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Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2009 – entry now open
The 2009 Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series will be once more sported by our long standing and loyal sponsor Merida Bikes. For the 2009 series will again 5 UK events plus one ‘Merida Marathon on Holiday’ round in Austria up for grabs with all together 29 courses to choose from which will allow riders of all ability to find the ideal challenge.
Entry now open
We have now opened the entry by adding the downloadable entry forms and the updated online entry to the site. Riders will be able to enter all Merida bikes MTB marathons (except the Austria round) and Gore Bike Wear Sportives through the entry facilities. Click here to be taken directly to the Merida Bikes MTB marathon Series 2009 entry page.
Unfortunately the planned Barnoldswick round had to be cancelled due to excess issues which could not be overcome but rather than cutting the series down to 4 events John Lloyd managed to find two new locations to fill the Barnoldswick gap as well as replace the Builth Wells summer round. That means that we will add all together 8 completely new and never before used courses to the 2009 line-up. Exciting times in particular for the regular marathons riders we think. Beside the new additions we will see the return two long standing events within the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series – the Exposure Lights Bike Night Out (sponsored by Exposure Lights) night marathon and the ‘on holiday’ round in Bad Goisern, Austria.
You can find all the details on the new rounds as well as the old face full once on the event pages.
Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive Series 2009
The Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive Series will return with three rounds in 2009.
Dates (sportive to be run on the Saturday of the event weekend):
• 4th July --- Llanwrtyd Wells
• 1st August --- Selkirk
• 19th September --- Ruthin
As in the launch years each round will have two different courses (classic with 80-100mile and standard with 40-50mile) with the Selkirk round making the exception by hosting three. Selkirk will have the classic and standard sportive but also the newly introduced ‘extreme’ sportive with a course length of 130-140miles. So with three locations to choose from and with all together 7 course on offer sportive riders off all abilities should be able to find a suitable challenge.
We are currently in the last few stages on the new sportive website which similarly to the marathon website will have all the event and location details, course distributions and course maps as well as downloadable entry forms and online entry. If you can’t wait till the new site is up and running please be aware that you can enter the sportives also through the marathon entry page.
TransWales 2009 – online entry now open
The entry to the 4th TransUK - the TransWales 2009 (15-22nd of August 2009) is open and we have already received lots of entries from all over the world. But no worry there are still lots of places available.
Our website has all the event details and entry facilities including the new online entry. The online entry makes payment from abroad a doddle as well as it allows participants to pay for the event via credit or debit cards. If you have already paid your deposit by cheque then you an still pay the remaining entry fee through the online entry (meaning via credit or debit cards). Please click here to be taken directly to the entry page on the TransWales 2009 website.
Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Prize Draw
 During the 2008 season, we asked riders to complete a questionnaire and at each round, a lucky questionnaire was drawn for the chance to be in the Grand Prize Draw to win a Merida Carbon Ninety Six frame worth £1,899.99. At the final round of the series in Penrith, all four lucky questionnaires were put into a hat, and the Grand Prize Draw was completed!
The lucky winner was Jo Pusey from Shropshire, whose questionnaire was drawn on her very first Merida Marathon weekend! Since that event, she has become a keen rider and follower of the marathon series. Until recently Jo had been riding a rigid bike, but that had caused pain in the arms, and an upgrade of bike was very much needed. However, she felt the jump from a rigid to a £1900 carbon full suspension frame would cost a fortune to equip it suitably! So we offered a complete bike up to the value of the frame as an alternative.
Jo very kindly thought of her boyfriend Rob at this point, and decided to go for 2 lower value bikes so they would both benefit. The presentation of 2 Merida Matts TFS 900D bikes was made by Chris Carter, General Manager of Merida UK at the Head Office of Merida in Nottingham.
We look forward to seeing Jo and Rob at the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series next year!
All done for 2008 – but there is more to come in 2009.
The Merida MTB Marathon Series 2008 has come to an end with an ‘almost’ sunny finishing round in Penrith. Nearly 1100 riders made their way to the Lowther Deer Park near Penrith to be part of the last two events of the 2008 series. For the 1st time this year the event was blessed with good weather throughout the week which made for a far more enjoyable riding weekend.
 Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive
For of the five UK based events in 2008 featured a round of the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive. The final round in Penrith saw almost 200 road enthusiasts turned up to enjoy the fantastic roads around Penrith which offered probably the most challenging ride of the season. The route took the riders through the Lyvennet Valley before crossing the wild open moorlands that surround Shap and then head across the Eden Valley. One of the biggest challenges for the day was the steep ascent of Strawberry Hill before heading back to a well deserved cup of tee at the event village in the Lowther Deer Park. Luckily enough this time round the weather was on our side with ideal riding temperatures and the odd spot of sunshine.
The first rider over the line managed to finish the 40mile course in 3hours and 18 minutes while the last one finishing the long course in 8 hours and 48 minutes.
Merida Bikes MTB Marathon
After the road event came to an end on Saturday afternoon the mountain bikers started to descend onto the event village at the Lowther Deer Park. More than 800 riders picked up on the promising weather forecast and made their way to Penrith to enjoy the challenging courses which set themselves apart from the other rounds of the series. Chris Ford from Cycle Active showed of once more what riding in the Lakes can be like. With a fair amount of surface water being around the riders came back muddy but smiling, at last it didn’t rain and we had bright warm sunshine for most of the day.
The challenging 27km course was conquered in an impressive time of 1hour and 27 minutes while the long course was closed after a riding time of 7 hours and 9 minutes.
Photos and results
Jon Brooke and his partner Lauris Naglins our long standing event photographers were out on the valleys and hills around Penrith taking pics of everybody. The guys took pictures on Saturday’s road sportive as well as on Sundays’ MTB marathon. Jon has a new website this year - http://www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk/ and you can find your photos there to view or buy. You can find the results on our results page (http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/results/results.php).
Thanks to everyone
With the 2008 season now being over and done with we are eagerly working on our 2009 plans. We will hopefully finalise everything in the next few weeks and will let everybody know via our website, the newsletters and announcements in the press. We would like to thank once more our great sponsors in 2008 in particular Merida Bikes and Gore Bike Wear for their ongoing support. Further we would like to thank High5, Ergon, Lizard Skins, Schwalbe, What Mountain Bike, Exposure lights, the Bike Chain, Purple Extreme, Buff, CrankBrothers, Fibrax, Fizik, Formular, Salzkammergut Trophy, Our Scottish Borders, USE, Topeak, CTC, PPG and last but not least the great skills coaches from Cycle Active.
Above all we would like to thank all the riders who came to the 2008 event and who made them once more a big success. We hope that we can welcome you all again in 2009. For news and updates on the 2009 event please keep an eye on this site and subscribe to the newsletter.
Weather and Course conditions Penrith Cumbria:
Course designer Chris Ford has fed us this latest report:
The final round of the series is looking like being a sunny one, despite all the rain of recent weeks. As low pressure, cold fronts and occluded fronts wash us down over the next few days a large high pressure system is rolling in across the Atlantic and is due to arrive on Friday. So under the wheels it may be wet, but overhead it promises to be bright.
But what has the rain done to the Merida MTB marathon courses? The soft terrain on the longer climbs is still holding up well and the ascents, although wetter and slower, will still be rideable. Coming down off the top of Loadpot Hill is going to be a blast on the wide, fast track and the views over Ullswater in the sun should be a treat. The continuation to Howtown has one boggy section but the rest is classic Lakeland rock, so totally unaffected by the rain. There will be plenty of surface water though, so Goretex shorts are going to be a near essential item if you want to avoid doing 6 hours with a soggy chamois.
Bike setup needs to take account of the soft wet ground but also the rocks, so go for a tyre with plenty of volume but also good grip on soft grass, rather than a skinny mud tyre. Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.25 is a good option. Personal setup needs to be right for the high mountain conditions and potential for cold winds across the summits, so be sure to pack a spare layer and good windproof/waterproof – if only for the spray!
Less than a week to go before we have the last event of the Merida Bikes MTB marathon Series 2008 in Penrith Cumbria. As at the last three events, the Penrith round will also be a double with the Gore Bike Wear Sportive taking place on Saturday (13th September) and the final MTB Marathon taking place on Sunday (14th September).
Penrith Merida Bikes MTB Marathon round
Last year saw the first venture into English territory with the MTB marathon at the Cumbria Bikefest. The course was a great challenge for the riders but also presented obstacles that some riders found too touch to conquer. We took the feedback on board and created a new course which is more in line with the other courses of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series without loosing the ‘uniqueness’ Lake District riding has to offer. Chris Ford from Cycle Active has been working on this new route for more or less a year and has managed to put 4 different courses together so that riders of different technical ability and fitness can find the appropriate challenge.
We have put the profiles of the four different courses and a more detailed course distribution up on our website. Please have a look here
To find out more about the upcoming round in Penrith (13-14th September) please go to the event pages on our website or go directly to the entry page to secure your entry into the mountain bike and/or road sportive events.
Gore Bike Wear Sportive coming to Penrith
But there is more than ‘just’ riding your mountain bike over some of the best tracks and trails the Lake District has to offer – there is also something for the roadies – and what a challenge it is. Besides the MTB courses Chris Ford has also put his local knowledge and expertise into the two sportive courses on offer. The Classic Sportive course is approx. 135km long and has almost 2500 meters of climbing in it with the Standard Sportive offering approx. 80km and 1200 meters of climbing.
We have put a detailed course description, course maps and profiles up on our site. Please have a look here: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/home/news1.php#200817
If you want to find out more about the Gore Bike Wear Sportives then please go to our sportive page (http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/sportives/sportives.php) and check out the Penrith event details here: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/cumbria.php.
Gore Bike Wear – Try B4 U Buy
Besides being title sponsor to the road event the guys from Gore Bike Wear (http://www.gorebikewear.com/) will be on site again with their popular ‘Try B4 U Buy’ concept. The guys are giving everyone the chance to try the latest gear before you buy. Everyone can test ride their products when you ride the event. Go along to the Gore Bike Wear tent and experience for yourself what the real difference is!
A sample of their latest and award winning products for men and women will be available to try, with a range of technologies from GORE-TEX® and WINDSTOPPER® jackets right through to baggies and summer jerseys. All they ask is you treat them as your own for the day! Take them, ride them and return them. Bring them back to the Gore tent dirty, sweaty, ridden and rated and then leave the washing to them! They will also have some of their Gore Ride-On cables sets fitted on some of the Merida test bikes for everybody to try out.
Entries
There are still places left for the Penrith marathon and the road sportive in case you haven’t entered yet. So if you are looking for a technical yet super enjoyable marathon in the beautiful Lake District around Penrith then make sure you get your entry in quickly. To enter go directly to the entry page to secure your entry for these great events. You will be able to enter on the day subject to a £2 surcharge.
 Registration and location
The registration which is based at Lowther Deer Park (look here for location: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/) and will open for a couple of hours on Friday evening before it opens on Saturday (13th September) morning at 6am and will stay open till 8pm. On Sunday (14th September) the registration will re-open at 7am and will stay open till 9am. The Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive will have an open start winder from 8 – 10am on Saturday morning. We will gather riders in groups of up to 20 riders and send them off together. The Merida Bikes Marathon will start at the earlier time of 9.30am (due to the shorter day) on Sunday morning. The event village will be signposted from the A6. If you are coming from the North leave the M6 at junction 40 (main Penrith Junction) and head towards the A6 south. Follow the A6 along through Clifton and then pick up the signs for the event. If you are coming from the South leave the M6 and junction 39 and go onto the A6 heading North towards Penrith. You will come through Shap and then later on pick up the signs for the event. Please notice that we are NOT based at the Lowther Leisure Park.
CycleActive Skills Sessions – Book Now
Besides putting the courses for the 2008 Penrith events together Chris Ford will also be active on site. Cycle Active is offering free skills coaching from some of the UK’s top instructors, and spaces are still available on Saturday. The CycleActive team will be on-site and taking groups out for approx. 2 hour skills rides, covering a range of techniques for novice & expert riders. Email them now on admin@cycleactive.co.uk to secure one of the last free spaces.
Tyre choice
With the rather wet conditions over the last few weeks but with the primarily varied terrain their riders will come cross at the Penrith round and the amount of stony surface riding we suggest a gripy tyres that will let you down on loose and muddy corners but equally helps you along on long climbs and fast flowy sections. We would suggest Schwalbe’s Nobby Nic. We would suggest riding that tyre front and rear. If you are keen to find out more about the complete Schwalbe range and get the low-down on what tyre and tyre combination to use in different riding conditions then go and see Chris at the Schwalbe tent.
i-Quip: Double Award Winning Design - for ENDURANCE & MARATHON ENTHUSIASTS
The guys from i-Quip will be revisiting the marathon showing of latest concept in Cycle wear from "i-Quip" interactive sports design. New i-Quip Cycle Gilet, with front integral map-case system together with design features for energy bars, mobile phone, etc. Mesh back section to enhance breathability. Hi -Viz Chevron stripes for visibility. UK manufactured, from lightweight, breathable fabric. Choice of Hi-Viz and colours. Check it out on their stand in the event village. For further info go to http://www.i-quip.co.uk/ or contact i-Quip on www.info@i-quip.co.uk or 07962037888 / 08454 389622.
Final update from Penrith
We will try to send another last minute update from the front line with the latest news and the most up to date info on the weather and the course conditions. To receive this please make sure that you have subscribed to our newsletter and if you have already subscribed than please make sure that you check your SPAM filters from time to time.
Route details on the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive in Penrith on the 13th September
The Lake District, Eden Valley and North Pennines are all featured in the climax to our 2008 Gore Bike Wear Sportive series. This route has been designed for us by the local experts, CycleActive, who know the roads and trails of this region like no-one else, having been based here for over 10 years. Chris Ford of CycleActive described the courses for us:
The main sportive route starts out with a fast and flowing spin down the Lyvennet Valley. This is one of the most beautiful but most hidden routes in the region - tucked away behind the Lakeland fells it sees little visitor or road traffic. Climbing out of the valley you cross the open, wild moorlands that surround Shap and head across into the Eden Valley. This is renowned for its peaceful back lanes and fine weather. Sitting in between the peaks of the Pennines and Lake District the area is well protected, and ideal country for rolling cycle rides.
Moving on you head for the biggest climb of the ride - the ascent of Hartside Pass. This is a classic alpine climb, one of very few like it in the UK, with constant gradients and winding hairpins all the way to the summit.
After a flying descent back down to the river Eden you pass through some picture postcard villages before the tough, steep ascent of Strawberry Hill towards Penrith. This is the last big challenge of the day, but you still have the ride past Brougham Castle and Brougham Hall to enjoy as you spin back to Lowther Deer Park for the finish.
If you decide to cut the ride short and go for the 50 mile sportive you get much of the same but miss out the biggest climbs - Hartside and Strawberry Hill. This means an enjoyable, rolling journey through the Lyvennet and Eden Valleys.
Here are the profiles of the two different courses as well as downloads of the courses:
Download the course Maps below:
- top of long course (JPEG)
- bottom of long course (JPEG)
- short course (JPEG)
The entry for the Penrith event is open and there are places available for both sportive distances. To find out more about the upcoming Penrith round go to www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/cumbria.php or go straight to our entry page to secure your entry into the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive Series 2008.
You can find some more details on the Gore Bike wear Road Sportive Series here
Please note that all course profile and distances are subject to change.
We just had some more info through from Chris Ford who has been working hard over the last few weeks on the new 2008 Penrith course. Again we will have four different distances available so that everyone can set themselves the most suitable challenge.
 The Lake District mountain biking that made the 2007 Penrith Marathon so popular has been improved on for 2008, making this a truly exiting end to the Marathon season. Yet again we asked Chris Ford from CycleActive to work on the course plan, and he has combined high mountain riding, great scenery, rocky descents and some technical challenges to make this a classic Lakeland experience.
"We knew the descent to Patterdale on the 100km was a big challenge last season, so this year we've pulled that out and added a different, classic singletrack descent instead. It means a longer climb on a singletrack to get to it, but no loose scree to push through on the way up. It'll be tough, and technical climbing as well as descending skills will be needed, but it's totally rideable." Explained Chris.
Once again most of the riding is on the southern side of Lake Ullswater, so the views across the mountains will be superb. There are some new sections too, but the start and finish area will be the same - the wide open grounds of Lowther Deer Park, just south of Penrith.
 The entry for the Penrith event is open and there are places available for all four courses as well as for the sportive. To find out more about the upcoming Penrith round go to www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/cumbria.php or go straight to our entry page to secure your entry for the last round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2008 and/or the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive Series 2008.
Please note that all course profile and distances are subject to change.
 5 down, ONLY 1 to go. The Merida MTB Marathon Series 2008 is slowly coming to an end but the events are still going from strength to strength. Nearly 1200 riders made their way to the rather wet Selkirk event. After last years first introduction to the bad weather capability of the superb Selkirk course the riders were unfortunately once more exposed to the wet elements ….luckily without spoiling the fun.
The weather forecast leading up to the event was still looking positive and when the riders started to arrive at the Rugby Club in Selkirk the sun was out again greeting them with a promising smile. Unfortunately the weather turned progressively worse and turned the event village and part of the course into the mountain bike Glastonbury of the north.
Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive
 As at the last two events – Saturday was all about riding on skinny tires. More than 200 road enthusiasts turned up to enjoy the fantastic roads around the greater Selkirk area. The route took the riders through the Tweed, Yarrow and Ettrick valleys starting with a long yet gentle climb following the Tweed River upstream. But it wasn’t all easy going. Our course designer Pete Laing had some ‘proper’ climbs up his sleeve to turn what appeared to be a gentle stroll into a real challenge. He sent the riders up the 25% gradient slope of Fanna Hill to the Megget Stone which more than likely is the steepest road in the south of Scotland followed by the 2nd big climb of the day ‘the Berrybush’. After that it was back to the event village at the Selkirk Rugby club for hot coffee, tea and cake as well as the long awaited hot shower.
Unfortunately the weather stayed rather mixed all day and none of the riders could really escape one of the many showers that hit the Scottish Borders.
The next and last 2008 round of the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive series is going to be in Penrith taking the series for the first time into England. Our man on the ground, Chris Ford from CycleActive has put his vast knowledge of the area into the course and will show the riders what road riding in the Lakes is all about. We will have a detailed course breakdown in one of our next newsletters.
Merida Bikes MTB Marathon
 After the road event came to an end on Saturday afternoon the mountain bikers started to descend onto the event village in Selkirk. More than 900 riders ignored the weather and took up the challenge the Selkirk course had to offer. Pete Laing took some of the shortcomings of the 2007 event on board and created a completely new mini marathon while maintaining a much loved course for the other three distances. He still managed to add a few extra bits into the courses to give them the extra edge. Luckily the course in Selkirk can stand up fairly well to the wet conditions of the weekend and at around 6.30pm the last rider came of the hill – still with a big smile on their face.
The final round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2008 will join the Gore Sportives once more and head to Penrith for the 13-14th September. Chris Ford took the feedback from last years event on board and created a course which will offer a great challenge for the MTB riders while showing off the best riding the Lakes have to offer around Penrith. Again we will send some more course details out in the weeks to come.
Photos and website updates
Jon Brooke and his partner Lauris Naglins our long standing event photographers were out on the hills in and around Selkirk taking pics of everybody. The guys took pictures on Saturday’s road sportive as well as on Sundays’ MTB marathon. Jon has a new website this year - http://www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk/ and you can find your photos there to view or buy. You can find the finish times on the results page .
Entries
The entry for the Penrith event is open and there are places available for all four courses as well as for the sportive. To find out more about the upcoming Penrith round go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/cumbria.php or go straight to our entry page to secure your entry for the last round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2008 and/or the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive Series 2008.
Dear ‘Marathonists’
Less than two weeks to go before we once again return to Selkirk in the Scottish borders for the Scottish round of the 2008 Merida Bikes MTB Marathon series.
Selkirk round - worth the journey
The round in Selkirk has established itself very quickly as the most loved and talked about course of the series and the 2008 round will try once again to fill those shoes. Pete Laing is our man in Selkirk who has been helping us on the Selkirk round since the start as well as on last year’s TransScotland. He has tweaked the course just a bit to make it more beginner friendly (by adding some chicken runs) without taking the challenging aspects away from it. The mini marathon has been re-done completely offering a beginner orientated yet super enjoyable route. As the course starts in the opposite direction we will have the start to the Mini marathon 15 minutes after the start of the other three courses.
The route in Selkirk has its own character and offers an interesting alternative from the riding at the first three events of the 2008 series. The courses are waiting with lots of technical sections, parts of purpose build trail and spectacular views over the border region. If you haven’t been to Selkirk yet, it doesn’t matter where in the UK you live and ride make sure you don’t miss out on this event. Going by the countless comments we have had since we incorporated Selkirk into the series this is not an event to be missed.
To find out more about the upcoming round in Selkirk (2-3rd August) please go to the event pages on our website or go directly to the entry page to enter the mountain bike and/or road sportive events.
More than just 1st class single track
As at the other events of the 2008 series the Selkirk round will also have a great ride for all the sportive fans out there up its sleeve. Peter Laing who has been working on his sportive for the last 12 months has put an amazing course together.
The Selkirk round will give sportive riders a taster of the best roads to be found in the Scottish Borders, with a tough 80 mile circuit that takes in the Tweed, Yarrow and Ettrick valleys. Heading out from Selkirk on quiet back roads, the ride will follow the Tweed River upstream almost to it's source near Tweedsmuir. Gradually climbing from a start point elevation of 120m at Selkirk, the road snakes through some marvellous scenery, past such notable heritage sites as Elibank Tower, previously home to 'Muckle Moothed Meg', Traquair Forest, site of many a famous battle on the Downhill tracks and just after the split point, Traquair House, the oldest inhabited dwelling in Britain. Here you can check out the Bear gates, padlocked shut until a Stuart regains the throne, or if you are thirsty pop in for some of the incredibly strong beer that is brewed on the estate.
The 'Standard' and 'Classic' distance split is at the Traquair Village cross-roads. Here the shorter route heads south over 'The Paddy Slacks' an easy gradient, 354m pass to Yarrow Valley and the feed station at the Gordon Arms Hotel. The 80 mile Classic option continues west along the Tweed Valley through Peebles to the first feed stop at Beggarpath Bridge and on past Stobo Castle (hideout of the rich and occasionally obese), the famous Dawyck Gardens (pronounce it if you can …ok it's 'doick') and on to join the A701 for a gradual climb to Tweedsmuir. Watch out for fast motorcycles on this stretch.
At Tweedsmuir the route turns south via Talla Reservoir (The dam is a fine example of Victorian engineering in the 'Scots Baronial' style) towards the rolling hills of Yarrow, but before you get there, a minor obstacle awaits; the infamous 25% climb up the slopes of Fanna Hill to the Megget Stone, probably the steepest road in the south of Scotland. The reward for 15 mins of slow-motion pedalling up to an elevation of 450m, is a long, fast spin alongside Megget Reservoir, St Mary's Loch and the Yarrow river before turning south for the second big climb of the day, 'The Berrybush'. Just before you start uphill, at the Gordon Arms Hotel junction you will find the 2nd feed stop of the day and this is also the point where the Standard course re-joins The Classic.
The 'Berrybush' is another easy gradient pass that tops out at 376m, before dropping down to Tushielaw in the quiet Ettrick Valley. The descent is great fun but please be aware that sheep will be wandering about on the road. From here it's a blast back to Selkirk on the B7009, a fantastic swoopy road with good tarmac and loads of short, big-ring rises. Those with reasonably fresh legs will have a ball on this smooth, valley-floor B road. Two notes of caution: please check your speed going through Ettrickbridge and on the way down to the 'T' junction with the B708 in Selkirk. Both sections are fairly steep downhills, have a 30mph limit and are busy with kids and cars.
For another view of the Tweedsmuir loop, check out the TDF preview copy of Cycling Weekly (July 10th).
Road Courses Selkirk 2008 - Click thumbnail to view larger image:
Please note that the courses start from Selkirk and go anti-clockwise. You can find the corresponding profiles lower down.
To find out more about the details of the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive Series 2008 please go to the Gore Sportive page on our website or go directly to the entry page to enter the mountain bike and/or road sportive events.
Gore Bike Wear – Try B4 U Buy
Besides being title sponsor to the road event the guys from Gore Bike Wear will be on site again with their popular ‘Try B4 U Buy’ concept. The guys giving everyone the chance to try the latest gear before you buy. Everyone can test ride their products when you ride the event. Go along to the Gore Bike Wear tent and experience for yourself what the real difference is!
A sample of their latest and award winning products for men and women will be available to try, with a range of technologies from GORE-TEX® and WINDSTOPPER® jackets right through to baggies and summer jerseys. All they ask is you treat them as your own for the day! Take them, ride them and return them. Bring them back to the Gore tent dirty, sweaty, ridden and rated and then leave the washing to them! They will also have some of their Gore Ride-On cables sets fitted on some of the Merida test bikes for everybody to try out.
Make a weekend of it
Selkirk is the ideal Merida Bikes MTB Marathon location as it has lots of riding near by. Check out http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/ for the nearest 7Stanes trail. We managed to incorporate a big number of these trails into last year’s TransScotland and they are superb!! Glentress and Innerleithen are just short drives away from Selkirk. Besides that you have Edinburgh just an hour away. So if you are coming up why don’t you make a full weekend or even an extended weekend out of it? For local services check out: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/local_services/local_services.php.
Entries
There are still places left for the Selkirk marathon and the road sportive in case you haven’t entered yet. So if you are looking for a technical yet super enjoyable marathon in the beautiful Scottish countryside or a challenging road sportive in the Scottish borders then make sure you get your entry in quickly. To enter go directly to the entry page to secure your entry for these great events. You will be able to enter on the day subject to a £2 surcharge.
High5-Online.com
We often get asked what we suggest riders should eat and drink before, during and after a Marathon so try this – we drink (sip) 2 x bottle of EnergySource on Saturday to carbo load, On Sunday morning we drink 1 x EnergySource or Xtreme 45 – 60 min before the start, 10 mins before the start we have 1 x EnergyGel Plus, During the ride we have 1 x bottle of EnergySource 4:1 and at least 1 x Gel Plus (or half an Energy bar) per hour of the ride and then 1 x 4:1 after the finish – if you do this you will not bonk ie run out of fuel and have a better i.e. much more enjoyable ride – The Guys from High5-Online will be there and everyone who visits the stand gets a free gel. There will be loads of special offers for people to get stocked up on and the Bottle Swap - For a nominal amount just bring in all your dirty old bottles and swap them for some shiny (clean) new High5 bottles and if you have any questions on fuelling for the ride – just ask the guys on the stand.
CycleActive Skills Sessions – Book Now
Free skills coaching from some of the UK’s top instructors are still available on Saturday. The CycleActive team will be on-site and taking groups out for approx. 2 hour skills rides, covering a range of techniques for novice to expert riders. Email them now on admin@cycleactive.co.uk to secure one of the last free spaces.
Purple Extreme
Free samples will be available this weekend of Purple Extreme, the world's most advanced bike chain lubricant, manufactured by Royal Purple in the United States. Please see James at the Ergon tent.
Ergon
Ergon will be showing the new GX1 grip, the first of Ergon's Leichtbau series of lightweight grips with carbon injected clamps. The GX1 is a lightweight grip for racing. The underlying concept is based on the successful GP and GR ranges. A compact body with a significantly slimmer wing, and lower grip radius in the mid section than the GP1. The grip is specially designed for fast hand position changes in changing riding conditions. If you would like to receive a new monthly UK and Irish Isles newsletter from Ergon, e-mail subject 'subscribe' to james.towlson@ergon-bike.com
 3 down 2 (3 including the Bad Goisern event) to go. It almost looked like a mountain-bike-Glastonbury experience but luckily the sun decided to be kind to the riders when they started coming over the line. We are back from the 3rd round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2008 in Builth Wells which hosted once more the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive Series. The weather made this once more a real challenge for everybody but going by the amount of happy riders we have over the line it did not put anybody off from having a great ride.
Almost 1200 riders joined the MTB-Marathon team at the White House Campsite in Builth Wells to either tackle the rather hill enriched course of Saturday’s Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive or to get involved in the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon run on Sunday – some brave souls even did both.
 Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive – Ruthin round
The weather leading up to the start was not kind to the event with a constant change between short sharp showers followed by blue skies and warm sunshine. John had been working on the road course for a long time and managed to put a real mixture of quiet roads, challenging climbs (including the famous Devil’s Staircase) and amazing views together. Almost 150 riders came to the 2nd round of the Gore Bike Wear Sportive Series and going by the feedback we had when they came over the line they had a great time out on the hills.
Some riders managed to escape the bad weather having almost a completely dry ride all the way around while others where faced with the rather temperamental weather Builth Wells had in store for them.
The next round of the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive series is going to be in Selkirk taking the series for the first time out of Wales. The Selkirk round which is famous for its 1st class mountain bike trails will have a great and challenging course waiting for the riders which will offer a gentle start along the River Tweed before heading up into the hills conquering Fans Law (460m) as well as passing through The Wiss and the Turner Cleuch Law (380m).
 To find out more about the details of the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive Series 2008 please go to the Gore Sportive page on our website or go directly to the entry page to enter the mountain bike and/or road sportive events.
Merida Bikes MTB Marathon – Builth Wells summer round
After the road event came to an end on Saturday afternoon the mountain bikers started to descend onto the event village in Builth. More than 1000 riders took up the rather daunting challenge of what looked like a rather rainy MTB marathon when they gathered at the start line at The White House Campsite in Builth Wells. The weather certainly didn’t look inviting but luckily that did not impact on the spirit at the start and throughout the event. The recent course changes made the rather difficult conditions out there quite a bit better while keeping the ride interesting and challenging for everybody.
The first rider over the line managed to finish the 30km course in 1hour in 34 minutes while the last one finishing the long course in 8 hours and 11 minutes.
The next round of the series – Selkirk 2-3rd August 2008
Now with Builth being over and done with we are heading up to Scotland to one of the most liked courses of the series - Selkirk. Selkirk was a particular busy location for our events in 2007 with being the start and finish location of the TransScotland event plus having the usual Merida marathon series being based in this lovely Borders town. Their feedback on both events in 2007 was fantastic which fills us once more with great confidence for the upcoming marathon round in Selkirk. With the recent increase in entries and particularly entries on the day we would like to recommend to everybody to enter in advance.
The online entry is getting more and more popular and allows you to pay by credit or debit card. If you haven’t done it simply go onto our entry page and follow the on screen instructions. You will also find a downloadable form there, which will allow you to go the good old postal way.
And don’t forget when you come up to Selkirk that it might be a good idea to make a long weekend of it as there is lots and 1st class riding to be had around Selkirk and on your way there. Check out http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/ for the nearest 7Stanes trail. We managed to incorporate a big number of the trails into the TransScotland in 2007 and they are superb!! In particular Glentress and Innerleithen are just a very short drive away from Selkirk.
To find out more about the upcoming round in Selkirk (2-3rd August) please go to the event pages on our website or go directly to the entry page to enter the mountain bike and/or road sportive events.
Photos and website updates from the Builth round
At this event we had again 2 photographers out on the course; our regular photographer, Jon Brooke and his colleague Lauris Naglins - the idea being to give you an even greater selection of images to choose from. The guys took pictures on Saturday’s road sportive as well as on Sundays’ MTB marathon. Jon has a new website this year - http://www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk/ and you can find your photos there to view or buy. We will make some further updates to the www.mtb-marathon.co.uk site so keep an eye on the news in the top left hand corner.
Bad Goisern event
This weekend (12th July) will see the ‘Merida Marathon on holiday’ round in Bad Goisern, Austria. If you are taking part then we would like to wish you a great trip and a fantastic marathon and if you are the very spontaneous kind then why not pack you stuff and go over. You can still enter on the day and flights are not that difficult to find either. Check out the details on the event on our Bad Goisern page.
Mash-Up in Afan Forest Park on the 30th August
You have probably heard about our newest event addition – the Mash-Up – by now. This new concept will bring riders from different riding backgrounds together and give them the chance to have a good old ‘battle’ out on the trails of the Afan Forest Park. Check out all the details on http://www.konaworld.uk.com/mash-up/ and make sure that you get your entry is quickly as the numbers are strictly limited.
Gore Bike Wear Sportive, Builth Wells, 5th July 2008
In his book, 'Cycle Tours: South Wales', Nick Cotton recommends that only “extreme enthusiasts should try to cycle up Devil's Staircase.” He may have a point.
In case you haven't heard of it before, the Devils' Staircase, deep in rural Wales, is a 1:4 climb that lasts about 1km. It's been part of many sportives and road races in the past, including the Milk Race. On 5th July, the second event in the inaugural Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive Series took on this challenge as part of a 80 mile loop that started and finished in Builth Wells.
 Setting of from the White House Campsite, the 'Classic Sportive' (80 miles) and 'Standard Sportive' (42 miles) headed west and picked up the B4356 towards Beulah. This was the day before the Builth Wells stage of the Merida Bike MTB Marathon Series, and pretty soon it became clear that the guys behind the event had put all their experience of hosting mountain bike events to good use. Turning right towards Abergwesyn the already quiet traffic all but disappeared and the well marked route was taking us through stunning countryside. Although it's only a fairly short ride from some main roads, this area feels very remote, and as the two routes split in Abergwesyn, on the longer route I couldn't help but feel lucky to be heading north through a peaceful valley towards the foot of Devil's Staircase.
That lucky feeling didn't last long though - the climb lived up to it's name and having only ridden it on a mountain bike before I could have sworn it had got a few degrees steeper since my last visit. A couple of descents after the main climb were welcome but it wasn't long before the climbing began again. With 3300m of climbing to take care of on this ride there was no time to hang around.
 The beautiful Llyn Brianne reservoir came into view before long with great views across the water as the road zig-zagged along the spurs that jut out into this reservoir that supplies parts of South Wales. After a friendly welcome at the first of two well stocked food stops the route headed towards Llandovery before turning left onto a quick section of main road. Soon after a right hand turn towards Llangammarch Wells via Tirabad, the climbing motif returned. This area is overlooked by Mynydd Epynt, a vast area of Wales which is generally out of bounds; it's one of the largest army ranges in Europe. Of more immediate interest today though was that the route was taking me upwards again; back up to around 400 meters above sea level. The Devils Staircase may have been the steepest climb of the day but the grind up to the lookout above Garth was definitely the longest.
Once that was out of the way, you might have thought that it would be an easy coast back down to the valley floor at Builth Wells. But no; a couple of stings in the tail on the B4520 confirmed beyond doubt that road riding in Mid Wales is pretty challenging. Returning back to the 'event village' to a very welcome hot drink, slab of cake and finishing present, there was lots to see and do on site in the afternoon and evening.
 It's good to have the option of making a weekend of it and camping was included in the entry fee for those who wanted it. The caterers and mobile coffee shop helped to build a good atmosphere as hundreds of MTB riders were arriving at the campsite for the start of the MTB Marathon the next day. The stands on site were impressive; Gore Bike Wear had a free trial for riders to try out their clothing during the ride; Merida had their road bikes on display. Any last minute supplies could be picked up at the High 5 and Wheelbase stands. Cycle Active were running free MTB skills courses from the campsite, and there was even a big screen in the Marquee which was tuned into the Wimbledon Mens final later in the afternoon!
In all, this was a great event. Well organized and involving challenging riding through what must be some of the most spectacular countryside in the UK. It worked both as a stand alone event and as part of a whole weekend of riding for the brave souls who also took on the MTB Marathon the following day. Those who chose the shorter 42 mile route also had their fair share of climbing (1500m), which did not include the (in)famous Devil's Staircase. Nick Cotton may have had a point about that climb, but don't let that put you off...
Richard Morgan
The next round of the series – Selkirk 2nd August 2008
The next round of the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive series is going to be in Selkirk taking the series for the first time out of Wales. The Selkirk round which is famous for its 1st class mountain bike trails will have a great and challenging course waiting for the riders which will offer a gentle start along the River Tweed before heading up into the hills conquering Fans Law (460m) as well as passing through The Wiss and the Turner Cleuch Law (380m).
We will have a more detailed course breakdown in one of our next newsletters and add it to the website.
To find out more about the details of the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive Series 2008 please go to the Gore Sportive page on our website or go directly to the entry page to enter the mountain bike and/or road sportive events.
Only a couple of days to go now before the 3rd round of the 2008 Merida Bikes MTB Marathons Series and the 2nd round of the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive Series kicks off at the White House Campsite in Builth Wells, Wales (5 - 6th July 2008). Rather than starting the riding action (as it used to be) on the Sunday of the event weekend this time the wheels will start rolling from Saturday morning again.
Course update – MTB Marathon
Due to some last minute changes and permissions being withdrawn only days before the event we had to change some of the MTB course on Sunday. Luckily John knows the area so well that we had some great trails in reserve which he put together to create the new courses. The course has moved south and east a bit cutting out some of the sections we had originally planned. In principle not much has changed but to give you all the details here the adjusted profiles and distances for this weekend’s MTB events.
Events going on over the weekend / starting times / timetable
As mentioned before we will have two main events on over the weekend starting with the open start of the Gore Bike Wear sportive from 8am on Saturday morning onwards. The registration will be open on Friday evening for a couple of hours before opening at 6am on Saturday. The start for the sportive is open from 8 – 10am.
Sunday morning will see the ‘traditional’ start of the off road marathon at 10am. Riders can register for the event throughout Saturday or on Sunday morning from 7 – 9am.
Entries / day entries
If you haven’t entered so far but are keen to give it a go then you can still enter till Friday lunchtime via the online entry system. Alternatively we will have day entries available - please note that there is a £ 2 surcharge for day entries though.
To find out more about the Gore Bike Wear Sportive Series and to see what you get for your entry fee please go to: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/sportives/sportives.php. For further details on the marathon and in particular the Builth Wells summer round please go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/builth_wells.php and check the various news updates on the left hand side of the home page.
Finally don’t forget the £ 10 discount if you enter both events on the weekend. You can still get the discount if you have already entered one event and have now decided to make a full riding weekend out of it when you get there.
Tyre choice
As in the last few events we always get riders asking us what tyres to run. This is always a very difficult question to answer as there are so many options out there and different riders like different tyres. Considering the mixed conditions on the ground and the constantly changing weather forecast we recommend the ideal all weather tyre - Schwalbe’s Nobby Nic. We would suggest to ride that tyre front and rear but for the speed freaks out there who are willing to sacrifice a little grip maybe also consider the super fast Racing Ralph on the back. If you don’t have any of these tyres in your collection, make sure you see Chris from Schwalbe over the weekend and find out where you can get some for the next round.
Directions / event location
The event village is based again on the White House Campsite in Builth Wells (click here for a map of the location). Alternatively you can find the directions on the campground’s own website: http://www.whitehousecampsite.co.uk/. The event will be signposted from Friday lunchtime onwards. It doesn’t matter where you are coming from as you will easily find your way to the event village. The event will be open from Friday afternoon until Monday morning. For the GPS users out there the postcode is LD2 3BP. If you are still looking for a B+B or a Hotel please find the details for the local Tourist Information on our Local Info page.
I-Quip: Double Award Winning Design - for ENDURANCE & MARATHON ENTHUSIASTS
The guys from I-Quip will be on site showing of their Adventure Cycle Gilet - the ideal gilet for everyone who loves the challenge and adventure of long-distant cycling. With its patented Integral Map-case system the renown Ortleib Map-case and an essential collection of pockets, pouches, toggles and loops, the I-Quip Cylce will carry all those necessities from first-aid to mobile phone, energy bars to emergency numbers, and more with ease. Check it out on their stand in the event village. For further info go to http://www.i-quip.co.uk/ or contact I-Quip on www.info@i-quip.co.uk or 08454 389622.
Purple Extreme
Free samples will be available this weekend of Purple Extreme, the world's most advanced bike chain lubricant, manufactured by Royal Purple in the United States. Please see James at the Ergon tent.
Ergon
Ergon will be showing the new GX1 grip, the first of Ergon's Leichtbau series of lightweight grips with carbon injected clamps. The GX1 is a lightweight grip for racing. The underlying concept is based on the successful GP and GR ranges. A compact body with a significantly slimmer wing, and lower grip radius in the mid section than the GP1. The grip is specially designed for fast hand position changes in changing riding conditions. If you would like to receive a new monthly UK and Irish Isles newsletter from Ergon, e-mail subject 'subscribe' to james.towlson@ergon-bike.com
CycleActive Skills Sessions – Book Now
Free skills coaching from some of the UK’s top instructors is still available on Saturday. The CycleActive team will be on-site and taking groups out for approx. 2 hour skills rides, covering a range of techniques for novice to expert riders. Email them now on admin@cycleactive.co.uk to secure one of the last free spaces.
CycleActive Total Training as featured in What Mountain Bike
The star letter in this month’s What Mountain Bike magazine was from a young rider who had just completed the first Total Training course with CycleActive. Her skills had improved, her preparation was right and she had a great ride on the 25km Marathon course, accompanied by a professional guide the whole way. If you want your youngster to benefit from 2 hours of coaching on Saturday, followed by a great ride on Sunday, just contact Lisa at CycleActive on lisa@cycleactive.co.uk
Less than two weeks to go before we return to Builth Wells (5-6th July) for the 3rd instalment of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon series and the 2nd round of the Gore Bike wear Road Sportive series.
Builth here we come – MTB Marathon
After the recent round in Ruthin which was the 1st ever Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive the event in Builth Wells will bring us back to familiar territory yet will surprise even the hardened Builth Wells lovers with a new and exciting course. John has been spending again pretty much the whole year riding his home trails with only one thought – keeping Builth fresh and exciting. And according to himself he has managed exactly that. The route starts by heading west out of Builth Wells up on to the Epynt Military Range, using parts of the Epynt Way. The route then enters the Crychan Forest where we will be using the best of the old with some new interesting sections added. From here the route heads back across the Epynt Range and onto Pantllyn Hill, where there is great descending all the way to Builth Wells. The distances at this event are 90K, 75K, 50K and 30K, providing distances for all.
As in April the summer marathon will also pitch up at the White House Campsite which is just a couple of minutes from the centre of Builth Wells. The event village will be signposted from Friday lunchtime onwards and will be open from Friday to Monday morning. So if you want to make a weekend out of it - no problem!
To find out more about the 3rd round of the MTB Marathon events and to find out what is going on over the weekend please go to (http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/builth_wells.php) or go directly to the entry page to secure your entry.
Fancy a road ride
After launching the Gore Bike wear Road Sportive Series at the May round in Ruthin the upcoming round in Builth Wells will host the 2nd instalment on Saturday the 5th July. John has been working on the Builth sportive course since we have made the decision to add the road rides to the marathon weekends and has created one of the most beautiful yet challenging sportive courses out there. To find out more about the Builth sportive please read the course description including profiles here and go to the Sportive page to find out what the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive Series 2008 is all about. To secure your entry please go to the entry page and don’t forget that this a £ 10 discount if you are interested in making it a double weekend.
Online entry temporarily closed
Talking about entering the events - our online entry system will be temporarily unavailable on Wednesday the 25th June and Thursday the 26th June due to server maintenance. We expect the system to be back to normal by Friday. Please use the downloadable entry form which you can find on this page in the meantime.
Chariot Racing – the sequel
At the April round in Builth Wells we got out winter toys out and had the 1st ever MTB chariot race. The upcoming Builth event will see the return of the MTB chariots on Saturday afternoon and hopefully this time round a few more of you will be brave enough to tackle the challenging course around the White House Campsite. Simply come up to the registration and put your name on the list. We will provide the chariots and you can either use your own bike or we can provide a bike for you.
High5 Sports Nutrition
Please ensure you take some spare EnergyGels and Bars with – The guys on the High5 stand will have lots of special offers and I can personally recommend using EnergySource and EnergyGels with caffeine to keep you strong and hydrated through both days – They will also be doing their bottle swap again so bring all your old bottles and take them over to the High5 stand and for a small fee swap them in for some nice new High5 bottles and bag yourself a bargain at the same time.
Fibrax brake pad offer
Ensure you have some spares of disc pads or brake pads and cables for the day. Fibrax British made products (made in Wales, Wrexham) are available for purchase at the event from RJC X-treme. Special offer for the Builth Wells event is buy two pairs of disc pads and get 15% off:
2 pairs Fibrax Semi-metallic disc pads for £25. Normal price is £30 for 2 pairs,
2 pairs Fibrax Sintered disc pads for £30. Normal price is £34 for 2 pairs.
Gore Bike Wear – Try B4 U Buy
Besides being title sponsor to the road event the guys from Gore Bike Wear (http://www.gorebikewear.com/) will be on site again with their popular ‘Try B4 U Buy’ concept. The guys giving everyone the chance to try the latest gear before you buy. Everyone can test ride their products when you ride the event. Go along to the Gore Bike Wear tent and experience for yourself what the real difference is!
A sample of their latest and award winning products for men and women will be available to try, with a range of technologies from GORE-TEX® and WINDSTOPPER® jackets right through to baggies and summer jerseys. All they ask is you treat them as your own for the day! Take them, ride them and return them. Bring them back to the Gore tent dirty, sweaty, ridden and rated and then leave the washing to them! They will also have some of their Gore Ride-On cables sets (http://www.rideoncables.com/) fitted on some of the Merida test bikes for everybody to try out.
Cycle Active skills courses
As in the last few years our friends from Cycle Active will be with us again in 2008 running their popular skills courses and rides over the weekend. But this year they will go one step further by adding the Cycle Active TT (Total Training) to their program. To find out more simply go to our homepage and scroll down the page to their section. Numbers on the Cycle Active TT and the Saturday skills courses are strictly limited to ensure good learning, so email admin@cycleactive.co.uk now to reserve your space for the next rounds.
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