MTB Racing

[andy]

Ive been searching for racing events in the north east for the last week or so and have come up with pretty much nothing..

It seems like there isnt much mountian bike raicing around our parts or there might be but i cant find them..

Anyway does anyone have any news on MTB racing in our area? (hamsterley, dalby, etcetc)

cheers

Andy

[arron mcgregor]

have a look on here ......northerndownhill.co.uk

[ray]

Hi andy if its XC racing you are looking for there has been plenty racing around this area. You just have to have a good look around. There has been 4 racing events at kielder this year and there is still the oktober fest to go. I have done the whole series last year and this year. These races are only usually get a small turnout between 60 - 100 riders but the courses are hard and they can become verry compettative lots of fun. I finished 6th at the weekend the best result for me in two years. i am looking to better that in october. come along and have a go everyone is friendly and even if you lack race experience you get lots of encouragement from the top riders to keep going. back in january two years ago i came 27th and now i am competing with the big boys for the podium this is thanks to all of the help and advice from the elite riders. You have missed kielder winter warmer racing 24th jan. whinlatter challenge 36mile race at whinlatter on the 29th march. sherwood pines nps 5th april. dalby nps racing 10th may. border raid kielder 16th may. springboard challenge allenheads to roker 5th july. hot trot 11th july. on the 2nd aug there is merida marathon series at selkirk just over the border to scotland and this is one of my highlights to the season its a tough one but its a big one with over 1000 riders great weekend with camping pasta party sat night and racing sunday morning 25k - 50k - 75k - 100k. what ever your comfort zone is. this is a one not to miss. 5 of our members have signed up for this one allready. In september the cyclo cross season starts which lots or riders do on there MTBs to keep fit over the winter. read my blog about cyclo cross on the forum its so much fun and you will get hooked. keep looking on events page and i will post all racers i find. Happy racing ray.

[andy]

Hi ray cheers for the events and i might have a bash at the kielder race....

I replied to the Cyclo Croiss blog that you wrote as in the past i did alot of X racing and did pretty well in a few races with my best position being 1st in the sportif class then the year after getting 2nd middle class.. But that was a few years back now, lol...

I use to do it for road fitness TBH as winter training is long cold and laboriuos on the road...LOL

How Do you manage to find out about all these races or is it a case of you doing them in the past and the info gets sent on to yourslef??

Andy

[Anthony Michael Burrell]

Andy, you question was the same as the one i had in mind, so i'll be checking in on yours and rays input, is there a website you'd recommend for finding out about local cyclo x races coming up?
thanks. Anthony

andy said:

Hi ray cheers for the events and i might have a bash at the kielder race....

I replied to the Cyclo Croiss blog that you wrote as in the past i did alot of X racing and did pretty well in a few races with my best position being 1st in the sportif class then the year after getting 2nd middle class.. But that was a few years back now, lol...

I use to do it for road fitness TBH as winter training is long cold and laboriuos on the road...LOL

How Do you manage to find out about all these races or is it a case of you doing them in the past and the info gets sent on to yourslef??

Andy

[ray]

Hi andy found out about most of these racers just google mtb racing. I agree there is not much happening in the north east other than the kielder marathon series, whinlatter chalenge, dalby nps. But if you are willing to travel down to the midlands they also have a marathon series called midlands xc and they have 4 events every year much bigger events than kielder with elite,expert,sport,masters,open,fun cat. they are well worth a jurney lots of riders who do kielder do midlands. I plan to do all 4 next year. I done hanchurch this year my first and i was well impressed check out the little vid of me on the videos page. the other venues for midlands are sherwood pines, catton park, cannock chase. all great places to race. Also i raced mountain mayhem this year with three of my mates what a great experience. We done 25laps in 24hrs took the wags down for a bit moral support and cooking they just got pissed and also realy enjoyed themselfs. Three of us want to do it again next year one lad just wants to stick to the roads (boring)so we are looking for our fourth rider are you interested you sound like the perfect replacement and your lass is also welcome.

[andy]

Yes ray sounds good to me ill defo be a replacemant for your fourth lad, ill need to get my ass into gear and get out and do some training,, been out for a 3 hour ride this week all of road and gonna go for another 2-3 hour ride tommo...And think im out with chunky on monday night at hammers also..so trying to get some miles and some fun all mixed in there..Only thing thats killing me at the moment is my wifey being on maternity leave..so pennies are very hard to come by whilst she is droppoing most of her wage...FUN..NOT!! lol

I very much doubt my wife will come but ill ask her and see if she wants a trip doon..

Andy

ray said:

Hi andy found out about most of these racers just google mtb racing. I agree there is not much happening in the north east other than the kielder marathon series, whinlatter chalenge, dalby nps. But if you are willing to travel down to the midlands they also have a marathon series called midlands xc and they have 4 events every year much bigger events than kielder with elite,expert,sport,masters,open,fun cat. they are well worth a jurney lots of riders who do kielder do midlands. I plan to do all 4 next year. I done hanchurch this year my first and i was well impressed check out the little vid of me on the videos page. the other venues for midlands are sherwood pines, catton park, cannock chase. all great places to race. Also i raced mountain mayhem this year with three of my mates what a great experience. We done 25laps in 24hrs took the wags down for a bit moral support and cooking they just got pissed and also realy enjoyed themselfs. Three of us want to do it again next year one lad just wants to stick to the roads (boring)so we are looking for our fourth rider are you interested you sound like the perfect replacement and your lass is also welcome.

[MARK]

The grizedale challenge is coming up soon which is always good,also the lightwater round which is great.A bit surreal though as you actually race through lightwater valley,including the tunnel that the Ultimate goes through.I did it last year and Im signing up again this year. If I can get other interested people Im toying with the idea of doing the Strathhuffer 24 in January. Apparently it gets so cold your helmet peak gets icicles on it,hmmmmm,lol. Im also on the look out for some local cx races over the winter.As an absolute cyclo x novice any pointers,i.e. decent local races etc.. would be appreciated.

[andy]

hi mate, where would i find the details for these 2 races buddy they seem interesting, especially the lightwater valley one......

this is the Cyclo cross site for the north east but no events for 09/10 season have been put on yet

http://www.neccl.co.uk/

Andy

MARK said:

The grizedale challenge is coming up soon which is always good,also the lightwater round which is great.A bit surreal though as you actually race through lightwater valley,including the tunnel that the Ultimate goes through.I did it last year and Im signing up again this year. If I can get other interested people Im toying with the idea of doing the Strathhuffer 24 in January. Apparently it gets so cold your helmet peak gets icicles on it,hmmmmm,lol. Im also on the look out for some local cx races over the winter.As an absolute cyclo x novice any pointers,i.e. decent local races etc.. would be appreciated.

[ray]

Hi just been looking at the neccl web site and found that scott brown has organised 4 mid week cc events in a mini league in august & sept. sounds perfect for getting yourself back into racing and blowing the cobwebs off for when the winter league starts. This will be perfect for bigginers wanting to see what its all about and even if you dont have a cyclo cross bike use your mtb plenty of others do. the first event is 5th of august meadowfield 7pm. i will post them on the events page. Go on have a go you will defo enjoy it.

[andy]

Are you gonna be doing the cyclo cross events then Ray?

Ive just been to the parents house and fished the cyclo cross bike out of the loft looks in pretty good condition so that should be a go for the cyclo cross season now..Think ill be struggling in the first few races thats for sure after not racing in a few years..But as the season go's on ill hopefully get better and get back to where i was maybe next season...

ray said:

Hi just been looking at the neccl web site and found that scott brown has organised 4 mid week cc events in a mini league in august & sept. sounds perfect for getting yourself back into racing and blowing the cobwebs off for when the winter league starts. This will be perfect for bigginers wanting to see what its all about and even if you dont have a cyclo cross bike use your mtb plenty of others do. the first event is 5th of august meadowfield 7pm. i will post them on the events page. Go on have a go you will defo enjoy it.

[MARK]

Hi Andy,sorry its taking me a while to get back. If you google lightwater laike 2009,details are there. Its on Sunday the 8th of november,hope to see you there. Again google Grizedale challenge and its all there.

[MARK]

Ive been thinking about buying a cx bike for ages,this may be the push I need.