Michael from Merida writes…
It’s only a few days now before the final round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathons and the GORE BIKE WEAR™ Sportive Series 2009 opens its doors at the Ruthin Rugby Club (19-20th September 2009). As at the last two events we will have again two headliners over the weekend. Saturday will see the GORE BIKE WEAR™ Road Sportive and Sunday the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon.
Entries for both events:
First of all there are still entries for both events and for all distances available. As this event is also fairly far away from home for us please note that we will only be able to receive postal entry forms until Thursday the 17th September. Every entry form arriving at our offices after that cannot be considered for the Ruthin round. So that still leaves a couple of days for postal entries. The online entry is still open and is rather busy. You can enter via the online facilities (http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php) for the MTB Marathons and (http://www.gorebikewearsportives.com/events.php) for the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportives up to Friday lunch time. Please don’t use the online entry after that as it will be impossible for us to incorporate the entries into the signing on lists. If you don’t know if you can make it or not there is also the chance to enter on the day but please be aware of the £ 5 surcharge for day entries. Don’t forget though that there is a special weekend ticket which includes the sportive and the marathon for a reduced price of £ 45.
Final round of the GORE BIKE WEAR™ Road Sportive Series ‘09:
Two challenging sportive courses are up for grabs including some of the most iconic riding spots (Horseshoe Pass) in Wales. Both routes head out of historic Ruthin along the pastoral Vale of Clwyd towards the coast. The climbing starts as the route goes through the centre of Denbigh past its 13th century castle. Moving up onto the mooreland above the town the route cuts back to pass Lyn Brenig, famous locally for its fishing and watersports. Next stop Cerrigydrudion where the two routes part company. The forty five milers heading back to Ruthin through Clawdd- Newydd. The eighty mile route carries on to Bala and its famous lake. Back to Corwen through the town centre and over the river before taking the scenic backroads towards Llangollen. Now comes the final challenge, the Horseshoe Pass. Chris Boardman still holds the record for the ascent here. Topping the final miles take in a descent of the Nant y Garth Pass before the return to Ruthin.
You can find further details on the Ruthin round of the GORE BIKE WEAR™ Road Sportive Series on the events page here: http://www.gorebikewearsportives.com/ruthin.php. If you haven’t entered the Ruthin round yet make sure you get your entry through to us by going onto the sportive entry page: http://www.gorebikewearsportives.com/entry.php. You can either download an entry form and send that to us by post or enter via the online entry system.
Final round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series ’09:
The last round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series will take place the day after the road sportive and will have 4 different courses (approx. 30, 55, 73 and 92km) on offer. The Ruthin round has been traditionally the final round of the series and after last year’s move to the earlier May date has moved back to its September date. The four routes will once more incorporate some of the best trails you can find around the ‘trail spoiled’ area around Ruthin as well as the generous offerings of the near by Clwydian Range.
To find out more about the upcoming round in Ruthin round (19-20th September 2009) please go to the event Ruthin pages on our website http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/ruthin.php or if you haven’t entered yet go directly to the entry page http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/entry_forms/entry_forms.php to secure your entry.
Course and weather
As always John has moved the whole event from Builth Wells to the Rugby Club in Ruthin and has been busy working on the course. He has been out there for the last couple of days making last minute adjustments and being busy with putting the way markers up. The courses are in great condition – super fast and bone dry. The weather forecast for the weekend is looking very good for the sportive on Saturday and the MTB marathon on Sunday.
Events starting times / timetable
As mentioned before we will have to main events on over the weekend starting with the open start of the sportive from 8am on Saturday morning onwards. The registration will be open on Friday evening for a couple of hours before opening at 6am on Saturday. The start for the sportive is open from 8 – 9am.
Sunday morning will see the ‘traditional’ start of the off road marathon at the slightly earlier time of 9.30am. Riders can register for the event throughout Saturday or on Sunday morning from 7 – 9am.
Directions / event location
The event village, the camping and the start/finish of the sportive as well as the MTB marathon is based at the Rugby Club in Ruthin. (click here for a map of the location: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=311770&y=357923&z=0&sv=LL15+2AA&st=2&pc=LL15+2AA&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf). The event will be signposted from Friday lunchtime onwards. It doesn’t matter where you are coming from as you will easily find your way to the event village. The event will be open from Friday afternoon until Monday morning. For the GPS users out there the postcode is LL15 2AA. If you are still looking for a B+B or a Hotel please find the details for the local Tourist Information on our Local Info page: http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/local_services/local_services.php
Borrow, Test, Return – Some GORE BIKE WEAR™ for free
GORE BIKE WEAR™ are joining once more the final round of the 2009 series to run their ‘Try B4 U Buy’ scheme in which you can test ride their products when you ride the event. Go along to the GORE BIKE WEAR™ tent and experience for yourself what the real difference is!
A sample of our latest and award winning products for men and women will be available to try, with a range of technologies from GORE-TEX® and WINDSTOPPER® jackets right through to baggies and summer jerseys. All they ask is you treat them as your own for the day! Take them, ride them and return them. Bring them back to the Gore tent dirty, sweaty, ridden and rated and then leave the washing to them!
