For 20 years Mountain Mayhem has attracted those seeking a weekend of frivolity among friends, 24 hours of skin suited intervals, or 24 hours of steady pedalling. Round and round and round – whatever your reasons for being there, Mountain Mayhem has been many things to many people. A festival, a sufferfest, a chance to catch up with old friends.
This year – the 20th and final year of Mountain Mayhem – was a fitting send off. Kids on bikes, kids armed with water pistols, kids in paddling pools, kids heckling, retro bikes, new bikes, bargain bikes, high end bikes. It was all there under the blistering heat of the sun, leading to a great festival atmosphere in the arena and in the camping field. Surely this was an event that we’ll look back on and say ‘were you there when…?’. Our James was out capturing the event on camera – here’s a mega gallery from that mega final Mayhem.
For many, the weekend kicked off at the bar.Local beer sponsor. Oh yeah.Commemorative beer. Not 20 years old. Note to race organisers: buy a barrel of whisky in year 1 if you think you’re in for the long run.Race day: bikes prepped.Capturing the moment for posterity.Jo Burt brought his game face, and many outfits.The camping field felt like a proper festival.That breeze did little to keep the heat down.The heat made everything tough.Even recovery felt like an effort.Sod style, just get me cool.Snipers in the field were welcome.Riders assumed and hoped it was water.The final hill of hell. Hotter than hell too.Hecklers HillRetro corner had the party going on.Retro corner hanger outer.More retro. There was a fair amount of Mint Sauce on show.Skids are for kids. Jumps are……for chumps!This sofa was VERY hard to ride past.Hill hell.This probably seemed like a good idea until you actually rode the course. So many climbs.Photographer/ jelly baby saint.Fat bikes. There were many. There may have been a few regrets.Heavenly shade in the woods.Not so heavenly climbs in the woods.There were tricky bits to catch you out. Going……Going……Gone!The face of fun?While the racers raced, others enjoyed the sun.DJ Wil (he needs a better DJ name, suggestions please).A different sort of skin suit?Thumbs up, as evening brought blessed relief from the heat.Where did he find mud among all the dust?Spectator shuttle.Some final laps were relaxed.Others sprinted for glory.Finishing felt good.Spectators cheered everyone in.Pat gave finishers the traditional handshake.Some finishers had fan clubs to attend to.Some finishers had important beer to attend to.Phil the Horse. Sensitive readers, beware.Phil the Horse. This is your final warning. The next image, you can never unsee.This is not Phil the Horse.
I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones.
More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments.
I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.
An Excellent Weekend again. Many thanks to all at Gatcombe Park, Pacific Edge Events, Stroud Brewery, Go Outdoors, Kenda, all the Marshals and Everybody else who helped or heckled (especially at retro corner). My lasting thanks to Singletrack for the shout on the M6, the pint on Friday and the drink at the Lurkers post. And a final shout out to the skin suit clad fella grabbing air on his phat bike.
Yep that was me, my fat bike and my cramp ridden body trying to cool down at the bottom of the furnace that was Hell Hill. Great picture, more were taken close up of my suffering and if they are available I would love to have copies.
Thanks to Pat and all the team for a fantastic weekend. The whole family will miss our annual pilgrimage to Mayhem.
lol. good stuff.
An Excellent Weekend again. Many thanks to all at Gatcombe Park, Pacific Edge Events, Stroud Brewery, Go Outdoors, Kenda, all the Marshals and Everybody else who helped or heckled (especially at retro corner). My lasting thanks to Singletrack for the shout on the M6, the pint on Friday and the drink at the Lurkers post. And a final shout out to the skin suit clad fella grabbing air on his phat bike.
Yep that was me, my fat bike and my cramp ridden body trying to cool down at the bottom of the furnace that was Hell Hill. Great picture, more were taken close up of my suffering and if they are available I would love to have copies.
Thanks to Pat and all the team for a fantastic weekend. The whole family will miss our annual pilgrimage to Mayhem.