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Been riding bikes for around 10 years both on and off road but have never done any kind of organised event as yet. I've done a dozen or so running ones and really enjoyed the atmosphere so need to get my finger out and do some biking ones in 2016.
What are your must dos for next year? I won't be doing an DH and don't really want to do a race series as such. More like sportives and one offs.
I'm currently looking at;
Off road;
Glentress 7s
10 under the Ben
Capital trail
Road;
Skinnytweed
Tour of the borders
Do some enduro, tbh I've not done many, but the atmosphere is great!. Dunkeld in March would be a good starter, gimme a shout and I'll be glad to meet up and ride wi ye.
Aye I'd agree the enduros are great...esepcially if you get a bunch of mates to do it together...
Selkirk MTB marathon?
GT7 is always really good, best thing I can say is that it's really not the sort of thing I'm into at all, but I blagged free entry for the first 2 and ended up soloing the 2 most recent, it is ace.
Love enduro racing but tbh if you're not into the techier/downhilly side it's a bit harder to approach, just because it's pretty hard to know what you're going to get. Even within a series you can have one round be basically a stage XC race and another be absolute carnage. Not to discourage, but it helps to approach with a little care. You don't have to be a riding god though obviously, I've raced a bunch of national series races and 2 EWSs and I'm at best mediocre.
Events will depend on how techy you like.
I noticed the announcement for the Dunkeld enduro yesterday, and they're moving it to a 5 stage format, so it's going to be an even bigger day on the bike. And it uses some pretty steep/techy tracks.
There may be a reasonably XC format race in Inners early next year, but can't confirm anything yet, as there's still a few more hoops to jump through.
Road
www.ridetothesun.co.uk
MTB
Capital Trail
For me in 2016
How about nofussevents Tour de Ben Nevis late September?
And on the road side the Dunoon Dynamo and one of the sportives which takes in the road pass to Applecross.
Meant to say, Ride to the Sun is an overnight road ride from Carlisle to Cramond beach (Edinburgh) on the weekend before the summer solstice (June 18th). 100.5 miles, with the chip shop in Moffat staying open to feed folk. Bacon sarnies served at Cramond Kirk Hall, with bananas and water at the Crook Inn in Tweedsmuir. FREE to enter. Got great feedback this year, original thread here - http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/ride-to-the-sun-a-northern-sc1ottish-dunwich-dynamo
It's a northern / Scottish homage to the Dunwich Dynamo
Everyone loves the TDBN. Every year I nearly do it, I'm just averse to wet feet but it looks cool
Only done TDBN once with a poorly partner but I thoroughly enjoyed getting soaked and then soaked some more crossing the river (when it was ah quite high -- ended up returning across to help some folk that were struggling a bit..)
The little timed sections were good, either be at the front (we weren't) or at the end (hello!) to get a clear run, really helped - the little 10UTB section I'd done so often that I got a really good time as it was so familiar..
That, and 10UTB as well, is a great chance to catch up with old friends, too - and I think that's part of the success is that it becomes a cultural sporting event. There are folk I don't see for years, then bump into at Fort William one way or another..
But haven't returned..
For road, there's some nice audax events around Scotland. Maybe not a big crowd of riders, but great routes etc. I suggest some of the events from Forfar, or the Portmahomack weekend if its on next year.
Yeah agree about the techy side, really anything over red graded I start to struggle with slightly and not enjoy so much. Probably I should actually get my finger out and do some training to get better and more confident, rather than avoiding it all...
Nobeerinthefridge - Member
Do some enduro, tbh I've not done many, but the atmosphere is great!. Dunkeld in March would be a good starter, gimme a shout and I'll be glad to meet up and ride wi ye.
Thats a great offer cheers. Will have a look into the event.
fatmax - Member
Meant to say, Ride to the Sun is an overnight road ride from Carlisle to Cramond beach
I like the sound of this one! And crammond is only a short cycle home afterwards too. Long ride in the dark though, I guess lighting choice must be an issue!
Tour de Ben Nevis is a good shout, looked into that and like the sound of it!
Thanks for the advice 🙂