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NEWS... |
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25.04.08
Latest News from the first round.HERE>> |
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17.04.08 Report from the first round HERE>> |
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10.04.08
Latest News before the first event of 2008.HERE>> |
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29.03.08 Website updated - New Season is HERE>> |
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31.01.08
Online Entry now OPEN. MORE>> |
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28.12.07 Website updated - Entry facilities coming soon. |
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19.09.07
7 down, NONE to go….at least not this year.
MORE>> |
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Foot-And-Mouth - Please clean your gear:
MORE>> |
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04.09.07
Ruthin
News. MORE>> |
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Merida on holiday 2008 – win a
mountain bike trip in Austria
MORE>> |
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12.08.07
6
down, ONLY 1 to go. MORE>> |
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20.07.07
Selkirk here we come MORE>> |
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12.07.07
4 down, 2 to go (3 including the Austria round)
MORE>> |
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06.07.07
Latest Builth Wells Summer Marathon update
MORE>> |
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27.06.07
Latest News... MORE>> |
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16.06.07
MERIDA OUTSIDER UPDATES WITH COURSE PROFILES.
MORE>> |
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07.06.07
Latest News... MORE>> |
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17.05.07
…2 down 5 to go. After last year’s rather muddy May event in
Rhayader the first dip into English marathon territory was another one to
remember. MORE>> |
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08.05.07
It is only a few days now before the 1st ever English round
MORE>> |
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01.05.07
It feels that the season is truly here
MORE>> |
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17.04.07 ELBNO
and SPRING MARATHON MORE>> |
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10.04.07 ELBNO / Spring Marathon –
LAST UPDATE MORE>> |
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23.03.07 ELBNO
. MORE>> |
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23.03.07 Chain
Reaction Cycles voucher - make sure you enter early!
MORE>> |
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23.03.07 Aviemore
round – the Outsider. MORE>> |
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23.03.07 Penrith round – Cumbria
Bikefest MORE>> |
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23.03.07 Salzkammergut Trophy 2007.
MORE>> |
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13.03.07 The Outsider event and line-up
... MORE>> |
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22.02.07 Latest NEWS. MORE>> |
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19.12.06 NEWS 2007 Entry form available to download…....
MORE>> |
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'CycleActive price draw - winner revealed!....
MORE>> |
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23.10.06 NEWS The Outsider - New Event…....
MORE>> |
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The 2006 mountain bike season is heading towards its deserved
winter break which inevitably means that the 2007 season is creeping up
on us. .... MORE>> |
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26.09.06 We have just got back from
our 2007 planning excursion to Scotland . ....
MORE>> |
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14.09.06 NEWS Update: Merida Ruthin…only a couple of
days to go….... MORE>> |
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25.08.06 Well done everybody who took
part in the first ever Merida TransWales ’06. What a week! I am sure
it will take us all a while to recover from this adventure. ....
MORE>> |
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09.08.06 NEWS Update:Merida TransWales ’06…only
a couple of days to go…....
MORE>> |
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02.08.06 NEWS Four down one to
go! We have just returned from the event in Selkirk and we can only agree
with the all comments we have had that it has once again been a superb event
for everybody.... MORE>> |
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26.07.06 NEWS Update:
It’s the last week before the Scottish round of the Merida 100 MTB
Marathon in Selkirk opens its doors....
MORE>> |
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11.07.06 NEWS Update:…was
it hot or what? This year seams to be the year of extremes...
MORE>> |
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22.06.06 NEWS Update:
The last weekend before this year’s summer marathon in Builth Wells
is upon us.... MORE>> |
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News update 15.06.06
Less than three weeks to go before we will welcome everybody at the ‘summer’
event of the Merida 100 Series... MORE>> |
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01.06.06
2nd Round Rhayader Event... MORE>> |
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1st Round of the Merida 100 MTB Marathon Series 2006 in
Builth Wells 8-9th April... MORE>> |
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20 Reasons why you... should ride a Mreida 100
1 No faffing with maps: just point and play...
MORE>> |
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Vertebrate Graphics, MTB Guidebooks...MORE>> |
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MTB-Marathon Jersey NOW IN STOCK..MORE>> |
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TECH |
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Technical
We have been doing this sort of thing now for quite a few years and
we’ve witnessed people having all sorts of difficulties with
their noble steeds, and the state they’re often in come the
end of their marathon. From these observations and experience we’ve
managed to put a few points together that might help you enjoy your
marathon even more, as you depend on your bike when you are out there
you want to make sure it is as marathon ready as you are.
Before we get started let us assure you that you don’t have
to have the latest and the best to enjoy your marathon: a decent mountain
bike will do the trick handsomely. To make sure that you get the maximum
out of it and that you know in the back of your mind that your trusted
steed is not going to let you down please read on.
General:
1. Make sure it’s in good working order:
- Check and if necessary replace all cables, brake blocks and disc
pads
(better to replace them if they’re on their way out –
25km, 50km, 75km or even 100km riding can be hard work for half worn
equipment)
- Check and if necessary replace the transmission components for wear
and tear. Pay particular attention to the chain, chainrings, sprockets,
jockey wheels, and freehub
- Clean the bike thoroughly, and lubricate everything necessary. If
the conditions are dry use a dry lube (spray-on type), if it’s
wet use a wet lube (thick, liquid lube)
- Check tyre pressures (roughly 40psi depending on tyre) and use tyres
appropriate to the conditions. A good, general condition tyre is generally
best, unless the conditions are very wet or very dry, where a specific
tyre may be better.
2. Add/take off Crud Guards/Catchers according to the conditions.
3. Make sure that your saddle is high enough, and that you’ve
got enough reach to the bars - it may be worth putting on a longer
stem if you normally run a very short one. The general rule for the
saddle height is that when you are sitting down that your leg should
be almost but not quite straight when you put your heel on the pedal
in the six o’clock position. Use this as a starting point to
find the most comfortable position for you.
4.Check all your controls are set up on the bars in a comfortable
position, paying special attention to your brake levers and make sure
the lever blades are not set too far away from the bars.
5. For comfort, and to aid climbing it’s worth considering installing
a pair of bar ends if you don’t already run them.
6. If you don’t already, consider using a foot retention pedalling
system to maximise the efficiency of your pedalling: SPD-style pedals
(Shimano SPDs, Time ATACs, Crank Bros. Egg Beaters etc), toe-clips
and straps, or PowerStraps.
7. Put a second bottle cage on and take a second bottle (if you can
two big ones). If you prefer Camelbaks that is fine too.
8. If you can put a computer on your bike then do as it makes pacing
yourself much easier (make sure it is set up correctly).
9. If you change anything on your bike shortly before the event make
sure you have had a few rides on it so that you can be sure that it
is all run-in and that it is not going to fall off during your marathon.
10. Please make sure that whatever you are going to wear is comfortable
and that you have worn it before. It is not much fun riding for 5+
hours in shoes that do not fit.
There are lots of bicycle types around these days with different strengths
and weaknesses. If you have the choice of a bike you probably already
know which one is your favourite for the marathons. The general tips
obviously apply to all bike tips but to help you to get your marathon
machine prepared for the big day have a look under your section for
specific tips.
Rigid bikes: light, less vulnerable to technical
problems, less comfortable
1. To increase comfort, it’s worth running a pair of wide tyres
to give you extra cushion against the trail buzz: 2.3ins are perfect,
but anything up from a 1.95ins tyre is good
2. Running tyre pressures lower than normal will also aid to cushion
your ride, but be careful as this will make them more susceptible
to pinch punctures as well. Experiment with tyre pressures and find
one that works best for you.
3. Install thick, cushioning bar grips to aid comfort and wear a pair
of gloves with palm padding.
4. If you can, install a suspension seat post to keep your perch as
comfy as possible.
XC Hardtail: light, easy to maintain, increase of comfort through
suspension forks, good in mud
1. Make sure that your suspension fork is set up correctly for your
weight.
2. Install a suspension seat post to take the sting out of the trail
for your butt.
Hardcore Hardtail: takes a good beating, can be heavy, most
of the time setup for a different purpose
1. If you run a short seat pin swap it for a long version - possibly
a suspension seat post - to get you in the best pedalling position.
Or if you run your post low, extend it.
2. If you run a very short stem, swap it for something longer to aid
pedalling and cross country handling.
3. If you run a single chain ring up front, swap it for a triple ring
chainset, and add a front mech and shifter.
4. If you run a heavy-duty wheelset, try to swap them for a lighter
XC wheelset. And/or swap the heavy-duty tyres and inner tubes for
lighter, XC tyres and tubes
5. If you run a long travel suspension fork and you have a travel
adjust feature, wind the travel down to around 100mm, depending on
your frame’s geometry and handling characteristics.
XC Full Suspension: light but comfortable,
most people use one of these in the marathons, often needs a little
bit of looking after
1. Check that both shocks - front and rear - are set up correctly.
We believe that comfort is more important then speed in a marathon
so it might be better to run a softer set-up but the final
decision is yours.
2. If they have long travel options it’s worth winding the travel
down to around 100mm front and rear to keep the benefit of suspension
without it hindering climbing and powering through bobbing, unless
you run intelligent shocks (like Manitou’s SPVs), on-the-fly
travel adjust like Fox’s ‘Itch Switch’, or a mould
breaking bike like a Maverick Reposado or a Whyte 46.
3. If you cannot fit a second bottle cage please take a Camelbak.
Long Travel Full Suspension: here starts the fun, slightly
heavier than the XC version but more travel to suck up all the bumps
and to give you super traction,
can be difficult to maintain
1. If you run a single chain ring and chain retention device swap
this for a triple chainset and add a front mech and shifters.
2. If you run a very short stem,
consider swapping it for a longer one to get a better position on
the bike.
3. Swap any heavyweight wheelset, tyres or tubes for more XC specific
lightweight versions wherever
possible.
4. Make sure the shocks are set up correctly, and it might pay to
put more pressure than normal to stiffen them up so you don’t
lose all your energy through suspension ‘bob’. You don’t
have to worry about this too much though if you run intelligent shocks
like Manitou SPVs or have on the fly adjusters.
5. Use SPD-style clipless pedals if you don’t already.
6. Put a long seatpost on the bike that will let you reach a suitable
and comfortable pedalling position.
We hope this covered most of your technical needs. If however you
want to check something else just send us an email to:info@mtb-marathon.co.uk
and we will try to help.
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TECH |
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