GORE BIKE WEAR™ TransWales ’09

The TransWales Team write…

Only a month to go before the GORE BIKE WEAR™ TransWales ’09 will kick of at White House Farm in Builth Wells on the 15th August 2009. Preparations are in full flow for the 4th event in the TransUK history and the 2009 event will be better and more refined than its predecessors.

Entries – last minute entries available:

As in previous year’s we have some last minute cancellations which have opened space for some more riders. So if you are interested in coming along to the GORE BIKE WEAR™ TransWales ’09, but so far didn’t get your entry in, this is your chance.

There are two ways of entering the GORE BIKE WEAR™ TransWales – you can either download an entry form from our entry page – http://www.mtbtransuk.co.uk/wales/entry.php – and send it through to us together with your payment or you can use the new online entry which you can find on the same page. Our online entry accepts all debit and credit cards making it super quick and trouble free. If you have already paid your deposit by cheque but want to pay the remaining entry fee via credit or debit card simply go onto the entry page and click through to the ‘pay your outstanding balance’ button.

The TransUK concept:

Over the years, Mountain Bike stage events, such as the TransAlp, the TransRockies and the Cape Epic have been on the top of the event wish list for thousands of mountain bikers around the world. The TransAlp is booked out just hours after the opening of online registration and has seen numbers for over 800 teams per year since it started almost 10 years ago. These events are the most gruelling yet inspiring experiences one could have on a mountain bike.

The 2006 launched TransWales managed to seamlessly slip the UK adaptation into the ranks of these high class events and has managed put the UK on the global ‘MTB Trans’ map. The 2006 event attracted a very broad spectrum of cycling and sports enthusiasts and found a worthy follow up event in the 2007 TransScotland and the 2008 TransWales. You could find everything from mountain bike racer, marathon specialist, extreme tourer, adventure racer and lots of other general sports fanatics who have never spent countless hours in the saddle but are up for the big challenge. The TransUK events have taken the concept of the ‘Trans’ events and applied it to the terrain and conditions we have in UK. Contrary to the afore mentioned events the TransUK events had a mixture of mostly off road run un-timed linking stages and timed special stages.
The TransWales ‘09 will follow the same concept. We are currently in the course planning stage but as it looks we will utilise some of the best welsh trail centres – either as special stages or part of the linking stages. Keep an eye on the stage plan page where we will put any news and updates on the course. The 2009 will differ fairly heavily from the 2008 course without cutting out some of the great bits of trail the riders enjoyed so much in the launch year.

Supporters and categories of the 2009 event:

The 2009 event can be ridden as solo riders or pairs. Here are the available categories and their associated supporters.

Buff Headwear – open female pairs category

Saris – open male pairs category

Ergon – vets pairs category

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Merida Bikes – mixed pairs category sponsor

Schwalbe tires – open solo category

Squirt – vets solo category

Course details:

To get an idea of what you can expect in the GORE BIKE WEAR™ TransWales we have put the course and stage details up on the site – http://www.mtbtransuk.co.uk/wales/stages.php – it also gives you a certain idea when and where the special stages will be so that you can plan your ‘tactics’ in advance.

Every rider will receive a route book at signing on which will demonstrate the stages and acts as a backup to the completely marked course.

Ben Haworth

Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

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