Colne Valley MTB Challenge 2009

The Sanity Assassin

Entries are are now being encouraged for the 6th annual Colne Valley Mountain Bike Challenge, taking place this year on Sunday 10th May at 9.00am.

The course is a challenging one (as you'd expect) and has been amended this year, with permission from local land owners, to incorporate more off-road sections. The route now consists of approx. 30 miles of local paths, tracks, bridleways and lanes around the picturesque Colne Valley area of Huddersfield - regularly featured on TV as settings for Last Of The Summer Wine and Where The Heart Is.

The cost of entry is £15 pre-booked (entry forms available at www.cvmbc.co.uk) and £18 on the day - although we do encourage pre-booking as it greatly assists the organisation of the event.

All participants will receive a free commemorative T-Shirt and certificate upon completion. The course will be fully marshalled throughout and will have 4 refreshment stops at designated points. There will also be a back-up vehicle available for anyone who wishes to (or is forced to!!) retire early.

Bacon Butties will be on sale beforehand at a nominal £1.00 each, but apart from these EVERYTHING ELSE refreshment wise (soup, bread, bananas, flap-jack, biscuits, coffee, tea etc etc) is FREE. Yes FREE. There is also a brilliant little pub - The Walkers Arms - situated on site, so those that wish to can partake of a pint (or two) if so desired.

So, to sum it up - it's now a 30 mile challenging MTB ride, fully marshalled, fully 'catered' and absolutely FANTASTIC VALUE, with a pub on site to finish the day off as well. You won't find a better day out in this area on the 10th May. Come and give it a go - you've nothing to lose and we're absolutely certain that you'll be well looked after and have a great time.

Andy B

Even more off road this year, cool!

Hope you've still got the quarry section in the route this year!

I should be there, although my usual riding buddy won't be, nor will the camper van

I'm hoping to persuade another mate to join up (he's mostly a roadie, muhahahaha!!)

The Sanity Assassin

Erm, it's actually the same course - I just cut n pasted last year's announcement too... :oops:

The Sanity Assassin

Well I was out for a long, hard ride yesterday and all the local trails are bone dry at present. Even the ones that are traditionally an all year round quagmire.

Get those entry forms in the post folks, it's gonna be a belter this year...

seataltea

Anyone doing this on Sunday who has done it before?

My first time on this ride, any advice or tips ?

stucowp

I have never done it but a couple of people i ride with have and say it's a good do, so on the back of there advice i will be doing it seeing as it's a good excuse for a ride for 2 hours. Hope that helps.

The Sanity Assassin

stucowp wrote:

I have never done it but a couple of people i ride with have and say it's a good do, so on the back of there advice i will be doing it seeing as it's a good excuse for a ride for 2 hours. Hope that helps.

If you get round this course in 2 hours then I reckon you should be competing at National level!! :shock:

It will take the majority of the field somewhere between 2.45 and 4.15 to get round, especially as the recent rain will have softened some areas up a bit.

Anyway, thanks for giving it a go and I hope you have a great day out with us.

Also come and say 'hi' if you get the chance. I'm the gert big ugly bugger that'll be setting you off at the start.

p.fitz

# 63 me...Virgin to the CVMBC..hopefully i wont forget it they say u never do

seataltea

I have begun carb loading, had an entire Sainsburys summer fruit trifle after tea last night and two huge bacon sandwiches this morning.

No 1 daughter suggests I might be doing it wrong.

Andy B

I'll be doing the carb loading tonight in the pub....


...you can get carbs from beer can't you....



Probably camping on site, which means the stagger to bed will be ~100m 8)

p.fitz

big respect to all who organised this years event ...brill.. ace.. fab..awsome....Being from Lincolnshire the climbing was an eyeopener but training over here is some what limited on the scale.But watching for another and hopfully doing The Holme valley one in Sept.. It was (cant swear) Brilliant well signed very good refreshments placed thru out and friendly stewards....Number 63 & 64.....

stumpyjon

If you enjoyed that you could have a go at the Calderdale mountain bike marathon, probably sometime in October or if you're really up for it the Mary Townley loop on the 13 th of September.
Met a guy from Lincolnshire towards the end of the MTL the first time I did it. He was on a fully rigid and hoped to do it in around 5 hours . Had left his girl friend in the car waiting for him :shock: . We caught up with him 7 hours in . He did admit to under estimating the hills somewhat.

Flaming Photography

More photos and links to You Tube videos at http://www.flamingphotography.co.uk/cvmbc

p.fitz

its a date stumpy... if work committments allow...Keep me posted with Dates..P.S is there a web site for the group organising ????.

supertouring

A big thank you to all those involved in the organisation and running of the challenge yesterday, it was my very first "event" and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was not sure what to expect and thought it my be a little too competitive, but found all the other riders to be friendly and willing to chat etc.

I now have the buzz, so already planning to do a few more this year.

stumpyjon

Mary Townley Challange organised by the local mountain rescue team.

http://www.rpmrt.org.uk/eventdetail.php?EventID=5

Calderdale Mountain Bike Marathon organised by a local Scout group.

http://www.cmbm.org.uk/

Rich9

Was in Marsden yesterday watching my son play football. The route came past the football field. I was paying more attention to the riders than the football :oops:

p.fitz

Are or you know anyone who is able to put exact ride on Map my ride web site to enable me too put in to my ride`s completed and for future reference.as my knowledge of the route was Arrows and stewards but mostly finishing....

The Sanity Assassin

Please, please, please DO NOT put the route on ANY website such as mapmyride etc.

Much of the route crosses private land, for which we only have permission to use on the day of the event. Part of our agreement with the owners is that we don't publish the route as they're not keen for people to ride through on a regular basis throughout the rest of the year. Making the route available on sites such as mapmyride etc jeopardises the event in its current format because the private land is our only available option in these areas, hence our negotiated access in the first place.

I hope you understand our concerns and respect the wishes of both the land owners and organisers of the event.

Thanks.

p.fitz

ok no problem

The Sanity Assassin

Finish times are now up on the website. Click here.