MTB Marathon - Builth-Wells 15th April

1st Merida Marathon of 2007 this weekend at Builth-Wells. The weather is looking ok so it should be a good weekend. Any one else going?


http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/builth_wells_spring.php

I will be there. Im going todo battle with the traffic on Friday straight from work so have the choice of chilling out or riding on Saturday

Stuart and I will be there. Lunch and Bike browsing in Mud-Dock in Bristol then onto Builth for about 3pm ready for the ELBNO and the sping ride on Sunday. Should be good!

Is there a separate fee for the night ride or is it free if you’ve signed up for the Sunday slog

Yes mate, £40 for the night ride and the sunday event together, although you pay for the two separately through the website and then you get refunded £15-I got the cheque through this week. You gooing to do the night ride then?

No mate, not even going

Just wondered as Andy and Kieran are going and I wasn't sure if they new about the night ride.

Hell Of the North Cotswolds this weekend... I'm going to suffer!

Enjoy the Merida guys.

Tom

Tom wrote:Hell Of the North Cotswolds this weekend... I'm going to suffer!

Enjoy the Merida guys.

Tom

Good luck Tom!

Graham

How did you guys get on at the Merida? You do the night stage as well?

Was a fantastic sunny day in the Cotswolds, and a really good ride, dunno about 'Hell' of the North Cotswolds, was pretty Heavenly! Not a particularly technical route, but some cracking decents nonetheless and mostly off-road.

Did the 50km this year in 3hrs 12min, which I was pretty happy with. Think I'll aim to do the 100km next year.

See you next weekend, should be free for the Sunday ride!

Tom

I only done the day ride it was another warm one I done the 50km about 4 hours I think I would of been a bit quicker but I got some really bad cramp just after the first feed station and had to take it easy after that
I haven't a clue why I cramped up I had plenty to eat,drink and was properly hydrated felt like i had plenty of energy but the legs didn't want to know
I really enjoyed the course some great single track in the woods and the decents on the moorland were scary fast. (I think thats good isn't it)

Swampy John done the night ride in under 2.5 hrs (40km)
I'll let Andy and Stuart tell their storys about the night ride one finished and one didn't thats all Im saying but fair play for having ago I admit I bottled it Im just glad I didn't have any proper lights so i had a good excuse

Theres another story about a hight restriction bar in Bristal to come from Andy and Stuart too

Theres another story about a hight restriction bar in Bristal to come from Andy and Stuart too

You' can't jut leave it that Darren, come on its Monday we could all do with some amusement

Tom,

I did the HONC yesterday also - 3hrs 16 mins. Great weather. Did you do it last year? It was a different route but borrowed sections from last year and ran them in reverse. It also added some new bits. I didn't think it was too bad, it certainly felt easier than last year but then I am fitter and on a different bike.

Craig wrote:Tom,

I did the HONC yesterday also - 3hrs 16 mins.

Ah no way! Must have just missed you then - was wearing my Cyclone top too.

I didn't do it last year, I've only done it once before. Think that was in 2001, maybe 2000, so was a very different loop (included bits of Cleeve that year).

Definitely do it again next year I think.

Tom

Right where do I start?!!!

The height restriction bar thing was interesting but Stuart had a rough weekend but all that happened was we didn't see a maximum height bar driving into the Mud Dock car park-everyone there saw it. Luckily it was unlocked!!! Even the graet Matt Carr noticed it! Talk about dying in the presence of MTB fame! (He's in What MTB by the way).

Stu unfortuantely didn't finish the night ride he has a broken wrist and a sore head-and got a huge slap from his misses when he got home! Funny!! I had the usual expected technicals I always have but finished in a disappointing 3h14mins!! I did the 25k in 1h30 though! Hardcore!

It was a great weekend, hard, fast and hot, but thats enough of my weekend, the Merida was great! The routes were a bit short, even Nick Craig noticed that, only doing the 75k in 2h40!!! Oh how I bow to your greatness sir! We all had a good laugh and I'm sure we'll be going back soon. XL T-shirts as well! My highlight!

The ride was awesome. I was enjoying the night riding so much, being chased downhill in the night by other riders was just a buzz in itself. I was making good time. I reckon I would of finished 2hrs 35min. I think John finished 2hr 15 mins. I had done 2/3 of the course before I crashed. I was going around 26mph downhill. When I crashed my heart rate fell from 139-90 bpm within 2 seconds. (Love technology) Scarey, I was close to blacking out.

The Paramedics were with me within 5 seconds, it was a known black spot apparentley!!!

I should be fixed in 6 weeks hopefully.

I think it was an omen when I bumped into the overhead barrier at Mud Doc in Bristol.

In all seriousness it was a lucky escape. I guess our passion for riding can be as dangerous or as safe as we want to make it. But I just got carried away, so easy to do.

Eh......75K in 2hrs 40mins, thats averaging 18.9mph.....was it a road ride or what? They're machines !! Either that or they cheated.

Stuart, have you got the GPS tracklog so we can have a butchers at the elevation profile etc?

What time did you start on Sat night and Sunday?

Sounds like an eventful weekend, good work though!

Nice one Stuart.

Your the very first one up for the FUBAR award this year !

Fingers crossed. If your plaster allows that is.

I think Andy said the night ride started at 7.30 and the day ride 10.30

Results are on the 'Results' tab on the Merida website:

http://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/results/results.php

I came third from last apparently, even though there were five people behing me when I finished. Not sure about the timings, but its clear, in evaluative terms, I was gash!!