Ruthin MTB Marathon This Weekend

Mike reports with news of a double whammy of endurance riding fun this weekend:

Only a few days to go before the last event of the 2010 season kicks off at the Rugby Club in Ruthin, North Wales. The 18th and 19th of September are the two days when the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport will take place starting things off with the Exposure Lights Big Night Out Night Marathon Saturday evening on the 18th September.

EXPOSURE LIGHTS BIG NIGHT OUT Night Marathon – 18th September 2010

Now in it’s fifth year, the innovative Exposure Lights Big Night Out (ELBNO) is the largest mass start MTB night marathon, attracting more than 250 riders to the start line. The first night marathon in 2010 which took place in Builth Wells and was blessed with perfect night riding weather and fantastic trail conditions – the 2nd round in Ruthin will follow in the same footsteps. We expect the Ruthin round to even more popular at a time of year as riders have “found their legs” and will relish the challenge for a “double whammy” weekend ride.

The Exposure Lights Big Night out will be approx. 44km long with around 1,350m of climbing. Leading from Ruthin, the route goes out on the usual return route of the marathon, gently climbing through Bathafarn Farm and continuing to climb off road till it crosses the A494 by The Clwyd Gate Motel. The route continues off road to the forestry on Moel Famau, here the track alternates between forest track and single-track right through the woods, finally exiting the forestry and descending Frith Mountain.

After a spot of tarmac through the Village of Cilcain, the route climbs back onto Moel Famau, on single and dual tracks across the moorland. Here the route crosses the Offa’s Dyke Path then descends rapidly all the way to Gellifor, from here its tarmac and bridleways back to Ruthin.

With the ride being run almost entirely in darkness please make sure that you have enough burn time to complete the course. The average time at the ELBNO in April was around 3 hours – so make sure you are prepared for that.

Exposure Lights will be on site showing off their latest 2011 products range and Chain Reaction Cycles will have some great offers on some of the 2010 Exposure Lights like for example the super popular and versatile Joystick which will go the whole distance without any problems. All lights will be fully charged and ready for action on the night. More details about the sale in our next newsletter.

Going back to the good old ELBNO tradition every rider will be rewarded with the unique ELBNO Buff when crossing the finish line as well as a free helping of coffee, tea and cake to warm up again and get some strength back in your legs for the following day marathon.

For further details on the Exposure Lights Big Night Out Night Marathon please go to the event page HERE or straight to the entry page HERE.

CRC MTB Marathon – 19th September 2010

Following the ELBNO night marathon will be the final round of the MTB Marathon Series on the Sunday. We will have once more 4 different courses on offer – starting with the 30km long (1,000m of climbing) mini marathon which is ideal for beginners and families, followed by the popular half marathon (55km and 1,900m of climbing). On from there we will have the 73km long middle distance (2,500m of climbing) with the full marathon (92km, 3,000m of climbing) sitting at the top.

The Ruthin course heading out onto the Clwydian Hills, is a varied course using all the best there is to ride in the area. Fast flowing single -tracks linked by lots of interesting bridleways and technical forestry sections.

The course climbs up onto both Moel Arthur and Moel Famau, with spectacular views of the surrounding Clwydians and North Wales coast.

To find out more about the upcoming round in Ruthin (18-19th September 2010) please go HERE or if you’d like to enter, go HERE to secure your entry.

Enter now and save yourself some money

Entries have been coming in thick and fast over the last few weeks but don’t worry, there are still places left. If you haven’t entered yet make sure that you either download an entry form from our website or go directly to the Chain Reaction Cycles hosted online entry. If you enter online via the CRC website you will be given a 5% discount on your next product purchase. For all the details please go to our entry page on the MTB-Marathon website, HERE, where you can choose between online or the good old paper form.

We will have day entries available but there is a £5 surcharge if you enter on site on the Friday, Saturday or Sunday of the event weekend. So better enter now and save yourself some money. If are interested in riding both events than you can save even more by booking the ‘weekend pass’ which gives you the ELBNO night marathon and the day marathon for a reduced price of £ 45.

Time Table for the weekend

Registration – Saturday from 12pm (noon) – 8pm
Start ELBNO – Saturday approx. 7.30pm
Registration – Sunday from 7 – 9am
Start – Sunday 10am

Pick up the marathon Buff at the final event of the season:

Long standing sponsor Buff is providing not just the sort after ELBNO Buff which will be handed out to everybody completing the night marathon but also lots of MTB-Marathon Buffs which we will be using as spot prizes at the event for everybody we believe needs a little reward. So make sure you keep that in mind when you come over the lines at the final event of the 2010 season. For further details on this fantastic piece of headwear check out the Buff website: http://www.buffwear.co.uk/

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). 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 HERE.

Borrow, Test, Return – Some GORE BIKE WEAR™ for free

GORE BIKE WEAR™ are joining once more the final round of the 2010 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! Take a look at the new stock for this season on www.gorebikewear.co.uk.

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