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NEWS... |
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03.08.10 Selkirk event report HERE>> |
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28.07.10 Selkirk Event News HERE>> |
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06.07.10 Grassington event report HERE>> |
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30.06.10 News update before the Yorkshire round HERE>> |
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24.06.10 IMPORTANT NEWS from the Grassington Round HERE>> |
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25.05.10 News and Photos from the Builth Marathon HERE>> |
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21.05.10 News from the Builth event showground HERE>> |
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19.05.10 Only a couple of days before the Builth event, latest HERE>> |
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26.04.10 Youtube videos and more from the first event HERE>> |
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19.04.10 News report from the first of this years Marathons HERE>> |
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09.04.10 News from the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells...HERE>> |
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06.04.10 Only a couple of days to go before the first event of 2010 - latest event news HERE>> |
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26.03.10 Only a couple of weeks to go before the 1st event of the 2010 season will kick off at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells...HERE>> |
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15.03.10 Temperatures are still low but there is no denying that spring is trying its best to break through. And with spring approaching the 1st round of the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport can’t be far away. In fact we are talking only four weeks from now. HERE>> |
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10.02.10 For 2010 the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series is being supported by Mercedes-Benz and the Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport van. This versatile vehicle delivers on style without compromising practicality. The Vito Sport will be on site at the event, showing off its assets and why it’s got the mountain bikers’ seal of approval.HERE>> |
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2009 News HERE>> |
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2008 News HERE>> |
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2006 |
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2006 Review: Series Overview
The Peoples’ Marathons
A year of contrasts, both of weather and conditions, but also in riders
as the Merida Bikes MTB Marathons opened their arms wide to all-comers,
young and old, novice and expert alike to great success…
The 2006 Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series promised much and it did
not disappoint: with more events than ever before building firmly
on the foundations of the preceding years, the series was without
doubt the best yet and was a sign of the shape of things to come...
Spread out across five domestic – the Exposure Lights Big Night
Out (ELBNO) and Builth Wells Spring Marathon, Rhayader, Builth Wells
Summer Marathon, Selkirk, and Ruthin – and one international
event, split between three countries – Wales, Scotland and Austria
– one night time marathon, and 19 domestic marathon distances
together with three courses at the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon ‘On
Holiday’ event in Austria; the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series
has covered a lot of ground.
All new for all of the events was the introduction of the 25km Mini-Marathon
distance that allowed new riders, both young and old, to tackle their
own Merida Bikes MTB Marathon adventures in either family packs, or
together with like-minded friends. They were pitched as tasters for
the new blood and many parent/child pairings took up the challenge,
which was great to say as the advent of true mountain biking families
is upon us.
CycleActive, the UK’s premier mountain bike skills coaching
and holiday company, also helped further the family friendly atmosphere
with their kids’ mini-marathon skills course, as well as helping
riders of all ages and abilities brush up on their skills with their
incredibly popular ‘Trials To Trails’ and Skills Development
ride sessions. So much so that the demand has meant that virtually
all of the available slots were filled before the events. In between
that packed schedule they even gave away holidays and various courses
to lucky riders. The warm up – and warm down rides at the Rhayader
round – of the Pedro’s Spins were similarly popular and
served to help stretch the legs out and get riders’ bodies primed
for the main event then next day.
On average, 20% more riders tackled all domestic events, making a
total of 5,634 souls getting out on the trails under the Merida Bikes
MTB Marathon banner, grinding their pedals around the metal to cover
approximately 388,600km (241,465miles) of riding. The combined vertical
effort saw the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon marathoners riding the equivalent
of 1,215 times up Mount Everest from sea level (10,760,000m or 35,301,837ft
of total climbing approximately), consuming 13,520 litres of water
and 12,300 litres of High5 Energy Source at service stations, 7,800
bananas, 18,000 High5 Energy Gels, 10,500 High5 energy bars, and who
knows how many beers in the bars the night before.
The weather did its best to keep riders and organisers alike on their
toes: from the monsoon trail conditions of Rhayader to the blistering
heat of Builth’s Summer Marathon, and the cold of the ELBNO
night marathon, no one round was alike any other. Tyres were duly
swapped, mudguards plugged in and out, dry lubes dropped for wet,
and carloads of soggy wet kit was washed clean post-ride all around
the country. The weather too, did its bit to gnaw at bikes and components,
and overall 23 chains died their deaths, eight tyres were replaced
out on-course with brand new Schwalbe rubbers, 92 inner tubes were
handed out to riders in need, three seat posts fixed or replaced,
43 sets of brake pads replaced, 35 rear mechs replaced courtesy of
the Merida mechanics, and even three complete bikes being swapped
for Merida test bikes on routes so scuttled riders could finish their
rides.
But none of this would be possible with all our sponsors: Merida Bicycles,
High5, USE, Schwalbe, Pedro’s, Hayes, EvansCycles.com, CycleActive,
Buff, Minx, PPG, CrankBrothers, Our Scottish Borders, Memory Map,
Ergon, Topeak, Salzkammergut Trophy, Exposure Lights, What Mountain
Bike, Bikemagic.com, Sugoi, Fizik and the Forestry Commission. Without
their help and dedication the 2006 series would not have been possible.
But an even bigger THANK YOU goes to all you riders who have been
taking part in the events this year. You make the events what they
are – great adventures with fantastic atmosphere, fun outdoors
weekends with likeminded people.
So here’s to this year and what promises to move the whole Merida
Bikes MTB Marathon concept up to a whole new level as it becomes the
biggest ever plus with brand new events – the first ever English
round in Cumbria (go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/cumbria.php
for more info), and another Scottish round at Aviemore (go to http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/aviemore.php
for more) joining the already firmly established Selkirk. We’ll
see you there… |
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2006 |
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