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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>>	2005           Ruthin Event Review The end of the season is finished in fine style with tip-top riding amidst some stunning scenery Ruthin wrapped up the 2005 series to a triumphant end in its fine indomitable style as 1,100 riders descended on the town for a weekend riding some of the finest trails in north Wales. Over 50% of the course over the magnificent Clwydian hills was brand spanking new to the Merida 100s: Wherever the new met the old, John – together with the North Wales Mountain Bike Association (NWMBA), the Merida 100’s people on the ground – routed it in reverse so that the course was in effect totally fresh. The alternative start was run out on an extended tarmac climb to help string the field out and prevent the chaotic bottleneck that many riders experienced last year. Thankfully, it paid off and once the time on the black top was over it was up and onto the Clywdians themselves and the chance for the riders to get the pure and unadulterated flavour of their varied but always picturesque terrain. With the weather playing ball the riders got to experience the hills at something approaching their scenic best. Running for 35km from Llangdegla to Prestatyn and rising to 554m, the Clywdians harbour a warren of singletrack, heather moor land, woods and river valleys: a frame upon which all three courses (50, 75 and 90km) would hang off as they repeatedly climbed and then descended the folds and flanks of the hills. “The course was the best yet – but also one of the toughest with all that climbing,” agreed James Andrews. But with a third of the course being made up of both open and forest singletrack, the endorphin rewards more than matched the effort and continued to help keep riders in Ruthin’s thrall. “I marshalled the event in 2003 and then promised myself I’d complete the 50km the following year,” Dan Hurst revealed of his steadily escalating MTB-Marathon addiction. “Then,” he continued, “after finishing the 50km, I promised to complete the 100km. After finishing the 100km I promised never to do this again… until I woke up this morning and vowed to finish next year, faster – although not as quickly as Oli Beckinsale!” The non-riding partners and spectators could also get out into the hills and support the riders from the trailside but behind the indulgent safety of a pint, much to the jealous consternation of those hauling ass. Whilst back in the town the majority of the shops in the town stayed open for folk to leisurely browse through and spend a few hard earned pennies on trinkets and souvenirs. International mountain bike personality Keith Bontrager had again made the trip from over the pond for Ruthin as his ‘warm up’ to the Three Peaks cyclo-cross challenge later in the month. “Riding the marathon course on skinny wheels is a good way to get ready for the race in Yorkshire,” Keith told the Merida 100 team, before quietly admitting that, “nothing really gets you completely ready for that event though.” Miles Frazer e-mailed the team afterwards to extend his thanks “for all the hardwork you guys and gals put in so that we riders get an event: I know a lot goes on behind the scenes that a lot of people don’t realise but we sure appreciate you people.” Some of those behind the scenes folks are the NWMBA (www.nwmba.demon.co.uk), who are central to the success of the Ruthin Merida 100. Heavily involved in trail building and development, advocacy and event organisation for many years now that, along with all the volunteers, are bona fide unsung heroes without whom the Ruthin, or any of the Merida 100s, “wouldn’t happen,” confirmed Mike, before adding that: “We get a lot of feedback from riders reporting how helpful and encouraging the marshals are throughout the day, which really helps to make the MTB-Marathon experience what it is.” Roger Tilbrook chose Ruthin as his first ever MTB Marathon and said that after “having had so much fun it won’t be my last!” For next year – as with virtually all the events – Ruthin will also see the addition of a new 25km mini-marathon, something that Miles is looking forward to so that “I can ride with my 13 year old daughter,” and much, much more. So stay tuned, get the miles of smiles in, and get ready for what is shaping up to be the biggest and very best Merida 100 season there has ever been.   2005		Merida Bikes TransWales '08 The 7 day MTB stage challenge. Check the full story and the results on www.mtbtransuk.co.uk Join our Mailing List: Enter your email address:   Confirm your email address: Privacy Statement Request the 2008 season Merida Marathon Guide Book (available early Spring): Please Email us your FULL POSTAL ADDRESS and POSTCODE. CLICK HERE Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series will go abroad: Read MORE>>
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