Having previously completed Exmoor Explorer & lacking in fitness I thought this year I would enter it again. Taking up the offer from the event organiser to do 'The Triple', Mendip Murmuration, Exmoor Explorer & Quantock Quake, for a slightly reduced rate.
This past Saturday it was finally time to see if my plan to improve my fitness had worked.
We arrived on site bright & early, already plenty of people in the car park unpacking bikes & signing on & getting their pre-ride coffees & breakfasts.
To help avoid mass start chaos we could start anytime between 9 & 10am. We got on with it as best we could & got going by about 9.10am, from a sunny but with a strong chilly wind at the start.
It was tough, tougher than I expected, a couple of absolute banging downhills & more than enough climbs to keep you honest.
That said I loved every minute (well apart from the climb from the final check point, that was nasty, as was the climb up to the finish). I am very much looking forward to next month's Exmoor Explorer.
However, something that did make me a bit sad was the demographic at today's ride. I am approaching 50 (I say appoaching, it can see me staring at it through it's Ring doorbell) it felt like most people there were older than me. This makes me slightly sad that the fashion of MTB has now changed that younger generations are just not into long rides like this in the country. This makes me slightly sad for the future of events like this. Will the participants slowly dwindle & make them no longer viable?
I don't think it's an ebike thing, cos there were plenty of people on them & enjoying it. It is a tough day out for sure & there were definitely times some assistance would've been nice, but there were plenty of people older than me on normal bikes toughing it out.
Would love to know people's opinions...
it felt like most people there were older than me. This makes me slightly sad that the fashion of MTB has now changed that younger generations are just not into long rides like this in the country
Most of the younger generation than me (not necessarily yoofs - 20's/30's/even some 40's) seem to definitely much prefer sessioning steeps at Black Rocks/Wharny/Win Hill. I prefer a good old ride with a sprinkling of spice
Great write up! I keep meaning to tackle "The Triple" one year as an carrot/stick to be more organised to ride my MTB more. I was out on the Quantocks on Sunday afternoon and it's such a great place. Though I must get a smaller chainring and a lighter set of tyres (and lose a few kg myself...).
Thanks - I think entries are still available for both the other events...
I don't think I can make the Exmoor one, but I've just sent the Quantock one to a few friends to see who is keen. Maybe we can bring the average age down a little, but maybe not be enough 😀
