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  2007
  > REVIEW
  2006
  > REVIEW
  > ELBNO - SM
  > RHAYADER
  > BUILTH WELLS
  > BAD GOISERN
  > SELKIRK
  > RUTHIN
  2005
  > REVIEW
  > ELBNO - SM
  > RHAYADER
  > BUILTH WELLS
  > BAD GOISERN
  > SELKIRK
  > RUTHIN
  2004
  > REVIEW
  > RHAYADER
  > BUILTH WELLS
  > BAD GOISERN
  > SELKIRK
  > RUTHIN
  2003
  > REVIEW
  > RHAYADER
  > BUILTH WELLS
  > RUTHIN
  NEWS...
  16.05.08 NEWS before the Ruthin Round HERE>>
  25.04.08
Latest News from the first round.
HERE>>
  17.04.08 Report from the first round HERE>>
  10.04.08
Latest News before the first event of 2008.
HERE>>
  29.03.08 Website updated - New Season is HERE>>
  31.01.08
Online Entry now OPEN.
MORE>>
  28.12.07 Website updated - Entry facilities coming soon.
  19.09.07
7 down, NONE to go….at least not this year. MORE>>
  Foot-And-Mouth - Please clean your gear: MORE>>
  04.09.07
Ruthin News. MORE>>
  Merida on holiday 2008 – win a mountain bike trip in Austria MORE>>
  12.08.07
6 down, ONLY 1 to go. MORE>>
  20.07.07
Selkirk here we come
MORE>>
  12.07.07
4 down, 2 to go (3 including the Austria round) MORE>>
  06.07.07
Latest Builth Wells Summer Marathon update
MORE>>
  27.06.07
Latest News... MORE>>
  16.06.07
MERIDA OUTSIDER UPDATES WITH COURSE PROFILES.
MORE>>
  07.06.07
Latest News... MORE>>
  17.05.07
…2 down 5 to go. After last year’s rather muddy May event in Rhayader the first dip into English marathon territory was another one to remember.
MORE>>
  08.05.07
It is only a few days now before the 1st ever English round MORE>>
  01.05.07
It feels that the season is truly here MORE>>
  17.04.07 ELBNO and SPRING MARATHON MORE>>
  10.04.07 ELBNO / Spring Marathon – LAST UPDATE MORE>>
  23.03.07 ELBNO . MORE>>
  23.03.07 Chain Reaction Cycles voucher - make sure you enter early! MORE>>
  23.03.07 Aviemore round – the Outsider. MORE>>
  23.03.07 Penrith round – Cumbria Bikefest MORE>>
  23.03.07 Salzkammergut Trophy 2007. MORE>>
  13.03.07 The Outsider event and line-up ... MORE>>
  22.02.07 Latest NEWS. MORE>>
  19.12.06 NEWS 2007 Entry form available to download….... MORE>>
  'CycleActive price draw - winner revealed!.... MORE>>
  23.10.06 NEWS The Outsider - New Event….... MORE>>
  The 2006 mountain bike season is heading towards its deserved winter break which inevitably means that the 2007 season is creeping up on us. .... MORE>>
  26.09.06 We have just got back from our 2007 planning excursion to Scotland . .... MORE>>
  14.09.06 NEWS Update: Merida Ruthin…only a couple of days to go….... MORE>>
  25.08.06 Well done everybody who took part in the first ever Merida TransWales ’06. What a week! I am sure it will take us all a while to recover from this adventure. .... MORE>>
  09.08.06 NEWS Update:Merida TransWales ’06…only a couple of days to go….... MORE>>
  02.08.06 NEWS Four down one to go! We have just returned from the event in Selkirk and we can only agree with the all comments we have had that it has once again been a superb event for everybody.... MORE>>
  26.07.06 NEWS Update:
It’s the last week before the Scottish round of the Merida 100 MTB Marathon in Selkirk opens its doors.... MORE>>
  11.07.06 NEWS Update:…was it hot or what? This year seams to be the year of extremes... MORE>>
  22.06.06 NEWS Update:
The last weekend before this year’s summer marathon in Builth Wells is upon us.... MORE>>
  News update 15.06.06
Less than three weeks to go before we will welcome everybody at the ‘summer’ event of the Merida 100 Series... MORE>>
  01.06.06
2nd Round Rhayader Event... MORE>>
  1st Round of the Merida 100 MTB Marathon Series 2006 in Builth Wells 8-9th April... MORE>>
  20 Reasons why you... should ride a Mreida 100
1 No faffing with maps: just point and play... MORE>>
  Vertebrate Graphics, MTB Guidebooks...MORE>>
  MTB-Marathon Jersey NOW IN STOCK..MORE>>
 


















  2004
       
  Rhayader Event Review

2004 was the second year in a row that Rhayader has had the possibly dubious honour of opening the Merida100 Series. It’s a tough billing for sure, especially given the reputation that Builth Wells, the home of the series, now commands. It’s almost like asking a wedding singer to open for Van Morrison, except that this year the wedding singer was sold-out!

In all, 1,192 riders and their entourages proved defenceless against a weekend of deep blue skies, fine riding, and a great atmosphere. “With four events in the series we had expected an even spread of people over each of the events,” said Mike of the big number of riders taking on the Rhayader round, “so having almost 1,200 riders at the opening round was certainly a very good surprise.” In the end the flawless weekend was marred only a fraction during the ride itself on the Sunday by some sporadic downpours that mixed things up a bit with some great British mud for added spice.

What Mountain Bike magazine had brought its fresh fruit smoothie prowess along to help keep everyone refreshed and ready for the big push on the Sunday; whilst the Offroad Training Consultancy was on-hand offering skills instruction; Pedro’s had bought its paint and sticker stripping jet-washes; and the extended camping on the Sunday night meant that many could forge a proper bank holiday break by taking time out to relax with a post ride pint in one of the town’s many pubs, or in front of a roaring fire in the Rugby Club’s bar for a late night hot toddy. “Keeping the campsite open for the extra night was a brilliant idea,” said a grateful Andy C. “It’s a four and half hour drive for me to Rhayader and after doing the 70km route on a rigid singlespeed all I wanted was a pint and my sleeping bag.”

The course was slightly modified over the previous year, but once again Clive Powell (Rhayader’s course designer and the Merida 100’s man on the ground) had put together a toughie.
Taking in more woodland riding than many of the traditional Merida100 courses (bar Selkirk), Rhayader was peppered with singletrack and grinding fire roads. The sporadic showers during the ride pepped things up a bit, and although riders went out and returned under the watchful eye of the sun it was clear that the rain had made the going even tougher in places.

For some however, mechanical gremlins seemed certain to thrust a hefty 12inch monkey wrench into the spokes of the proceedings. But gremlins aren’t particularly the brightest of creatures and they hadn’t counted on Merida’s Mike (the mechanic) being such a helpful and resourceful chap, as Robin Holy explained: “After seeing me snap my seatpost Mike built up a replacement bike for me from the back of his van to let me finish the event; four punctures later and I rolled in, handed the war-torn Merida bike back in, and got my war-torn bike back. It was very good of him and the Merida team. Thanks Mike.”

Rhayader provided the perfect start to the 2004 series: riders had come from far and wide, with riders of all backgrounds rubbing shoulders and chasing the finish line as rabidly as each other, whether their name was Barrie Clarke or Amanda: “Rhayader was my first ever mountain bike marathon event and I have to say I’m hooked! I was in the back few to complete and the marshals and trail bike riders were a constant comfort. The final feed station team were entertaining and sent us on our way with smiles on our faces – which was no mean feat by then!” Even a temperamental finish archway throwing a hissy fit by collapsing like a meringue just added to the atmosphere: with cheers being lofted into the skies once the rogue inflatable was comically brought under control. But the smiles say it all. Roll on Rhayader 2005.
  2004

competition image


Merida Bikes TransWales '08
The 7 day MTB stage challenge.
Check the full story and the results on www.mtbtransuk.co.uk

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