Im 45 and never raced before and im looking to try a couple of mtb events this year. I ride a mixture of trail and xc riding and steep techy stuff. The main thing is it needs to be fun and not too serious and hopefully I wont come last!
Can anyone recommend an events / race to enter? My fitnes is mediocre but I will be training to improve that. I currently ride a Knolly warden. I've just entered Antifreeze at coed y brenin.
Andy
Where?
ANY event you enter will have all components you seek!
Basically, at the pointy end the readers will be looking to ride fast and win... some will be serious in doing so.. others will be having fun....
The same can apply mid pack and back of pack....
Just ride your own way... get out the way if a faster rider comes by, and just have fun!
DrP
Preferably south east England. But willing to travel most of England and Wales.
Sounds like Southern Enduro territory to me.
Hillyish XC non competitive ride with options on distance:
http://www.heavenofthesouth.co.uk/
If you book for the whole weekend of camping it's a good schedule as you can arrive Friday night, do the event on Saturday and BBQ / party / recover Saturday night and then leave on Sunday. Makes for a good social weekend.
Thanks qwerty sounds good although quite big rides
Yeah was thinking that. Do they do a vets ride. They seem pretty serious, are there some people there for the fun on southern enduro
are there some people there for the fun on southern enduro
To an extent... but of course you need to be at least a little competitive to want to go racing in the first place. But a fair few are there mostly for their kids who are racing too, so less GRRRR. But in honesty i've never found anyone less than perfectly friendly and nice there. It's less intense than a XC type race if you ask me, i guess partly because the riding is more 'fun' based rather than flat out cardio.
The Trailbreak (www.trailbreak.co.uk) XC events in the South East are great. They are super well organised, timed and offer a decent mix of riding.
This - Birdsall Blast 3 is in March, and they are doing another (full weekend) event in Summer:
Its great - its not hard, theres no exposure or 'danger' but the stages are fun, and if your good, they are fast too. Short, doesnt cover a huge area, no pressure. Really, really enjoyed the last one.
There is also a 'marathon' event run Spring/Summer which uses lots of the same/similar sections and woods in a nice long 50mile ish lap.
Both are perfect for just a normal trail bike riding mountain biker.