With the 1st event of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2008 been and done the focus turns to the 2nd round in Ruthin on the 24-25th May and the 1st ever round of GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive Series 2008.

New for 2008
As well as the mountain bike marathon (available in 4 distances on Sunday) this year sees the addition of the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive on the Saturday. There are two distances to choose from 40miles with 1080m of climbing and 80miles with 2069m of climbing. The courses have been carefully selected to provide the riders with tough challenging climbs through some of the most scenic views found in North Wales.

Both routes head out of historic Ruthin along the pastoral Vale of Clwyd towards the coast. The climbing starts as the route goes through the centre of Denbigh past its 13th century castle. Moving up onto the mooreland above the town the route cuts back to pass Lyn Brenig, famous locally for its fishing and watersports. Next stop Cerrigydrudion where the two routes part company. The 40 milers heading back to Ruthin through Clawdd-Newydd. The 80 mile route carries on to Bala and its fabulous Lake. Back to Corwen through the town centre and over the river before taking the scenic back roads towards Llangollen. Now comes the final challenge, the Horseshoe Pass. Chris Boardman still holds the record for the ascent here. The final miles take in a descent of the Nant y Garth Pass before the return to Ruthin where you will be welcomed back at the event village with FREE Tee, Coffee and cake in the event village.

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 http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/sportives/sportives.php or go directly to the entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php to enter the mountain bike and/or road sportive events.

Don’t forget that there is a healthy discount if you enter both events over the weekend. There is no rule regarding what bike riders have to use so you are welcome to ride the road sportive on a mountain bike.

Win a trip to the Tour de France – curtsey of Sports Tours International
We have teamed up with Sports Tours International (http://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/) to offer everybody entering the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive before midnight the 9th May the chance to win an amazing prize. Simply enter at least one of the road sportive series before the deadline and send us your prediction of the name and finishing time of the winning rider in the Giro d’Italia Team Time Trail on the 10th May and get the chance to win an all inclusive trip to Paris to watch the Final of the Tour de France. But ether is more. Gore Ride On have added 3 compete cable sets (gears and brake) worth £ 80 each to the competition. So if you fancy to watch the biggest cycling finale in the world or have a super smooth ride then read the details and further instructions here: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/home/competition.php and make sure that you get your entry as well as your prediction in before midnight the 9th May!

Merida Bikes MTB Marathon – Ruthin
The Ruthin round of the Merida bikes MTB Marathon 2008 is taking place in May rather than being the final of the series. This gives all the riders the chance to enjoy the fantastic trails around Ruthin early in the season. The biggest course changes this year is in the very popular 75km course which will see a dramatic cut in road sections and the addition of more single track. There are lots of places available. So to find out more about the Ruthin round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/ruthin.php or go directly to the entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php to enter the mountain bike and/or road sportive events. Don’t forget that there is a healthy discount if you enter both events over the weekend.

The event village
As at the other events of the series we will have again selection of traders and exhibitors displaying their products and services as well as event catering, coffee van, bike washing facilities, toilets and showers and ample space for camping and parking. Please keep in mind that there is no hard standing or/and power points for caravans at this round of the series.

After glorious weather at the 1st round of the 2007 series the weather forecast for the 1st round this year was less promising and to cut a long story short – we managed again to get pretty much any weather you can expect in April – all cramped into one weekend.

The week leading up to the event was blessed with dry but cold conditions that turned most of the trails dusty. Unfortunately on Friday morning the rain started to arrive and turned the super fast course into a more challenging ride. Luckily that didn’t stop almost 1300 starters to make it to Builth Wells to get involved into one or both of the two rides on offer.

The weekend Normally the first event of the season would be the EXPOSURE LIGHTS BIG NIGHT OUT Night Marathon but this year everything would be different. The event village opened at the usual time with a broad spread of exhibition and trade stands offering their services to the arriving crowds. At around 5pm the ‘warm up’ event to the weekend’s main rides – the MTB Chariot race - kicked off with a gripping first run. The next hour was filled with crowd and rider entertaining racing fun which highlighted that the MTB Chariot race will be a fixture in the upcoming rounds of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series.

With darkness setting slowly in everybody lined up to get any last minute instructions and crossed their fingers during the draw for the Exposure Light Joystick and the Merida Bike kindly donated by the event sponsor Exposure Lights and Merida Bikes and presented by Rory Hitchens. With no further ado the EXPOSURE LIGHTS BIG NIGHT OUT finally got on the road at 7.45pm. Almost 300 riders (the biggest field since the event was introduced) made their way onto the hills surrounding Builth Wells. The conditions out on course were still dry and fast and after only 1 hour and 39 minutes the first rider came over the line picking up the traditional Night Marathon BUFF. Once passed the finish line and rewarded with the special BUFF the riders warmed up in the marquee with tea, coffee and cake and getting themselves ready for Sunday.

The lights in the marquee finally went out at 2am which unfortunately turned on the rain. The short but hard outbursts of rain turned the course as well as the camping field into a rather muddy affair but luckily did not impact on the riding fun out there and the amount of riders that lined up on Sunday morning.

With the slightly later start time of 10.30am (to give all the night riders who wanted a second ride more recovery time) almost 1000 riders lined up to tackle one of the 3 courses on offer. This year the most popular distance was the approx. 65km long ‘middle marathon’ which would take the riders out towards last years new addition to the course – the single track sections around Llaneglwys Forest. The weather made the riders work extra hard and extended most riding times by one hour or more.

Last year saw a warm and sunny first round with the remaining rounds suffering from bad weather – lets hope it is the other way round in 2008.

Event supporters The event village was nice and busy with the newest and latest from most of our sponsors: Merida Bicycles, High5, USE, Schwalbe, Ergon, CycleActive, Buff, CrankBrothers, What Mountain Bike, TheBikeChain.co.uk, Purple Extreme, Lizard Skin, CTC, Our Scottish Borders, Topeak, Fizik, Formula, Gore Bike Wear, Fibrax and last but not least Exposure Lights. Without their help and dedication the 2008 series would not be possible.

CycleActive By now a fixture on the Marathon series the CycleActive guys had another great weekend with booked out skills courses on Saturday and lots of kids enjoyed the excellent riding tuition on Sunday. The new addition to their event offers was the Cycle Active TT (Total Training). After training the young riders for 2 hours on Saturday the coaches take them out onto the 25km marathon where they look after them and make sure that they have a great 1st marathon experience. Numbers on the CycleActive 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.

Photos and website updates At this event we had 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. Jon has a new website this year - http://www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk/ and you can find your photos there to view or buy. We have also made 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 With Easter out of the way and the first marathon under our belt the summer seems to be coming closer and closer. And summer means Bad Goisern time. If you haven’t been to the ‘Merida Marathon on holiday’ in your ‘marathon career’ maybe this is the year. Big mountains, clean air and thousands of other likeminded bikers from all over Europe – what a great combination! Check out the details on the event and on the accommodation deal we have organised for you on the Bad Goisern page: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/bad_goisern.php. There are some super cheap flights and a very interesting package deal to be had as well. Check the Bad Goisern page for details.

Next marathon & first round of the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive Series – Ruthin on the 24-25th May 2008 Don’t worry if you couldn’t make it to the first round of the Merida Bikes MTB marathon Series in Builth Wells, as the next one is only a few weeks away. Round 2 is heading north to Ruthin, North Wales (http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/ruthin.php) where the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon will be held on the Sunday and the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive will be run on the Saturday. This is the 1st time that a road event will be run over the same weekend as the MTB marathons. To find out more about the new addition to the event weekends please go to our Sportive page: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/sportives/sportives.php. There are lots of places left for the road and the MTB events. To enter please go directly to the entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php where you can either download an entry form or enter directly through the new online entry service.



10.04.08
Only a few days to go now before the 1st round of the 2008 series of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathons will get started with the EXPOSURE LIGHTS BIG NIGHT OUT night marathon in Builth Wells on the 12th April.

Where, when, what? As in the years before the Night Marathon will be run on Saturday evening and will get started at approx. 7.30pm. The registration for the 1st event will open at 12pm (noon) on Saturday and will stay open till after the start of the night marathon. It will reopen on Sunday morning at 7am and will stay open till 9am. The start of the Merida Bikes MTB Spring Marathon is at 10.30am on Sunday morning – giving the night riders who want to go out again an extra half an hour in bed.

The event including the trade village, registration and camping will be based at White House Farm in Builth Wells which will be signposted from Friday afternoon onwards. Simply make your way to Builth Wells and follow the signs to the event village.

The event will be open from Friday afternoon all the way to Monday morning – ideal for everyone who wants to make a proper cycling weekend of the 1st round of the series.

On Saturday afternoon we will run the first ever MTB Chariot race which should be an entertaining and exciting event for riders as well as spectators. Read more about our latest event addition here: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/home/news1.php#20081

For further details on the April event and to find out what course distances are on offer please go to the event page: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/exposure.php or straight to the entry page: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php.

Course and weather John has been out on course for the last couple of days making last minute adjustments and being busy with putting the way markers up. The courses are in surprisingly good condition. Super fast in places mixed in with the odd soft bit. The weather forecast for the weekend is looking mixed with temperatures lower than 2007 but with a fair amount of sunshine around.

Entries and entries on the day Entries are still coming in. If you have sent your entry form in the post in the last couple of days we might not be able to get you the confirmation back in time. But don’t worry – everybody will get in. You don’t need a confirmation to sign on. The online entry (http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php) will stay open till Friday lunch time. Please make sure you don’t enter after that as we might not be able to get your entry in time. If you haven’t entered at all but still want to come along and ride the ELBNO night marathon and/or the Spring marathon simply come to the registration in the event village and enter on the line. Please be aware that there is a £2 surcharge for entries on the day. Don’t forget that there is £15 discount if you enter both events. So even if you have entered one event already and decide on the day that you quite fancy the other one as well then the event you enter on the day will have a £15 discount.

New Merida 96 marathon machine The guys from Merida Bikes will have their new 96 ‘super bike’ - the ideal machine to tackle marathons or/and TransUK events – on display for the first time in the UK. Trust us well worth checking out when you arrive at the event.

Exposure Lights – charging station and competition The guys from Exposure Lights the 'name provider' and the lighting sponsor of the Exposure Lights Big Night Out (ELBNO), now in it's 4th successful year. They will be on site with the multi award winning range of cable free designed Exposure MaXx lights including the much loved Joystick MaXx head light.  So go over and check it all out when you get to the event village. The guys will also have their charging station on site for everyone that needs a quick top up for their lights. Please be aware though that the charging station is only for top ups and that everybody should make sure that they come with their lights fully charged. Exposure Lights do not make (yet) a rear light and as the ELBNO includes some road sections at night please make sure you have a rear light working and fitted to your bike before you start.

Finally don't forget that everybody who enters and signs on for the ELBNO has the chance to win one of TWO new Exposure Joystick MaXx lights worth £165 each. With a burn time of 3hrs on MaXx setting and up to 24 hours on Low, it's the perfect light for a Big Night Out. Check out the technical details on this little unit here: http://www.use1.com/exposure/products/joystick_maxx/index.php . The draw will be done just before the start of the "Big Night Out" and the winners awarded their lights on the start line so make sure you're not late for the start as you have to be "in it to win it".

Gore Bike Wear – Try B4 U Buy Following last year’s ‘Try B4 U Buy’ run at the MTB Marathon Series - Gore Bike Wear is joining the events again to give 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!

Tyre choice As in the last few years we always get lots of 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 (http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/c2-1036-schwalbe-tires-nobby-nic.html). 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.

High5
We are always being asked to suggest a good nutrition strategy for the marathons so the following is what we have been eating and drinking all through the rides last year and this winter – Not many people have cottoned on to the benefits of taking caffeine and up to 100g of carbs per hour, do the following and you will not run out of fuel during the marathon.

1 hour before drink 500ml of EnergySource Xtreme (50g carbs & 150mg caffeine) 10 mins before the start take 1 x EnergyGel to raise your blood sugar level Drink 250 – 500ml of EnergySource or EnergySource 4:1 (we always use 4:1) per hour (25-50g carbs) Take 1 x EnergyGel every half hour (23g carbs) Snack on bars as you feel. At the 2nd or 3rd Aid station (your last stop) mix up another bottle of Xtreme (50g carbs & 150mg caffeine) for the home run.

Following the above will give you about 66g of carbs per hour and the caffeine will help you stay focused and strong – the caffeine is also an aid to endurance as it increases the amount of fat that is burnt as fuel which means you spare muscle glycogen and feel a lot better.

The guys on the High5 stand can go through this with you and help you get stocked up for the ride – don’t forget to carry some extra bars and gels just in case you or someone else needs them. Don’t forget to take your old bottles over to the High5 stand and swap the off for new bottles and a free drink (£2.00/bottle)

Directions / event location The event village is based again on the White House Farm in Builth Wells (click here for a map of the location: http://www.streetmap.co.uk). 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: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/local_services/local_services.php.




29.03.08

The beginning of the season is creeping up on us with the 1st event of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2008 being less than 2 weeks away. The April event (12-13th April in Builth Wells) has been the opener of the Merida Series since 2005 and will once again invite everybody to take part in the all inspiring EXPOSURE LIGHT BIG NIGHT OUT and/or the Spring Marathon.

ELBNO and Spring Marathon 12-13th April ‘08 As in the previous years the EXPOSURE LIGHTS BIG NIGHT OUT will be the 1st event of the new season and with riders entering thick and fast it looks like that the 2008 round will be the most popular yet. John has been thinking long and hard about changing the course for the 2008 night marathon but decided to stick to his fantastic single and double track loaded version while adding small sections of exciting new stuff into the mix. The 40km long route will again be the ideal testing ground for all lovers of night riding, aspiring 24hour racers and everybody else who is keen to give this unique event a go. And as a special extra once passed the finish line on Saturday night the ELBNO riders are invited to coffee, tea and cake so that recharging the batteries for a potential 2nd marathon of the weekend is well on its way.

Sunday morning will then see the start of the Spring marathon offering 3 different distances 25, 45 and 65km. With a slightly later start of 10.30am all the ELBNO riders who can’t get enough sleep will get an extra 30 minutes in bed. For further details on the April event go to the event page: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/exposure.php or straight to the entry page: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php.

The entries to the April event are going well with lots of riders going for the ‘double’ version of the ELBNO on Saturday night and the Spring marathon on Sunday morning. There are still lots of places left for either of the two events. Don’t forget that there is a £ 15 discount if you are entering both events. The next few weeks will tell if we will have places available for entry on the day.

Online Entry A growing number of riders have been using our online entry facilities making the entry into the event fast and convenient. In 2008 we have introduced the now ‘Everyday Cycling’ system and we are keen to find out how you are getting on with it. We are constantly striving to improve our events and the entry facilities are a big part of what we do. Please give us some constructive feedback so that we can make sure that we are going the right way. Simply send an email to info@mtb-marathon.co.uk with your comments. Thanks!

NEW activities – MTB Chariot racing Besides the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive Series 2008 (more about that further down) we are also adding something else to the Saturday afternoon /evening program of the event weekends. From the April events onwards we are going to run MTB Chariot racing!

The chariot has two pullers and one driver so the teams will be made up of three riders. Once started the team members can’t change their position but are welcome to do so before they set off for their next round. We will have a short and flat but off road course which has to be completed a few times. The race style we are talking is eliminator – where 4 chariots race against each other and only the fastest go into the next round. The course will be around and/or within the event village so that everyone can enjoy this new and thrilling race. Not only will you have the honour of participating in, and possibly winning this prestige event, there will be prizes up for grabs as well. The chariots will be provided and there will be a small entry fee.

At the April round the Chariot extravaganza will be run from 4 – 6pm so that night marathon riders have plenty of time to get ready for their marathon. To enter simply register on the day when you sign on for your marathon. There is no pre-entry required at this stage. You can read the full story and an interview with the current MTB Chariot Racing World Champion John Lloyd in our marathon booklet.

2007 review If you are intrigued in giving the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2008 a go (again or for the 1st time) then you might be interested in the overview of the 2007 season. We have now updated that page on our website. So if you are interested pop over to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/history/history.php.

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 http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/index.php and scroll down the page to their section.

Going by the increasing popularity of their activities please make sure that you get yourself booked in before you get to the event. Simply get in touch with the guys via email on admin@cycleactive.co.uk and register your interest.

GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive Series ‘08 The 1st ever GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive round is just over two months away. Similar to the ELBNO night marathon lots of riders have been taking us up on the discounted weekend offer. The weekend offer includes both rides Saturday – road sportive and Sunday – MTB marathon for the discounted price of £ 45. To find out more about the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive Series ’08 go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/sportives/sportives.php or to enter any of the road or off road events go directly to the entry page (http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php).

Merida Bikes TransWales ’08 16-23rd August 2008 We still have a few places left on the Merida Bikes TransWales ’08 - 7 Day Mountain Bike Stage Challenge. So if you are interested in taking part in this unique challenge either as a solo rider or in a team of two then don’t wait any longer and get your entry in now. To find out more about the Merida TransWales ’08 event go to the event website http://www.mtbtransuk.co.uk/ or go straight to the entry page http://www.mtbtransuk.co.uk/wales/entry.php. If you want to enter please download an entry form and send it together with your payment to our registration office.

MTB-Marathon and TransWales Guidebooks 2008: The 2008 marathon magazine has been sent out and probably has arrived with the majority of people. If it has not arrived yet it is probably only a couple of days away. Unfortunately due to an administration error the TransWales ’08 magazine was not sent out together with the marathon magazine and will therefore arrive separately. We would like to apologize for that in advance and hope that you enjoy reading both magazines.



7 down, NONE to go….at least not this year. The Merida MTB Marathon Series 2007 has come to an end with the final round in Ruthin, Wales on the 15-16th September 07.

With the weather appearing to be on our side well over 1000 riders heading out onto the four distances the 2007 Ruthin round had to offer. In particular the popular 50km loop had a major overhaul for this year and (according to the feedback) was thoroughly enjoyed by the almost 400 riders tackling that distance.

After approximately 1h 38min the first rider came over the line finishing the 30km course. The flow of riders finishing their ride then carried on till 6.10pm when the last full marathon rider crossed the line under the red High5 dome. Luckily the weather stayed more or less sunny and warm till the later part of the afternoon and even the little rain coming in towards the end of the day did not affect the great course conditions or the fun the riders had on their chosen distance.

It was yet again a spectacular picture to see everybody ride out through the historic market town and head up into the hills and a worthy end to a great season. In particular the Cumbria Bikefest and the Outsider event up in Aviemore will stick in people’s minds and we hope that we will continue to be involved in them for the future. 

Our supporters:
This year was another great year with lots of new events, riders and ideas at the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series showing off all the different sides of our sport. The series would not be possible with all the superb help and support we are getting from our sponsors and we would like to send a big THANK YOU to all of them: High5, USE, Schwalbe, Formula, Chain Reaction Cycles, Cycle Active, Buff, PPG, CrankBrothers, Our Scottish Borders, Memory Map, LizardSkins, Ergon, Topeak, Salzkammergut Trophy, Tourism Partnership Mid Wales, Exposure Lights, What Mountain Bike, Bikemagic.com, Gore Bikewear, Fibrax, CTC, Sortimo, Fizik, Forestry Commission and Mercedes-Benz Vans.

Besides that a big thanks goes to our title sponsor Merida Bikes (www.merida-bikes.co.uk) for their continued support of the series and North West Wales Events Commission for supporting the Ruthin round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathons Series.

Without their help and dedication the 2007 series would not have been possible. But an even bigger THANK YOU goes to all you riders who have been taking part in the events this year. You made the events what they are – great adventures with fantastic atmosphere, fun outdoor weekends with likeminded people.   

Finally we would like to thank the team organising the course this year (including the new tweaks) and the 65 marshals there on the day are all unpaid volunteers from the local Llanferres community. The donation made by us to the group, which is called LPFRA (Llanferres Playing Field and Recreation Association) all goes to support the upkeep of their local children’s playing field and the equipment on it. The rumour this year is they are going to buy a new lawnmower with proceeds from the event. As for next year, LPFRA are intending to improve the courses still further with new loops and sections in the pipeline. They are all well experienced mountain bikers with extensive local knowledge who work in partnership with North Wales Mountain Bike Association (http://www.nwmba.org.uk/ ), so it should be good.

Event round up from Merida Bicycle’s Chris Carter:
Another season draws to a close, and except for the inclement weather it has been another huge success. The aim for us has always been to encourage new riders, and it is great to see so many new faces and a much more family oriented event. Hopefully we will see many more of these new riders on Merida bikes in the coming seasons, helping us to maintain our position as the fastest growing brand in Europe!  We would like to thank all of the riders who have taken part, and all the organising team, marshals, helpers and co-sponsors for all their contributions. We will be back again in 2008 and behind the scenes everyone is working hard to make next year even better, we can’t promise better weather, but I don’t think it could be any wetter than this year!  

Photos and website updates:
Our event photographer Jon Brooke was out taking pics on the course. Pics of (nearly) every rider - searchable by rider number are available from http://sleepmonsters.co.uk/photoshop.php?event_id=5107. Jon took lots and lots of images so have a look and see if you can find yourself on there. We will also make some further updates to the www.mtb-marathon.co.uk site once our web master is back in the country so keep an eye on the news in the top left hand corner. 

2008 season:
The 2008 season is quite some time away but our preparations are already in full flow. We have a few new ideas for 2008 which will hopefully make the weekends even more fun for everyone and might even encourage some of you to bring a 2nd bike to the events. More about this and the 2008 dates will be put on our website www.mtb-marathon.co.uk. Besides the marathons we are also working on the 2008 TransWales. We are currently collecting pre-entries for that event. If you are interested in taking part in the TransWales ’08 please send us an email to info@mtbtransuk.co.uk and we will email you an entry form at least two weeks before we make it public.

We will have all our dates available on both our websites www.mtb-marathon.co.uk and www.mtbtransuk.co.uk in the next few weeks. If you are not on our data base and don’t want to miss out on the entry form when it comes out please send a SAE to: Merida Bicycles 100 MTB Marathon Enduro Series or Trans Event ’08 (depending which event you are interested in), Attn: John Lloyd, 5 Irfon Road, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3DE

Sponsorship Appeal - Derrick Ashdown
Derrick Ashdown completed his first Merida marathon in Builth Wells in April this year. He was looking forward to participating in many more, but a neck injury sustained in a mountain biking accident at Cwm Carn in June has left him quadriplegic. Derrick is currently being cared for at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury. He hopes to return home to his young family before Christmas.

His friends have recently completed an 8 day Land's End to John O'Groats bike ride in an effort to raise funds to purchase the bespoke gymnasium which Derrick will need, when he returns home, to optimise his use of those of his muscles which still work. All donations to the fund would be gratefully received. Cheques can be sent, made payable to the 'Derrick Ashdown Sponsorship A/C', to David Taylor, Woodbine Cottage, Church End, Twyning, Tewkesbury, Glos. GL20 6DA.’. Hope you can help!

This is an important request at all the riders coming to the Ruthin round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2007 which will take place this weekend (15-16th September 2007).

Foot-And-Mouth - please clean your gear:
With the recent outbreaks of Foot-And-Mouth in some parts of the country we would like to ask everyone – and in particular riders from the affected areas - to thoroughly clean their bikes and their riding kit (including shoes etc) before they come up to the event in Ruthin.

Wrong date and location:
We managed to put the wrong dates and location into the last newsletter - sorry if that confused a few people. The last round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2007 will take place on the 15-16th September 2007 in Ruthin with the marathon (ride) on the Sunday (16th September) starting at the earlier time of 9.30am. Sorry again!



It is less than 2 weeks to go before the final round of the series will get started at the Rugby Club in Ruthin. On Saturday (15th September 2007) the event will officially begin with the opening of the registration at 12pm (noon).

Course and event details:
Our friends from the North Wales Mountain Bike Association (http://www.nwmba.org.uk/) have been sending us great reports on new sections they managed to add to the various courses and the more or less completely new 50km course. We will give you more on the weather developments and course conditions nearer the time. As at all the other 2007 events we will have 4 different course lengths on offer.



Please be aware that all these distances are approximate and could vary due to weather or other unforeseen changes.

The Ruthin round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathons Series ’07 is supported by the North West Wales Events Commission.

Venue, registration and timetable:
The Ruthin round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series is again based at the Rugby Club in Ruthin which will be signposted from Friday afternoon onwards. You can find the Rugby Club here: or by using the postcode LL15 2AA on your GPS.

As at all the other events the registration will open at 12pm (noon) on Saturday and will stay open till 8pm The registration will re-open on Sunday morning from 7am – 9am followed by the start of the final round at 9.30am. Please note that the start is 30minutes earlier than usual due to the days getting shorter. The traditional price draw of the Merida bike and the Mercedes-Benz garments will be held just before the start at around 9.20am.

The campground is open from Friday evening till Monday morning. So why don’t you make a proper weekend of it. Besides the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon there is lots of 1st class riding to be had around the Clwydian Range (check: www.ridetheclwyds.com) or if you are looking for some trail centre riding then maybe have a go at the trails in Coed Llandegla Forest (www.coedllandegla.com) as they are just up the road from Ruthin.

Ruthin Entries:
There are still places available for all four courses on offer at the upcoming Ruthin round on the 15-16th September. To enter simply go to our entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php to secure your entry. You can either download an entry form and send it in the good old fashion way by post together with you entry fee cheque or you can enter online. For more details on the upcoming Ruthin round go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/ruthin.php.

Gore Bike Wear – Try B4 U Buy:
Gore Bike Wear are joining the Ruthin event to run their ‘Try B4 U Buy’ scheme in which you 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!

Get yourself a bargain from the guys at Merida - here what’s on offer:
As we mentioned in the last newsletter the guys from Merida Bikes have a few ex-press bikes and display bikes available for sale. Two of the ones we mentioned last time (Carbon FLX3000D and All Mountain 800D) have been sold straight away. No need to panic though as we have another three up for grabs. These display bikes are all un-ridden, however you might find a few slight scuffs from being transported back and forth to events.

Matts TFS 900-D – 18” - Ex-Showroom bike, minor scuffs. RRP £999 to clear £699. Find details on this model here: http://www.merida-bikes.co.uk/products/MattsTFS900-D.php

Road 901-27 in Large – for details and sizes go to: http://www.merida-bikes.co.uk/products/Road901.php. Due to some scratches reduced from £ 549 to only £ 329.

All Mountain 500D – 19” – European spec (see www.merida.com for reference) – Never ridden. RRP £799.99 to clear £500

If you want to reserve any of the above, or would like to find out what else we have, please contact merida@meridauk.com. We have lots of samples of hybrids and comfort bikes in stock – see http://www.merida-bikes.co.uk/ for the various models.

Merida Bikes at Fort William MTB World Champs:
If you are going to the World Champs make sure you check out the Merida team stand where you should be able to have a look at the sub 9kg Beijing 2008 carbon full suspension bike. It was one of the main attractions at the recent Eurobike show in Germany definitely worth checking out.

Cycle Active skills classes:
CycleActive are going to be on site in Ruthin running their first class skills and warm-up rides. Booking for the skills classes has been busy, so you better be quick! There are two levels of skills ride to choose from, they last for about 1.5 hours and they depart on the Saturday at 12pm, 2:30pm and 5pm. Numbers are strictly limited to ensure good learning, so email admin@cycleactive.co.uk now to reserve your space.





Merida on holiday 2008 – win a mountain bike trip in Austria
6 events (plus the Chain Reaction Cycles TransScotland ’07) have been on our ‘to do list’ so far covering the whole of the UK and one special country across the channel. The Salzkammergut Trophy in Bad Goisern, Austria (i.e. The Merida on Holiday round) has been in our series for a few years now and the guys on the ground over in Austria have asked us to find out your views and possible holdbacks on their event. It would be much appreciated if you could have a look at the following questions – doesn’t matter if you have been or not – and let us know your thoughts. Obviously we have a little encouragement for you in form of a “Dachsteinrunde / Dachstein Track” for 2 persons to be given out to one lucky winner. Check the details of this great prize here: http://www.salzkammergut-trophy.at/show_page.php?pid=170. To take part simply answer the questions below and send them back to info@mtb-marathon.co.uk before the end of August 2007.
Here we go:
1.) Bad Goisern traditionally takes place the weekend after the Builth Wells summer event. Are the two events too close to each over for you to consider the Austria event? And if they are how many weeks would you need in between the two events?
2.) Are there not enough affordable flights to Salzburg or Linz or is it simply too far away?
3.) Are the costs to high?
4.) Would taking part in the Salzkammergut Trophy be interesting if it would be part of a 1 week package deal?
5.) Is the course in Austria too tough?
6.) Are you interested in taking part in Bad Goisner in 2008?
7.) If you haven’t taken part so far what were the reasons for that?
Please answer these and return by email to info@mtb-marathon.co.uk. We will draw the prize amongst all return emails received before the 3rd September and will inform the winner by email as well as mention it in one of our newsletters.


6 down, ONLY 1 to go.

The Merida MTB Marathon Series 2007 is slowly coming to an end but the events are still going from strength to strength. Nearly 1100 riders made their way to the normally sunny Selkirk. For the first time the riders had to experience the normally super dry and rocky course in not so summery conditions….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. With almost 900 riders on the pre-entry list (before the registration opened for business) it looked once again that Selkirk would be one of the biggest event of the season. Unfortunately when the activities on Saturday evening came to a close the rain started to set in and would not ease up till Sunday lunchtime. The course turned over night from perfect condition to a ‘little bit of a mud bath’.

1100 riders set off on Sunday morning tackling one of the 4 courses on offer. After approximately 1h 34min the first rider came over the line finishing the 25km course. The flow of riders finishing their ride then carried on till 6.20pm when the last full marathon rider crossed the line under the red High5 dome. Lots of mud covered faces came over the line throughout the day decorated with big smiles.
Selkirk was introduced to the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 4 seasons ago and turned itself more or less instantly into the most liked marathon location of the series. The combination of an extensive trail networked paired with some of the best man made trails the UK has to offer gives this event unique flavour.

Austria event
Before we headed up to Selkirk our ‘holiday’ event in Bad Goisern, Austria took part and managed at its 10th anniversary to attract more than 3000 riders. As in the years before a group of Merida marathon riders went over to challenge one of the many courses on offer. We have heard only good stories so far and will put up a detailed review on our website in the near future.

Photos and website updates
Our event photographer Jon Brooke was out on the hills in and around Selkirk taking pics of everybody. Pics of (nearly) every rider - searchable by rider number are available from http://sleepmonsters.co.uk/photoshop.php?event_id=4995. Jon took lots and lots of images so have a look and see if you can find yourself on there. Although most of the photos are searchable by rider number there were a higher number than usual of photos with no number visible because of the mud, but riders who can't find their pic can browse through just the pics with no number showing. Please keep in mind that the photos have a limited amount of time on the website – in particular the Cumbria pictures are only available for one more week (check here: http://sleepmonsters.co.uk/photoshop.php?event_id=4771).

Next and final round – Ruthin, North Wales 15-16th September 2007
Now with 6 of the 7 events being over and done with we will enjoy a little break and start working on the 2008 dates (expect some exciting changes) before we head up to Ruthin for the final 2007 round of the series. Our team on the ground the North Wales Mountain Bike Association (http://www.nwmba.org.uk/) have been working on the 4 courses all year round and have paid particular attention to the 50km ride which we felt was in desperate need of freshening up. We will give you some more details on the fruits of their labour in the next few newsletters and press releases but be assured the guys have created something for everybody.

Entries
The entry for the Ruthin event is open and there are places available for all four courses. To find out more about the upcoming Ruthin round go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/ruthin.php or go straight to our entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php to secure your entry for the last round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2007. And don’t forget when you come up to Ruthin 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 the Clwydian Range (check: www.ridetheclwyds.com) and if you are looking for some trail centre riding the trails in Coed Llandegla Forest (www.coedllandegla.com) are just around the corner and always good for another spin.




Selkirk here we come
Only two weeks to go before we once again return to Selkirk in the Scottish borders for the 2nd Scottish event in the 2007 Merida Bikes MTB Marathon series.

After we stared and finished the Chain Reaction Cycles TransScotland 2007 (www.mtbtransuk.co.uk) on the grounds of the Selkirk Rugby Club this time round we will settle in the beautiful setting for a little bit longer. From Friday afternoon onwards the campground at the Rugby Club will be open for visitors and will remain open till Monday morning.

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 2007 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 the recent 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 route in Selkirk has its own character and offers an interesting alternative from the riding at the first four events of the 2007 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.


Gore Bike Wear – Try B4 U Buy
Gore Bike Wear has teamed up with the Merida marathon to offer an exclusive and unique opportunity to all its entrants. We are giving you the chance to test ride our products when you race the event. Come along to the Gore Bike Wear tent on race day and experience for yourself what the real difference is!

A sample of our 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 we ask is you treat them as your own for the day! Take them, ride them and return them. Bring them back to us dirty, sweaty, ridden and rated and then leave the washing to us! Interested? Come and visit us at the next event and see what it’s all about!

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 7Stances trail. We managed to incorporate a big number of the trails into the 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.

Cycle Active skills classes
As at the previous rounds the expert coaches at CycleActive are also getting ready for their outings at the Selkirk round. Bookings for the skills classes are already coming in. If you’d like to get out for a ride and develop your skills with some of the UK’s top trainers then now’s the chance, and best of all – it’s completely free. There are two levels of skills ride to choose from, they last for about 1.5 hours and they depart on the Saturday at 12pm, 2:30pm and 5pm. Numbers are strictly limited to ensure good learning, so email admin@cycleactive.co.uk now to reserve your space. You’ll also get a goodie bag from skills sponsor Buff and a voucher off any full CycleActive training course in The Lake District.

Entries
There are still places left for the Selkirk round in case you haven’t entered yet. So if you are looking for a technical yet super enjoyable marathon in the beautiful Scottish countryside then make sure you get your entry in quickly. To enter go directly to the entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php to secure your entry for this great event. You will be able to enter on the day but day entries will be subject to a £2 surcharge. For further details on the Selkirk round go to: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/selkirk.php.

Lost Message
One of the riders who took part in the Builth Wells round has been in contact with us and asked for your help. A GARMIN FORERUNNER 305 was on course at Builth Wells 8 July 2007 - serial number – 13V027214. This Forerunner was a present and they would be extremely grateful if you have found it, to please contact with, Simon Young on; 07787778905. THANKS!!



4 down, 2 to go

4 down, 2 to go (3 including the Austria round). After weeks of rain all over the UK the Builth Wells round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series managed to find a hole in the national cloud cover and enjoyed more or less uninterrupted sunshine for the event weekend.

The odds were certainly against a dry weekend after the summer so far. Their has been not much else than permanent rain, and with that in mind the event certainly prepared as much as possible for a wet version after last year’s super dry and fast conditions. John Lloyd focused his attention very much on offering courses which could be enjoyed in the rather unstable weather conditions, and following the feedback we received at the finish line and since then on email John succeeded on that front. After 7 years of running a marathon in and around Builth he managed to come up with something new and exciting for everybody.

Almost a thousand riders entered the 4th round of the series which was a surprisingly high number considering the weather conditions over the last few weeks and the huge offer on international sporting events (Wimbledon, Formular1 and Tour de France in the UK) taking place. Everyone enjoyed the new sections alongside the Epynt Way and the never ending offer of single track in John’s ‘playground’ Crychan Forrest. If you ever fancy ‘re-riding’ parts of the course and want to find out about some other interesting stuff around Builth simply give John a call (details on our website).

Next years plans are already in motion. There will be quite a few extra things to enjoy for the whole family as well as for roadies out there at the 2008 round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon round in Builth Wells….so watch this space.

Photos and website updates
Our event photographer Jon Brooke was out taking pics on the course. Pics of (nearly) every rider - searchable by rider number are available from http://sleepmonsters.co.uk/photoshop.php. Jon took lots and lots of images so have a look and see if you can find yourself on there. We will also make some further updates to the www.mtb-marathon.co.uk site once our web master is back in the country so keep an eye on the news in the top left hand corner.

Next UK event after Builth Wells – Selkirk round – worth the journey
Now with Builth being over done with we are heading back to Scotland to one of the most liked courses of the series - Selkirk. We and some of the Merida marathon riders have already been up there in 2007 at the beginning and the end of the recently run TransScotland event. Their feedback was fantastic which fills us with great confidence for the upcoming marathon round in Selkirk. If you missed out on the TransScotland ’07 or want to get another go make sure you make your way to Selkirk on the 4-5th August. 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 enter and pay in one go. If you haven’t done it simply go onto our entry page (http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php) 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. Entries are still available and if you want to find out more about the Selkirk event go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/selkirk.php or go straight to our entry to secure your entry for the 2nd Scottish event of the 2007 season.

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 head around Selkirk and on your way there. Check out http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/ for the nearest 7Stances trail. We managed to incorporate a big number of the trails into the TransScotland and they are superb!!

Austria event
With Builth Wells being over for another year in the series turns towards the round in Bad Goisern, Austria. If you haven’t yet been to our guest round in Bad Goisern, Austria (details on our package deal, cheap flights and the event itself here: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/bad_goisern.php) make sure you don’t miss out on it this year. For the super late deciders there is still the chance to enter on the line in Bad Goisern. The package deal we are offering (detail on the Bad Goisern event page) include accommodation, super food and airport transfer plus lots of little extras. DON’T MISS OUT!!! For further info, contact details, time table and anything else you might want to find out about the ‘Merida on holiday’ check http://www.salzkammergut-trophy.at/show_page.php?pid=162.

Latest Builth Wells Summer Marathon update
Only a few days now before we go back to the birthplace of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series – Builth Wells (7-8th July). After the opening event earlier this year this will be the 2nd time the series goes back to its roots.

Builth here we come
Aviemore was a new experience for the riders, however, the organization of this weeks Builth Wells event will bring us back to familiar territory yet will surprise even the hardened Builth Wells riders 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 he has managed exactly that. The new course heads towards the Epynt (Training Area) and makes its way along the new Epynt Way before heading into the much loved Crychan Forrest which is littered with singletrack. You can find the profiles with course distances and service stations here: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/home/news1.php#200715. As in April the summer marathon will also pitch up at the White House Farm 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!

Cycle Active skills classes
The expert coaches at CycleActive are also preparing for the 2nd event of the season in Builth Wells and already their sessions are starting to get booked up. If you’d like to get out for a ride and develop your skills with some of the UK’s top trainers then now’s the chance, and best of all – it’s completely free. There are two levels of skills ride to choose from, they last for about 1.5 hours and they depart on the Saturday at 12pm, 2:30pm and 5pm. Numbers are strictly limited to ensure good learning, so email admin@cycleactive.co.uk now to reserve your space. You’ll also get a goodie bag from skills sponsor Buff and a voucher off any full CycleActive training course in The Lake District.

High5
The guys from High5 will be there with lots of special offers – please make sure you take enough High5 out on the course with you and remember it may not be hot but it will always be hard and sweaty so make sure you carry some extra EnergyGels and Bars – just in case you or a friend needs them. For details of the product range please visit www.high5-online.com

Weather
With the last few weeks being dominated by rain wherever you were in the country the weather forecast on the Met Office site for this weekend is looking rather positive. The ground should get a fair chance to dry before we get the ride going but be prepared for a partly muddy ride.

Tyre choice
Lots of riders got in touch again 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 possibly slippery conditions we would recommend a nobly tyre with great bite and good cornering grip. We would recommend a closer look at Schwalbe’s Nobby Nic (http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/shop.sfxp?page=category&id=581&usmSID=723701-255-861) or the old favourite Jimmy (http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/shop.sfxp?page=product&id=1196&usmSID=723701-255-861). If you don’t have any of these tyres in your collection, make sue you see Chris from Schwalbe over the weekend and find out where you can get some for the next rounds.

Time table
The ride will start at 10am on Sunday the 8th July '07 at the White House Farm in Builth Wells. Registration will be open from 12am (noon) - 8pm on Saturday and from 7 - 9am on Sunday. Please make sure you get there in time. For further details on the Builth round go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/builth_wells.php and for some general details on the events please check out http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/10_commandments/10_commandments.php

Entries
There are still places left in case you haven’t entered yet. So if you are looking for the ultimate summer marathon in the birthplace of the marathon series then make sure you get your entry is quickly. To enter go directly to the entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php to secure your entry for this great event. You will be able to enter on the day but day entries will be subject to a £2 surcharge

Next event after Builth Wells
After Builth Wells we are heading back to Scotland to one of the most liked courses of the series - Selkirk. Some of you might have had the chance to ride some of the fantastic trails around Selkirk already in this year’s TransScotland event and the feedback was fantastic. So if you missed out on that or want to get another go make sure you make your way to Selkirk on the 4-5th August. Entries are still available. To find out more about the Selkirk event go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/selkirk.php or go straight to our entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php to secure your entry for the 2nd Scottish event of the 2007 season


NEWS UPDATE: 27.06.07

We have just returned from the first ever Merida Outsider marathon which was held as part of the Outsider festival in Aviemore on the 22-24th June and despite the rather unusual weather for June the event was fantastic.

The Outsider – the aftermath
After the join-up with the Cumbria Bikefest earlier this year the Merida Outsider marathon was the 2nd festival the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon series hooked up with this season. Rather than a cycling festival the Outsider festival combined music, cool contemporary entertainment and a huge range of activities. The music line-up was fantastic with KT Tunstall headlining on Saturday and with Crowded House finishing off on Sunday night. Despite the rather frustrating weather the atmosphere in front of the various stages and inside the comedy and film tents was fantastic and made for special marathon atmosphere.

The Merida Outsider marathon which was held on the Saturday saw almost 700 riders tackling one of the three courses on offer…and going by the responses we have had so far the riders had a fantastic time. Luckily the courses could cope with the weather so that even in more or less constant rain the riders would finish with a smile on their face. The riding around Aviemore is some of the best the UK has to offer and our course designer David from Bothy Bikes did a fantastic job by showing this off to its full potential. We recon Aviemore is worth going back to – either for a marathon or for a riding weekend on your own.

Throughout the weekend and in particular after the ride the riders could enjoy a broad program of activities, films, debates, food and drink stalls and obviously music…so there was definitely something for everyone there. We even spotted a few super keen ones who gave the 12km run a go on Sunday. Hopefully we will be all back there in 2008.

Photos and website updates
Once again Jon Brooke was out taking pics on the course. Pics of (nearly) every rider - searchable by rider number are available from http://sleepmonsters.co.uk/photoshop.php. Jon took lots and lots of images so have a look and see if you can find yourself on there. We will also make some further updates to the www.mtb-marathon.co.uk site once our web master is back in the country so keep an eye on the news in the top left hand corner.

Builth here we come
With Aviemore being done now we turn back south and dive straight into the last minute preparations for the upcoming Builth Wells summer round (7-8th July). After the super warm and dry season opener in April we hope that the weather is going to be on our side again when we open the all new course to the riders. John has put 4 completely new courses together starting with the 30km (950m of climbing) long Mini Marathon all the way up to the 90km (2600m of climbing) full marathon. The Builth Marathon will start at 10am on Sunday the 8th July at the White house Farm in Builth Wells and will have all the usual side attractions like skills classes, free camping and parking etc. attached to it. Check the Builth Wells event page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/builth_wells.php for details.



Entries
There are still places left in case you haven’t entered yet. So if you are looking for the ultimate summer marathon in the birthplace of the marathon series then make sure you get your entry is quickly. To find out more about the Builth Wells summer marathon go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/builth_wells.php or go directly to the entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php to secure your entry for this great event.

Merida marathon ‘on holiday’ or the Salzkammergut Trophy
Besides the upcoming Builth Wells (7-8th July 2008) we also have the Salzkammergut Trophy around the corner (14th July 2008 – Bad Goisern, Austria). The event is still taking entries and you will be able to enter as late as the 2nd July. For the super late deciders there is also the chance to enter on the line in Bad Goisern. We have put a very competitive package deal together (details on flights and the package deal here: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/bad_goisern.php) and with lots of super cheap flights on offer this is a (long) mountain bike weekend not to be missed. And finally for all the unicyclists out there – check out the latest category addition here
http://www.salzkammergut-trophy.at/show_page.php?pid=1091.

Want to work for the 2nd biggest bike company in the world?
The guys from Merida have been in touch and have told us about their UK expansion plans. For that they are looking to recruit 2 Area Sales Managers - one based in Scotland and one in the South West. The persons they are looking for need to be strong sales professionals, self motivated and able to manage their time and workload effectively. In return Merida offers a generous basic salary, commission, company car and mobile phone. If you are interested then please send your CV and current package to chris@meridauk.com




MERIDA OUTSIDER UPDATES WITH COURSE PROFILES
We have just over a i week to go until the Merida ‘Outsider’ and the Outsider kick off. On Friday the 22nd June the latest addition to the Merida Bikes MTB Series will open its doors and will get the event fired up with an incredible line-up of music and comedy acts as well as a never ending choice of biking activities.
The Outsider is waiting for you – more than you expect
The line-up featuring KT Tunstall (who will celebrate her birthday on the Saturday), Crowded House, Willy Mason, Idlewild, Guillimots and loads of others confirmed. For a complete (so big doesn’t fit on here) list of who is playing check out the superb website http://www.outsiderfestival.co.uk/. You can expect not only first class music and comedy acts, there will also be workshops and debates on environmental issues. There is also a huge choice of top mountain bike films on Friday night and Richard Moore will show a film and talk about his new book on Tour de France legend Robert Millar. Other bike related activities are:
- The 7Stanes display team is coming to show their incredible display
- Cycling Scotland will have their North Shore skills course on site and will run training course throughout the weekend
- Guided rides throughout the weekend for various riding levels (so even if you are not taking part in the marathon you can enjoy a ride taking in the breathtaking scenery) – bring your own bike but if you can’t hire bikes are available
- And there is more…see the whole list on: http://www.outsiderfestival.co.uk/activities.html
So as you can see there are lots of activities to keep you and your ‘not marathon riding’ family/friends entertained – so pack your bags and come and join us at the Outsider in Aviemore.

The Merida Outsider – the riding
David from Bothy bikes – our man on the ground in Aviemore – has been sending us regular reports about the great shape the courses are in at the moment. The courses are a mixture of fun doubletracks, some forestry road climbs, and oodles of classic pine forest singletrack. The Merida Outsider courses David has put together for you show off perfectly what made Aviemore one of the prime mountain bike destinations in the UK. Here the profiles of the 3 distances:


Timetable for the Outsider Marathon
With the event being on Saturday everything is a little different at the Outsider marathon. The registration which is situated outside the main gate will open on Friday from 6 – 9pm and will reopen on Saturday from 8 – 10am. The start of the Merida Outsider is at 11am on Saturday. You have to be registered to be able to take part in the Merida outsider so please make sure you get there early enough to register.

Entries and entry on the day
We are still taking entries for the Merida Outsider. To enter go directly to the entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php where you can enter either online or by downloading an entry form. You can also enter on the day by simply coming over to the registration which will be located outside the Outsider festival – please note that there is a £ 2 surcharge for entering on the day.

Skills classes
As always we will have a dedicated skills team on site trying to improve your riding and bike handling skills. At the Merida Outsider we have Cycle Wild Scotland’s Jules Fincham on board who will be offering skills workshops & guided rides for all levels of mountain bike rider. For further info please check www.cyclewildscotland.co.uk and to book please email us on info@cyclewildscotland.co.uk or call 01479 810 676.
The remaining marathon season
Once we have returned from Aviemore our attention will focus on the next two – more traditional - marathons in Builth Wells and in Selkirk. John Lloyd and Pete Laing have been busy working on the courses and have some nice new additions ready for the riders. To find out more about these tow events check out http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/events.php or go directly to the entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php to secure your entry for these great rides.


News update 07.06.07

It is less than three weeks to go now before we will join forces with the 2nd festival of the season. This time it will take us to Aviemore, Scotland to be part of ‘the Outsider’. The event will be held in stunning Rothiemurchus Forest, Cairngorm National Park, near Aviemore, The Outsider Festival (22-24 June 2007) will be a celebration of landscape, outdoor activities, the environment and Highland life. The three day festival features loads of outdoor activities and fantastic entertainment, encouraging everyone to get active and also enjoy the festival party vibe.

Who is playing?
The musical line-up is impressive - with KT Tunstall, Crowded House, Willy Mason, Idlewild, Guillimots and loads of others confirmed – this event has plenty to offer for everyone. There’s a full programme of top mountain bike films on Friday night, and Richard Moore will show a film and talk about his new book on Tour de France legend Robert Millar. There’s also a full comedy line-up throughout the weekend. You can also join the free guided rides out on some of the UK’s best trails. Check out the superb website for all the details of what happens where and when – http://www.outsiderfestival.co.uk/.

Aviemore Course
We had some course details updates from David from Bothy Bikes in Aviemore who is our local course designer on the ground. Here's his brief description of the three routes:

65 and 45km route
65 km is a mixture of undulating road to spread riders out at the start, fun doubletrack, some forestry road climbs, and classic pine forest singletrack. Two sustained climbs, each followed by wonderful singletrack descents with a few testing sections, red standard here. The return leg of the course is doubletrack, forest road and some cool sections of singletrack to add variety. Both versions visit Loch an Eilein and head through the beautiful open landscapes of Rothiemurchus. The whole route is very scenic, with some of the best mountain views in the country! 45 km as for the 65km but missing out the first big climb and descent.

25km route
25 km route stays entirely in Rothiemurchus forest, with easy trails and gradients. The ride starts on the road as per the longer routes, then into a double track climb to get riders spread out before the fun singletrack trails. There is one steep road climb which might have some riders walking, but the superb panoramic view from the top more than makes up for it!
All routes finish up with a lovely singletrack descent to the Outsider arena.

Entries
There are still places left in case you haven’t entered yet. So if you are into music, comedy, the outdoors and into riding your bike in one of the most beautiful areas the UK has to offer than this event is for you. Check out the latest on the line-up on http://www.outsiderfestival.co.uk/. To find out more about the Outsider marathon go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/aviemore.php or go directly to the entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php to secure your entry for this great event.

Skills classes
Besides the superb line-up, great countryside and relaxed festival atmosphere we will have as always a dedicated skills team working with us trying to improve your riding and bike handling skills. At the Merida Outsider we have Cycle Wild Scotland’s Jules Fincham on board who will be offering skills workshops & guided rides for all levels of mountain bike rider. From 12pm on Friday afternoon skills coaching will take place around the beautiful Rothiemurchus trails. Each ride will last about 1.5 hours and get you warmed and skilled up for the following day’s challenge. Perhaps you need help with drop-offs, steep technical climbs, twisty single-track or fast berms – Jules will tailor-make your session accordingly. He’s that good! Check the full story on our home page (www.mtb-marathon.co.uk) or go straight to the Cycle wild website: www.cyclewildscotland.co.uk

To book please email us on info@cyclewildscotland.co.uk or call 01479 810 676.
If you want to read up more about the current marathon events and the latest marathon bikes and gear why don’t you make use of the latest ‘Try 3 issues of What Mountain Bike for £3’ our friends and media supporter What Mountain Bike have just sent through. To get hold of this great offer simply go to www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/wmb/2012.

Salzkammergut Trophy 2007
But there is more happening in the world of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon series 2007. After Aviemore the focus will not just go towards our Builth event but also towards the Salzkammergut Trophy in Austria.

New ‘extreme’ course
For their 10th anniversary on the July 14th, 2007 the course designer have created something rather special – a new 209 km - 7000 change in altitude - one lap course for all the 24 or 12 solo riders out there. The first half of the extreme distance runs from Altaussee to Bad Ischl and back to Bad Goisern. It remains almost unchanged and is therefore identical with the UCI Marathon WM course of 2004.
However, instead of a second lap the course will continue again through Obertraun, Hallstatt und Gosau like in the years from 1998 until 2003. There will be also some totally new legs as for example the new build bikeway along the East bank of the Hallstätter lake as well as a new bike passage between the Hallstätter Salzberg and Rossalm towards Gosau so it's not necessary anymore to carry one's bikes. The course leads through the UNESCO World heritage region Hallstatt-Salzkammergut - one of the most unique and spectacular areas in Europe. Highlights of this course are the Dachstein Mountain ridge and the track through "the Ewige Wand” - the Eternal Wall.

The Trophy B-distance has been now completely relocated to the new course and is going to be about 110 km long. The well established 24km and 53km short courses remain unchanged.

Gary Fisher is coming
But that is not it – one of the many bike celebrity guest enjoying the ride and the beautiful setting of the Salzkammergut Trophy will be the ‘father of mountain biking’ Gary Fisher. Although Gary had broken his ankle beginning of October, he is still a red-hot favorite within the 'age group 4”. However if he should miss a spot on the podium, Gary will be still on the stage presenting the trophies to the winners of the 110 km and 200 km courses!

Enter now!
To enter the Salzkammergut round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon series please download an entry form from our entry page: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php fill it in and send it through to the ‘MJW Marketing Ltd’ address you will find on there. For further details on the event and on our superb package deal check out the Bad Goisern page: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/bad_goisern.php



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.

Cumbria BikeFest
Last year’s round in Rhayader was rather badly affected by the ‘European Monsoon’ with heavy rain during the weeks leading up to the event and no drying sunshine to improve matters. Despite the weather lots of riders made their way to the event and fought their battle with the rather extreme conditions. For the 2007 season the Rhayader marathon was replaced by the Penrith round which was held within the first ever Cumbria Bikefest.

The week leading up to the event was not really blessed with good weather so that the venue looked already a little bit on the muddy side when the riders arrived on Friday and Saturday. Luckily though after some showers on Saturday and during the night from Saturday to Sunday the weather started to settle a bit and the riders had a more or less dry day on the bikes. Almost 1300 lined up on Sunday morning to tackle one of the four rather tough courses the area around Penrith had to offer. Going by the feedback we have had on the day and since he have returned the opinions on the course are rather divided and vary between ‘excellent – a real challenge’ to ‘far to tough for a marathon’.

Here a few words from our course designer Chris Ford from CycleActive:
It was great to hear so many riders praising the incredible views, the fast, sweeping descent off Loadpot and the long rocky trail to Howtown. We expected the tough climbs and rocky descents to push people – you needed technical climbing skills and good bike handling skills to get through these cleanly and that was part of the challenge of this event. We did make sure that the hardest sections were on the longer distances, increasing the challenge level for those with better fitness and hopefully a higher level of skill.

A great many riders did get through these sections on two wheels, not just the leaders but some who adapted to the technical rather than purely physical demands of this unique event.

Was it too tough? That’s a hard question to answer and one we can only look at when we’ve seen a lot more feedback. We certainly wanted to make this different from other marathons. Have we shown people terrain that can be ridden, even on a short travel hardtail, but that they cannot ride yet? Should we tone it down in future? Or is this a chance for people to say “my bike can do this, other riders can do this, so I need to learn how to do this too.”

Besides the ride which will certainly stay in people’s mind, the rest of the festival was filled with lots of riding displays, trade and food stands, a massive music/beer tent and an almost endless list or off site riding activities. There are already quite a few plans in the pipeline for 2008 with better facilities, more onsite activities (riding and non-riding) and a more rider friendly course for the marathon.

Photos and website updates
Once again Jon Brooke was out taking pics on the course. Pics of (nearly) every rider - searchable by rider number are available from http://sleepmonsters.co.uk/photoshop.php. Jon took lots and lots of images so have a look and see if you can find yourself on there. We have also made some further updates to this site, keep an eye on the news in the top left hand corner.

Now with the Penrith being over and done with our attention goes towards the Chain Reaction Cycles TransScotland and the ‘Outside’ event in Aviemore.

Chain Reaction Cycles TransScotland
The Chain Reaction Cycles TransScotland will kick off on the 26th May in Selkirk and roam through the Borders area before it finishes in Selkirk on the 2nd June. There are still a few places left for all the late deciders out there. So if you are up for this great challenge simply download an entry form from the event website www.mtbtransuk.co.uk and send it through to us. If you have already entered make sure that you check the site a few days before you head to Selkirk to catch up on the latest updates.

The Outsider
It is just under six weeks before we head to Aviemore to run our marathon from within ‘The Outsider’ festival. There are still places left in case you haven’t entered yet. So if you are into music, comedy, the outdoors and into riding your bike in one of the most beautiful areas the UK has to offer than this event is for you. Check out the latest on the line-up on http://www.outsiderfestival.co.uk/. To find out more about the Aviemore marathon go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/aviemore.php or go directly to the entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php to secure your entry for this great ride.

Merida Bikes new on the web
We had a chat with Chris Carter from Merida over the weekend and he mentioned the new Merida website which has been live only for a few days and shows all the 2007 models. If you are in the market for a new bike or simply interested what the 2nd biggest bike company in the word has to offer check out www.merida-bikes.co.uk. If you have any thoughts and comments please send them to Merida@meridaUK.com as the guys are interested to hear what you think.




08.05.07
It is only a few days now before the 1st ever English round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series will open its doors at the Lowther Deer Park, near Penrith. But besides the 1st English marathon in the history of the series it is also the first marathon that has a whole c