I really liked the TransWales and was gutted when I heard it was no more a few years ago. I was pleased that the Ritchy Trailmasters came along, but it seemed to have a few teething problems. Is there any more plans for anything similar? Surely there would be the demand for a multi day mtb event/race in Wales or somewhere else in the UK.

Welsh Ride Thing?

A whattie with the what now?

Unfortunately I think you will have to look abroad for a multi day fix now, but they do seem to be growing in popularity across the continent.

trans-portugal
bike 4 peaks (austria)
trans schwarzwald (Germany)
trans provence
andalucia bike race
transpyr
iron bike (italy)

And probably many others

oh there was going to be UK one this year, I think it was called xcaliber, seem to recall it is rather expensive, and got postponed.

iron bike (italy)

I happen to have done that before (last year), and I still think never again. Totally bananas!

Sudety challenge – czech/polish border region

Transwales 2009 was awesome. The sunny year

I happen to have done that before (last year), and I still think never again. Totally bananas!

I am thinking about doing it next year.

I’m sure there are plenty of things you can do that are similar or can recreate the TransWales experience of riding in a monsoon, wrecking your bike, staying on pure mud ‘campsites’, having cold showers every day, costing a fortune and then getting a campylobactor infection that lasts for a month as you sh** your brains out.

Can’t think of one offhand though…

Seriously though, it seems that events like this struggle to get numbers as the shorter Enduro-type events get more popular. Shame. As above, the dry year was good and TransScotland was ace. Yes, I did 2 Wales’ and the Scotland.

Is Aidan doing EWE again?

Cycling with bears trying to have a bite out of your arse

The above looks like a lot of fun. Unfortunately I have lost a lot of fitness and become the overweight mountain biker I never wanted to be.

One for 2015 me thinks…

Plus one for multi day events in the sun abroad. In the sun, it’s important to mention that twice

Unfortunately no TransWales but there are well over 100 awesome stage races to choose from. A many of them in South Africa. With an exchange rate of 1GBP:ZAR18, the South African options should be pretty cheep and a good option to combine with a holiday. Check out http://www.stageraces.com

Epic Cymru ?

http://www.epiccymru.com

Epic Cymru looks awesome, I’d have entered but I’m away so I’m relying on you lot to make its first year a success so it’s on again next year

I like the sound of the epic cymru but what sort of bike is suitable for this type of event, 100mm full sus ok?, I’m a bit worried when i read ‘timed downhill sections’ and ‘bike park wales’.

I like the sound of the epic cymru but what sort of bike is suitable for this type of event, 100mm full sus ok?, I’m a bit worried when i read ‘timed downhill sections’ and ‘bike park wales’.

100mm full sus is fine.
BPW sections are on red runs – which you can ride on a hardtail, but I would say much faster on a full suspension.

There are timed uphill and XC sections as well, not just the timed downhill.

love the look of epic cymru, but sadly my new job starts on the Monday of the race! Hopefully it’ll run in 2016 as I’ll definitely enter!!

It’s not in Wales but I did the Rat Race Crossing last year. An English coast to coast through 3 national parks over 3 days. It is quite pricey but really well organised, good fun. Not very technical riding as its more about getting to the finish line but there were some good downhil sections