Phil from SPAM-biking has just been in touch about January’s event on Salisbury Plain.
“Earlier this year we were warned by the MOD that permission to run future cycling events on Salisbury Plain may not be granted due to the damage being caused to some of the wooded areas on the edge of the Army training area.
It seems however that for now we are able to continue as permission to run the Winter Challenge on 3rd January 2010 has just been confirmed*.
Some internet forums are questioning the event’s existance in the 2010 MTB Calendar but we are proud to confirm IT WILL RUN and that SPAMBikng will once again kick off the new Mountain Biking Year in Wiltshire! *
The Challenge will follow a similar format to previous year’s, offering a 50km course for experienced riders (we believe this distance is long enough considering the possible adverse weather conditions), a 35km ride for leisure riders wanting a challenge and a 25km route for less experienced or younger riders.
All routes will be based around the best all-weather trails the Plain can offer with a few extra climbs and more technical descents thrown in on the longer courses.
Anyone is welcome to take part and any profit made from the event is donated to local charities such as the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Hope for Heroes (the charity supporting injured service men and women).
Youngsters are also welcome to take part, but we ask that younger riders (from 8 years) are accompanied by an adult at all times and have some experience of off-road riding. Older experienced teens may ride without an adult with consent of a parent.
The routes are well marshalled and the event offers full first aid cover on standby.
Trade Stands from Bertie Maffoons in Marlborough and Bikes and Boards in Devizes will be in attendance and the event is also supported by Mule Bar.
On site catering offering hot and cold drinks and food will be on site from 8am, and volunteers from Dorothy House (local hospice) will be offering tea and cake at the finish line with proceeds supporting their cause.
Registration opens at 8am with rides starting from 10am (mass starts 10 minutes apart for each category).
Timelaps will be professionally recording riders’ times.”
For more info, see www.spambiking.co.uk
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I think it should be Help For Heroes….
That’s a bit rich considering the army drives bloody great tanks across it and blows it up.
To be fair to the army, they don’t drive tanks about in the woods. They are mostly hacked off with the offroad motorbiking as I understand it, and SPAM is an unfortunate victim of several idiot locals who ride ‘crossers up there even when the flags are up. There are a number of numpty 4×4 drivers up there too, and a truly awful mountain board “track” (which is kinda fun as a technical climb if you like that sorta thing). Nothing a trigger happy squadie couldn’t sort though, I’m sure 😉
They’re some of the best custodians of land anywhere, as almost everyone on the Plain would agree. Hell, even the bunny huggers have had to admit that the flora and fauna on the Plain is thriving under their stewardship!
Schmiken – SPAM donate to Help for Heroes as one of many local charities from funds raised throughout the year; excess left over after accounting for putting on the events. Dorothy House cake stand is stocked by cakes made donated by Dorothy House & SPAM members and Dorothy House volunteers serve the tea & cakes and hence take the donations from this aspect of the events.
Fuzzyfelt – I was commenting on the fact that there may be a spelling error in the article above….. 🙂
All I know is that is was a little parky last time. Not sure the temperature got above 2’C last January.
Yeah sorry for the typo(the wife wrote the article honest!!) it is of course Help For Heroes. Can’t help with the temperature for the event but we try to put on a route that will cope with the worst weather Salisbury Plain can throw at us, i’m sure if it’s to wet people will let us know and equally if it’s to dry/frost and fast. We hope for a good number of riders as usual, it’s a great excuse to burn off some of the Christmas/New Year excess and help out some great charitable causes. So get all those various tyres ready(yes bring them all) and kick start the New Year!!
Great news. Now just decide – Brass Monkeys on 28th or SPAM on 3rd or even both! Pass the mince pies.