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Posted:
mick smith Forum Newbie
Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 7
Posted:
Tue 20 Mar 2007 9:36 pm
I seem to have volunteered to get the ball rolling!
My chums and I are intending to organise a mountain bike orienteering event, although it's more likely to drop into your 2008 calendar than 2007.
It will be based in the East Midlands, probably between Grantham and Melton Mowbray, and will be suitable for all abilities.
The emphasis will be on riding legal off-road tracks, trails, bridleways and byeways. You will be given an ordnance survey map showing these trails, and the location of a number of checkpoints, worth various scores based on how easy or tough it is to visit them. Take as long as you wish, within the time allowed (usually five hours). Come back late and you lose points. Come back early and you get first crack at the biscuit barrel.
Choose your own route and set the level of your own personal challenge. It's not a race. Treat it as a leisure ride - an excuse to get out into the countryside on your mountain bike, or for those with a competitive streak - go for those points!
Approximately how much mileage would this event entail? I take it the participants would need to ensure that they had a packed lunch for the day?
Thanks for getting this one started!
Cheers,
John.
mick smith Forum Newbie
Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 7
Posted:
Thu 22 Mar 2007 8:05 pm
Hi John - I didn't make it clear that "choosing your own route" means just that - you only visit as many checkpoints as you can cope with - I usually manage only around 33% of those on offer, but I'm a fat old git.
The beauty of these events is that you ride for five hours - more if you screw up, less if you want to call it a day - but how far you go is entirely down to you the participator - there's more checkpoints than even superman can clear up - it's about using your noddle to pick n choose your route to maximise your score within the time allowed and within your capabilities.
Any novice "feeling the heat" after a few hours need only consult their map and head off back to base by the most direct tarmac route available. It's that simple!
But - to answer your question rather than fill this reply with bullshite, a slow novice taking lots of time out to check their wherabouts and ponder route choice and walk up the hills but keep going for five hours might only manage 25 - 40 km whereas JohnnyFit might clear 70km and more. I'll leave you to convert into miles!
Traditionally riders have a small rucsac on their back holding their pump, puncture outfit, inner tube, waterproof coat in case it rains, drinks, and food. This may be a nice pack of M&S sarnies, or more usually an assortment of those cereal bars which are all the rage, plus a few bananas. Nibbling throughout the ride (and sipping/ swigging fluids) when stopping to check your map or when reaching a checkpoint - is the way to go - to maintain blood sugar energy levels - rather than spreading out the table cloth and pigging out all in one go on chicken drumsticks and pringles.
We would be the first organisers to provide a packed lunch!
All this sort of info can (in due course) be condensed in an easy to read "hints n tips" handout/ notice so folk know what to expect and how to get the most from their day out.
Next question
(I'm just packing for this weekend's Polaris Challenge - two nights in the Scottish Borders!)
John Small Forum Newbie
Joined: 08 Mar 2007
Posts: 12
Location: Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Posted:
Wed 04 Apr 2007 7:43 am
Mick,
How was bonnie Scotland?
Cheers,
John.
mick smith Forum Newbie
Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 7
Posted:
Wed 04 Apr 2007 8:35 am
marvellous but at the same time tragic! great weather, fantastic riding, and the opportunity to spend 80 minutes trying to find your way through a forest because you left your brain behind. see the gory details at http://www.polarischallenge.com then click on the "sleepmonsters" logo
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