Orienteering on Bikes - a thread for MTBO & MBO Score events

Used to do loads of these back in the day. The thing I really liked about them is didn't have to be the fittest (unlike racing) to place well in them. I could place top 3 in these but would be mid-pack in a race. A cycle event that needs some careful route planning.

Dark and White peak events were my local organisers but I did them all over the country.

Are Polaris events still a thing?

And I'm guessing e-bikes have their own category as they would provide a massive advantage.

Dark and White are no longer running MBO events, but Midlands MBO have expanded their territory to include a few events in the Peaks. last year the National Champs were held near Castleton.

Polaris aren't sponsoring the weekenders anymore. There are a couple of weekend events in a similar vein to those Polaris events planned this year: 11-12th May in the lower Wye Valley, and 20-21st September in Swaledale. There's also the national champs weekend in Nidderdale on 19-20 July.

E-Bikes do indeed have their own category!

E-Bikes do indeed have their own category!

Presumably they just follow GPXs to bring the whole thing down to acceptable levels of challenge?

If the format is how it used to be GPX would be of no use as you can't pre-plot a route.

I found my 2000 laminated Polaris Peak District map a few weeks ago. Remember it being freezing overnight and I had to put my sleeping bag inside my silver survival bag, and it rustled all night.

avid polaris participant back in the 90's.

loved the idea of plotting as little or as much as you fancied.

and riding in areas i would probably never have.

one particular high point was the Exmoor event, starting at Wheddon Cross, with the overnight camp at Wimbleball lake....... camped on the smooth lakeside grass, rather than on some horrible tussock field in Northumberland or the Dales.

Watch out for a pair of MTBO events popping up in the Tweed Valley on the 12/13th July weekend. Saturday at Bowhill (near Selkirk), Sunday TBC. Both will have a range of courses so something for everyone. They will use 'proper' MTBO maps, and will be linear rather than score format. I'll try and get them onto the BMBO website later this week.

I did the Macc forest one last year that the midlands guys ran - great reminder of how fun these events can be, as I've not done one for ages since D&W stopped. I was way, way late which I'd never let happen back int day, but was pretty rusty. Not using tape to mark the controls gave me a few issues - good move though in the wider picture.

Used to do a lot of these, I'm feeling less competitive these days but I'm sure they are still just as much fun!

If I was still in the UK I could do with getting involved in doing some again...they were a mainstay activity of mine in the 90s, starting with my first Polaris back in 1992. As has been mentioned, literally anyone could do them, you didn't need to be race fit (but it helped), do as little or much as you fancied. Superb memories of them and still have a few maps going right back to when Colin Palmer used to organise some in the TCA, Trail Cyclists Association...when they were called Trailquests.

For anyone thinking about it.....sign up and give it a go, I feel sure you'll enjoy the day/weekend.

I've done one, in the Black Mountains.  Had to resist the temptation to take the most interesting route between 2 check points rather than the quickest!  But still didnt do very well, your MTB skills wont be as valuable as your orienteering experience and fitness.  Good fun though, I'd do another.

I did two or three, years ago at Glentress and Aberfoyle.  They were good fun.  Lot less fit now but I'd be interested in doing again.

There's a MBO event at Clee Hill near Ludlow on Sunday 6th April: www.bmbo.org.uk/calendar/details.php?event_id=1590

It's rare to have one in Shropshire, so I'm looking forward to riding somewhere new.

This thread has had me looking at events in the UK that I can potentially enter when I visit family in July & September. I never did an MTBO, they were all 'pick your own' checkpoint events so that'll be something new to try. Thanks si77 for starting the thread.

You're welcome @dave661350 ! I hope you enjoy your events! 

I've haven't tried an MTBO yet either, as they're relatively rare south of the border. 

I organised Trailquest events for 10 years in the mid 90's, early 2,000's. Mainly around Aberystwyth (Nant yr Arian) and Machynlleth. I also competed nationally from the Isle of Wight to West Scotland. I had an aptitude based on good map memory and won the National Champs on 5 occasions across various age groups. Fun times

I did a few of the trail quests. They are a great way to explore an area, new or old. 

I might check these out. 

Posted by: pistonbroke

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I organised Trailquest events for 10 years in the mid 90's, early 2,000's. Mainly around Aberystwyth (Nant yr Arian) and Machynlleth. 

It would be nice to have events in those areas again. Especially for a national championship weekend, as it would be an area where none of the current top riders would gain the "home" advantage.

Agreed, it's an ideal area, lots of complexity of terrain, good riding and very beautiful. Bit tricky for me to do as I currently live in Cataluña.

Bit tricky for me to do as I currently live in Cataluña.

It can't have been all that easy when you lived in Eccleshall! Was hardly 'on the doorstep'

That's true Richard but having had a base in Devil's Bridge helped and riding the trails from the age of 16 was good local knowledge

I used to do orienteering many years ago, never on a mtb though, would be interested but there don't seem to be any in Lancashire 

Posted by: padraigpost

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I used to do orienteering many years ago, never on a mtb though, would be interested but there don't seem to be any in Lancashire 

Yes, it's a shame. Lancashire is in the no-man's land bordering Lakes MBO, NYMBO and Midlands MBO, now that the latter have edged into the Peak District.

Lakes MBO do occasionally venture as far south as the Forest of Bowland, but I don't think they are this year.