First events of the season this weekend near Guildford & 2009 calendar announced
Prolific event organisers Trail Break hit 2009 running this week, with their first events of the season this weekend, and the launch of both their full 2009 off road and road calendars.
On Saturday is the latest Southern Trail Ride, with a choice of marked routes to follow, maps and GPS files to keep you on track and hot tea, pasties and Trail Break’s near legendary chili to warm you at the finish.
Sunday sets the challenge of a Navigator Race in the same area. The format (which seems to be enjoying a bit of a resurgence as GPS brings the fun of exploring back into mountain biking) is simple and surprisingly addictive. You have three and a half hours to score as many points as you can by navigating to the checkpoints on your pre marked map. To keep up the sense of urgency, arriving back after your time limit is up will lose you points at an alarming rate!
Looking ahead, most of the Trail Break calendar is now fixed for the rest of the year, pending a small handful of additions and confirmations. The Southern Trail Rides roll through the year and will feature a couple of 100k specials in the summer, and the Navigators take a rest from April to make way for the return of the Sunday Sportive road series (see southernsportive.com).
The South Downs Way Lemming Trail returns in September for an amazing 14th year, giving you the chance to ride that iconic 100 miles with an unparalleled level of support, while the MaXx Exposure sets the South Downs experience at night, and still stands out as one of the most daring and challenging night events of the year.
Here’s those off road dates as they stand. Rumour has it that there’s a couple intriguing additions to be announced yet too!
10th Jan: Southern Trail Ride, Shackleford, Surrey
11th Jan: Navigator Race, Shackleford, Surrey
7th Feb: Southern Trail Ride, Woodcote, Oxfordshire
8th Feb: Navigator Race, Woodcote, Oxfordshire
7th March: Southern Trail Ride, Location TBC
8th March: Navigator Race, Location TBC
25th April: Southern Trail Ride, Princes Risborough
9th May: Southern Trail Ride, Duncton, W. Sussex
6th June: Southern Trail Ride, Reigate, Surrey
4th July: Southern Trail Ride, Letcombe Regis, Oxfordshire
15th Aug: Southern Trail Ride, RATZ site, nr Woodcote, Oxon
5-6th Sept: South Downs Lemming Trail, South Downs Way
26-27th Sept: MaXx Exposure, QE Country Park, Hampshire
10th Oct: Southern Trail Ride, Location TBC
For more information about any of these events, visit www.trailbreak.co.uk or call 0118 976 2491.
