The Bristol Oktoberfest is another one of our big race events. Last year we entered over 30 riders as solo riders, pairs, teams of 3 and teams of 4. Everyone is encouraged to get involved – it’s a lot of fun even if you doubt your race credentials.

The venue is also used for the Bristol Bikefest (see photos from 2011). The trails were upgraded in 2011 with the Nova Trail in Ashton Court and then the Yer Tiz trail in Leigh Woods opening at the end of the year.

You can enter via the Bikefest website. If you already have a team then it would be great if you enter as an MBSwindon team. If you haven’t got a team then contact us with your preferences (solo, pair, team, race/for fun) and we’ll work on allocating teams.

This event offers two days of guided ruides in mid Wales with Red Kite events and the local cycling club.

“This is a guided ride with the local riders showing you the best parts of the local area”.

“Separate groups depending on ability and the amount of alcohol consumed the night before!”

“All abilities catered for and all profits going to the welsh air ambulance who in turn keep us safe.”

Book via Red Kite Events.

Red Kite Events facebook page.

See our ride reports from the area for an idea of what to expect: September 2011, December 2011. ]]> http://www.mbswindon.co.uk/red-kite-ride-weekend-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.mbswindon.co.uk/the-big-bike-bash-2012/ http://www.mbswindon.co.uk/the-big-bike-bash-2012/#comments Sat, 18 Aug 2012 08:00:18 +0000 Tom http://www.mbswindon.co.uk/?p=4690

The 2012 Big Bike Bash is aimed at the keen mountain biker or the happy amateur and has more riders, prizes, bands, and beer than ever before. The cross-country racecourse is 3.5 miles of twisty single-track that includes river-crossings, a boardwalk and a unique Lake Jump.

Book here.

Sleepless in the saddle is a 24 hour team relay race held at Catton Park in Staffordshire. See our 2011 report with photos and route map.

MBSwindon go to several relay races each year and they are a good social as well as bit of a challenge.

The Sleepless in the Saddle website is not available for 2012 yet. If you haven’t got a team then contact us with your preferences (solo, pair, team, race/for fun) and we’ll work on allocating teams.

]]> http://www.mbswindon.co.uk/sleepless-in-the-saddle-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.mbswindon.co.uk/bontrager-2412-twentyfour-12-2012/ http://www.mbswindon.co.uk/bontrager-2412-twentyfour-12-2012/#comments Sat, 07 Jul 2012 11:00:14 +0000 Tom http://www.mbswindon.co.uk/?p=4721

The Bontrager Twentyfour12 is an endurance mountain bike race around an off-road course at Newnham Park near Plymouth. There’s a 24 hour race and a 12hour one starting at midday. The venue is perhaps England’s finest with beautiful scenery, a flat arena/camping area complimented by a course that has been host to five rounds of the Cross Country World Cup in the 1990s and continues to have a superb reputation for variety and fun riding.

See the report with photos and map from the 2011 event.

You can enter via the XCRacer website. If you already have a team then it would be great if you enter as an MBSwindon team. If you haven’t got a team then contact us with your preferences (solo, pair, team, race/for fun) and we’ll work on allocating teams.

This is a seven day trip to the French alps which means six and a half days of riding including a day doing the famous Passportes route.

The Passportes Du Soleil is a cross country mountain bike event that uses a circuit of the Portes Du Soleil ski region in France and Switzerland. Places like Les Gets, Morzine, Avoriaz, Chatel, Morgins and Champery.

We’ve got a great deal with Ski and Summer Morzine at Chalet Flo in Morzine. This large chalet is situated a few minutes away from the main lifts in Morzine and has space for up to thirty people.

Two of us stayed there last year – see our photos and report. There is a massive variety of riding available in the area – it’s not all knarly downhill runs. There’s a lot of wild cross country plus plenty of options on the trails.

We’ll be arriving on the Wednesday before the Passportes (27th June) and leaving on the following Wednesday (4th July).

The price for 7 nights accomodation, breakfast and three course evening meal is £299 per person (£43 per night).

Travel is extra – we’ll be driving over via cheap ferry deals.

To find out more or book a place then contact tom at mbswindon dot co dot uk. Facebook event page.

Can’t make this week? Don’t worry – Ski and Summer Morzine offer MBSwindon club members a discount – see our discount list.

Original Source Mountain Mayhem is a 24 hour relay race held at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire (Wikipedia). It is the largest mountain bike 24 hour endurance event in the world – there were 2,500 riders in 2011.

MBSwindon go to several relay races each year and they are a good social as well as bit of a challenge.

You can enter via the Mountain Mayhem website after it opens at the end of February 2012. If you already have a team then it would be great if you enter as an MBSwindon team. If you haven’t got a team then contact us with your preferences (solo, pair, team, race/for fun) and we’ll work on allocating teams.

The Castles Bike Ride is a charity event with a choice of three cross country routes: 10, 20 and 30 miles (16,32 and 48km). It starts and finishes at the Croft Sports centre in Swindon and uses the Marlborough Downs. Google map of start location.

Photos from previous events: 2010, 2011

In 2011 we swept the route for organisers. That involved riding round the route at the end to make sure that no one was left out there. We’re going to be sweeping this year too, so will need about ten volunteers. Contact us (or email tom at mbswindon co uk) if you can sweep.

The entry forms are not available yet. Keep an eye on the Castles Ride Facebook page .

The Bristol Bikefest is one of our big race events. Everyone is encouraged to get involved – it’s a lot of fun even if you doubt your race credentials. See the photos from last year.

The venue is also used for the Bristol Oktoberfest (see photos from 2011). The trails were upgraded in 2011, with the Yer Tiz trail in Leigh Woods opening at the end of the year.

You can enter via the Bikefest website. If you already have a team then it would be great if you enter as an MBSwindon team. If you haven’t got a team then contact us with your preferences (solo, pair, team, race/for fun) and we’ll work on allocating teams.

We really enjoyed the Erlestoke 12 race in 2011 (see the photos and video). It’s back for 2012 and at the same great venue; a wooded hill on land owned by the MOD near Salisbury plain.

There’s a choice of 12 hour and 6 hour races plus categories for solo, pairs, teams of 4 including male, female, mixed and singlespeed (makes sense). Erlesoke 12 website.

If you want to take part then let us know via the contact page or by posting on this page (below).