day when the ‘100’, ‘75’, ‘50’ and ‘25’ rides are taking place. Start is at 10am at the Builth Wells (summer event), Grassington, Selkirk and Ruthin events. The rides start at 10.30am at the Builth Wells (April event) so that the riders who take part in both the ELBNO and the marathon get a little extra sleep. You hardcore riders taking part in both events at Ruthin will start at 10am due to shorter daylight hours. The ELBNO (night marathon in April & September) will get going at 7.30pm.

Can we get a map of the courses beforehand?
Unfortunately no because parts of the courses go over private and restricted land so it is impossible for us to hand out maps prior to the event. We will, however, have a main map at the event village and at every service station.

Can we pre-ride the courses?
As parts of the course go over private and restricted land for which we only have permission to use for the day of the event it is impossible to ride the entire course prior to or after the event. If you are interested in doing some more riding in the various regions where our events are held please check out the Local Info page