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I'm looking for events to enter this year and struggling to find a list of options, so I thought I'd start a thread for us to post what we know of.
I'll start, with the Hope (was once Merida) MTB Marathon series. They have just released dates on their FB page however their website has yet to be updated (I've asked them if they're going to update it). I did the Ruthin even last year after a 10 year gap and it was as good as I remember. I noticed they welcome e-bikes too. Usually a choice of 25k, 50k, 75k and 100k routes.
13th April - Exposure Lights Big Night Out - Builth Wells
14th April - Hope MTB Marathon - Builth Wells
7th July - Hope MTB Marathon - Minehead
14th September - Exposure Lights Big Night Out - Ruthin
15th September - Hope MTB Marathon - Ruthin
Then there's the Boltby Bash Enduro which I've booked on to (my 1st Enduro)
18/19th May
https://www.boltbybashenduro.com
What else is out there?
I think the answer is it depends what you fancy, budget and how far you are willing to travel 🙂
I also enjoyed the Merida/Scott/Hope mtb marathon series back in the day. I did the Minehead one in 2018 after a long break and liked the course. However, from 2019 I favoured shorter multilap XC races or just casual riding .. or not at all! During the Rapha Festive 500 I started thinking again about "marathon"/XC in 2024. Other options-
https://coldbrew.events/xc-mtb/deadwater-100/ 100km. I did the Kielder 100 (miles) way back and due to the weather (torrential rain just before the event) found it a log. This course looks easier and I might give it a go. BC National Marathon Champs but anyone can ride.
https://www.yorkshiremountainbikemarathon.co.uk/ I haven't done it previously but read it has a nice atmosphere.
XC (multiple laps of short courses)
Beastway (north east London) - I did the series in 2019. Obviously a short course but the organising put effort into having a little variety. I was a bit miserable at the time and always looked forward to it as
BC National series - I have done the odd round before in sport cat (but never a full series). 2024 is my first year as a vet and kinda semi vaguely tempted. https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/mtb/article/20231108-mountain-bike-British-Cycling-announces-2024-mountain-bike-endurance-calendar-0
https://www.fnssmtb.co.uk/2024-race-calendar.html - Not done any recently but back in the day these were fun.
Edit: your formatting is fixed now 🙂
Following from Tom's link to sientries above, I've booked a place a week on Sunday on the Mills and Moors event around Malhamdale. Self supported event but it's only 11 quid.
https://yorkshiredivide.co.uk/mills-n-moors-series
Then there's some other mad looking events on that site, like the Source to Sea self supported bike packing one!
And I’ve found the Questars adventure race series from sientries - inspired me to get running fit again so me and my adventures mate can have a go at the 6 hour navigation mtb/run/kayak race!
Are free events allowed? www.thecyclestudio.co.uk my LBS are hosting this on 27th April.
@thecyclestudioredditch are hosting a gravel/ATB ride,
Routes will be from 20 to 40 miles with a healthy mix of off road, quiet tarmac and car free paths in North Worcestershire. Beer and food available at the finish
More details to follow on the shop website or on my insta https://www.instagram.com/ukgravelco?igsh=MWZrYnJoaDlpaHE1Zw==
Glentress7 is back this year. Probably a new course involving some of the new GT trails. 7 hour marathon type event. I've done it previously and really enjoyed it.
I've got more gravel events planned this year: Dirty Reiver, Grand Old Dukes and Frontier 300 (which I highly recommend - a great course and big challenge - the best event I did last year).
Ahh great, some events getting posted up on this thread now! I thought this was one of those threads which just disappears off the front page never to be seen again haha.
Of course free events are allowed!
Glentress7 sounds good, gonna check that out, as does that Questars series. Cheers
Couple of us doing the Enjoyro Evo intermediate enduro at Glentress. It’s the day after the GT7.
I've got in the Calendar so far -
Cannock Winter Classic XC this coming weekend - never been before, firmly in 'dont crash dont die' territory.
Fox Antifreeze at Coed-Y-Brenin - March 9th. Looking forward to this.
Hamsterley Beast 'Funduro' 12th May - never done, should be good alternative to Boltby which I didnt get in for.
Yorkshire MTB Marathon 26th May - Great event, highly reccomended. Always enjoy this every year. Long and hard but some super fun stuff to ride.
https://www.yorkshiremountainbikemarathon.co.uk/
Glentress 7 / Enjoyro August Bank Holiday weekend. Never been, booked onto the 7, might book on the Enjoyro too, I asked if there can be a special category for anyone who does both on 1 bike 1990s style too!
Will possibly do a couple of the Crank It XC races too depending on how I do at Cannock next week. Find XC racing for an hour much, much, much harder physically and mentally than doing a 6 or 8 hour long marathon ride!
I’m signed up for oxduro, another free one
https://strava.app.link/RxZY2iQDiHb
Shout out for the Cambrian Gravel Challenge
Last year was a touch under 200km and 4200m of ascent over 2 days. Entry includes baggage transfer, 2 campsites and day time good. Which was good for event food. Great particularly day 1.
Maybe it’s too easy for this thread. But it’s great that some one is doing something between single day events and the multi day sleep under a bush for 3 hours stuff
Scottish xc races as per British Cycling website:
Sunday 17/03/24
SXC Series 2024: Round 1 (Cathkin Braes)
Cathkin Brae MTB Tracks, Glasgow
Saturday 20/04/24
FJBC Double Trouble MTB Pairs Race
Kinneil Estate, Bo’ness
Saturday 20/04/24 – Sunday 21/04/24
British Cycling 2024 National Cross Country Series Round 2
Kirroughtree Forest, Dumfries
Sunday 05/05/24
SXC Series 2024: Round 2 (Lochore Meadows)
Lochore Meadows Country Park, Lochgelly
Sunday 02/06/24
SXC Series 2024: Round 3 (Tarland Trails)
Tarland Trails, Tarland
Saturday 22/06/24
SXC Series 2024: Round 4 (Chatelherault)
Chatelherault Country Park, Hamilton
This looks good too.....
Deadwater 100 incorporating the 2024 British Cycling National Marathon Championships
MTB XC , Northumberland – Sunday, 08 Sep 2024
https://coldbrew.events/xc-mtb/deadwater-100/
Glorious Gravel have plenty of events.
https://gloriousgravel.com/?fbclid=IwAR3asypZBHqlIz83KbbgyzpqB-EZKUIh8JCxZwQWVZa5Q2_QlZ-8mTtmpDc
There will be races planned for the new West Lothian Cycle Circuit in Linlithgow. If Crit style racing is your thing, nothing announced yet though...
Or even if you fancy training away from cars.....
https://westlothiancyclecircuit.org/
The SouthernXC series is starting on 31-03-24 at Matterley Basin. All of the details and other round dates are at Home - southernxc
The Pippingford Park MTB Marathon will be on 6/7 July with the eMTB Challenge on saturday and race for analogues on Sunday - details out very soon.
Dukes Weekender - Gravelfoyle 10
https://www.dukesweekender.com/dukes-latest/2024/2/22/the-gravelfoyle-10
Singlespeed UK in the Quantocks in September.
TBF that's more of a beer festival though
Oh the Glentress 7 looks great!
Not done any MTB racing in many years but I did a few of the 10 Under / 10 Around events back in the day. Now that I've got a new XC(ish) hardtail, it'd be great to do something similar.
Hoping to do a weekend up in Glentress / Innerleithen sometime soon anyway.
The Hamsterley Beast has always been a single lap endurance event in past years and not a multi stage enduro race, not sure if that's the case this year
It'll be my third time on the Hamsterley Beast - I'll be there with my son in May for his first time around.
Think the format's changed for this year, but last year I think there were 20 and 40 mile options - I did the 20. Some of the 40 mile course repeated the 20 miler from memory. Think the plan is this year that it'll be split into 7 timed stages.
I'm sure they'll include the long peat bog sections where you're up to your axles in water again, it's a tradition! 🙂 It's sold out for this year but there is a waiting list -
https://www.hamsterleybeast.com/
A few others:
Yorkshire Mountain Bike Marathon 26th May
Yorkshire 300
And a cheeky local evening gravel ride next week at Sutton Bank - North Yorkshire
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sutton-bank-off-road-gravel-fun-bike-crit-thrash-tickets-855715045737?fbclid=IwAR1gr0slTaVfdZeCHeaD9OVbHLvn205ZgLw0KyObp2W8rRSZEwFImm8HfQg
Glentress 7 and 10 Under the Ben are on my calendar. Once I find a partner to do them with...
10 at Kirroughtree was great last year - properly technical bits on the course and very friendly but with really good, tight racing. 29th June this year. I'll be back for that too (again, once I find a teammate).
https://gallowayhillbillies.org/10@kirroughtree.php
ardmoors just announced 10-11june, tickets soon
pmba enduro series AE forest dumfries mid august
or kirroughtree mid April
This will be the 20th and final year of the Dalbeattie Hardrock running in its current format with the organising committee deciding to retire afterwards.
Will be the weekend of 5th and 6th October with entries open on SI entries at the end of March.
A bit sooner than that there is an option of a gravel route for the first time on the Rocks and Wheels cycle challenge this year. Sunday 21st April and entries are open now:
https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?elid=Y&event_id=13060
Yorkshire Divide - Moors and Mills Series
Did the Malham one a few weeks ago. Good riding. To say it's a low key event would be an understatement - like an odd road version of a roadie Audax event - you get a route gpx and off you go, don't expect a pat on the back at the end.
I'm going to sign up to the Blazing Saddles one from Hebden Bridge. Entry fee supports local mrt.
https://yorkshiredivide.co.uk/mills-n-moors-series
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Done a few Trail Break rides in the past (the the Chiltern Trail ride with my son a few years ago which was a great ride) https://www.trailbreak.co.uk/
And another one near us that's a decent event is Up to No Good https://www.uptonogood.org.uk/ Which is a really well run local event with a range of rides available for all the family.
Echo what @imnotamused mentioned ^^. The Questars events are fabulous although they are adventure races so more than just MTB events. I love them and miss not having done one for a while!
Only 1 event in the calendar so far this year and it's a road one.
Cycle Tour du Leman.
100 mile lap of Lake Leman (Geneva)
Been on my list for year, finally looking like it will happen.
Wow @sturdylad I like the sound of that!
And that should say off road, not odd road in my post above!
For those Bikepackers out there,
The North York Moors 300. Now in its second years and from the creator of the infamous Yorkshire Dales 300.
300km of North York Moors delight. Gravel bike friendly. Perfect on a HT MTB.
Start and finish at RedSky Bikes in Thirsk. Breakfast before you start and a hot meal when you return.
Click the link for route info and all you need.
@iamnotamused
A friend has done it a few times and loves it.
800m of climbing in 100 miles... Pan flat right?
Free to ride, £6 for food but that's not compulsory, just covers costs
April 27th
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/out-of-the-ditch-tickets-861615092937
I don't know if anyone else did the Hope MTB marathon at Builth Wells yesterday but what a day! Did the full course, sunny, warm, dry trails, was like riding abroad. One spectacularly messy mud bath in the woods at the end but what a great day's riding with great attendance and brilliantly organised. How do I tag the organiser in this? @p.rowland
Shame I can't make the Minehead date but I'll be at Ruthin in September for sure. And I really hope they bring back a northern event like the old days.
Sunday 12th May - Colne Valley MTB Challenge near Huddersfield.
20 & 30 mile routes, eBike, Gravel, CX & MTBs all welcome.
www.cvmbc.co.uk
There’s a separate thread specific to the event, but a plug on this one can’t do any harm too.
Nice one @thesanityassasin I may just enter that thankyou
I feel that my racing days are over, but I did have a hoot at many a Sleepless in the Saddle and 10 Under event in the past. Nowadays, I take things at a more sedate pace and this is one of my favourite events. It's the 10th anniversary ride this summer and I'm gutted I won't be there, but it is a lovely event.
Here's Mrs Beagleboy and I from 2019. Google seems to have hidden last years photos. Probably in embarrassment, as I'd forgotten to put my lenses in before the start and accidentally led a whole bunch of people onto the long route rather than the short!
Doing:
Boltby
E24
Hurtwood
Ardrock
Considering:
SSUK
Ard Moors looks great, but I can not do it.
Am doing Ard Rock (Sunday, I just want to get round the course level). Hopefully I will be able to completed it this year!
Southern Enduro and Pedal Hounds good for anyone located in South East.
Grundig 180 gravel race in Plymouth, with category for retro MTBs
https://southwestmountainbiking.eventrac.co.uk/e/grundig-180-gravel-race-11337
I know lots of you have enjoyed the Vittoria MTB Marathon at Pippingford in the past - it's had a change of name this year and will be known as the XTERRA MTB Marathon but it's the same event and now has a monster 90km option - all of the details are here
And the details for the eMTB event on the same weekend are here
I'm one of the organisers so if you have any questions please fire away
Not sure if this has already been listed but I thought I'd list it as it still has over 200 spaces at time of posting and thought it might need a lift. Probably doesn't help being the same weekend as the Ride To The Sun.
https://www.entrycentral.com/signups/119522
Just to make it clearer, there is a gravel route too, as well as the road only. I've not ridden any gravel routes in Ayrshire so am looking forward to it.
That link's a bit dodgy @didnthurt it takes me to a list of entered riders on a really slow website. Is there a another link available?
https://www.entrycentral.com/event/119522#:~:text=Hot%20news%20at%20February%202024,free%2C%20i t's%20a%20great%20option.
Any better?
Yes spot on 👍