Buy A Waterproof Trail Map With Route Directions & Tips .. .. .. 'You'll Not Get Lost Again !' Homepage The Wold Challenge Cycling Areas Trail Sample How To Order Order A Trail Find A Trail Team Adventures A 2 Z Of Cycling Beginners Buy A Used Bike Buy A New Bike Stuff Explained Fix Your Bicycle Predict Weather MTB Sunspots Race Ready Marathon Tips Aches & Pains Trailside First-Aid Your Body Cycling Events Top Tips Web Links Snap Shots Competition Box Up A Bicycle Contact Us Epic MTB Trails C 2 C 1999 C 2 C 2003 LakeLand Loop Pit-stop Index Trans Pennine Trail Yorkshire Moor Epic Isle Of Skye Romp Bicyclemania Riders Built by Chiefy The info: There was an Enduro style mountain bike race at Rhayader, Mid Wales, the Merida Marathon Series.   ~ Bicyclemania Ride ~ " What's going on !" Yes it was a surprise to me as well, only 30 odd riders did the full 100km route. The majority opted for the 70km route instead ...why ..?. I feel sorry for the riders that took on the full challenge & didn't receive the credit. The race kicked off at 10am & all the riders headed off out through Rhayader towns main street & out into the epic Welsh countryside. The tarmac warm-up took the riders up high into the forest clad hills above Rhayader where the fire-roads started to stretch out the mass of racers. ~ Traffic Jam ~ Chiefy said, he turned off onto a single-track & came to a complete stop along with all the other riders. It was one big hold-up & everybody had to wait there turn to negotiate a very short bit of track back to the fire-road. (not as bad as last years) After the hold-up things slowly started to be more rid-able. ~ Feed Stations ~ This time there was food to be had but as usual the bananas had all been consumed, so it was down to energy bars and water. With the warm dry conditions the riders were taking on bucket loads of liquid to help them say hydrated & hopefully get around the tough route. ~ The Home Run ~ After the last feed station on the 50km route it was a quick blast along a rutted track to what looked like the starting gates to a downhill run & it was. But half way down lurking in the under-growth were the BikeMagic photographers waiting to snap the unwary biker who crashed out in the mother of all shit holes. ~ The Road Race ~ Once onto the tarmac it was a fast big ring blast downhill back to Rhayader, not to forget the last uphill leg burning (God I' am knackered) hill. And then please, please where is that 30 mile speed sign. Skidding at the bottom of a downhill trail A solo lady-rider is all smiles RIDER CATEGORY NUMBER FIELD RANKED TIME Chiefy Vet's 50km 1091 328 174th 04:53:04 Bicyclemania.co.uk  * g r a s s   r o o t   t r a i l   &   m o u n t a i n   b i k e   r i d i n g *