Started doing them a couple of years ago, along with RatRace, Open5 and Ace Races. For those who don’t like maps combined with bikes, or are the ‘I just love to zap around <insert favourite trail centre>’, then they are probably not for you.
However, for the less opinionated, these kind of events – especially local to you – sometimes give you a reason to ride a particular bit of track that you’ve either not seen, or had no reason to ride before. I’ve been introduced to a whole slew of trails that I wouldn’t have quickly found and my local trail network has grown considerably.
Some might say that I could have done this myself or by asking locals, but for a speedy way to get to know an area, these are brill.
For the record – I’m not that fit, or that good with a map – if I do well, it’s more out of luck or other’s misfortune or more recently, by racing as a pair with a good navigator – learn from your mates…
Should be enough room in the world for all kinds of MTB – those that ride up in a van to downhill, trail centre jocks, xc jey boys, mtbo beardies and even those that don’t fit into any one category – widen your MTB outlook and give one of these races a go….