West Drayton/Beyond Mountain Bikes at Ash Ranges - 9 October
On the 9th October the West Drayton/Beyond Mountain Bike team promotes its last event of the season when it runs the cross country races at Ash Ranges, Ash Vale , Hampshire. There will be a full day's MTB racing, starting off with the under 10s on a special smaller circuit before the main racing on the full 4.5 mile circuit. This is probably the best circuit in the South - the continual ascending and descending makes it tough but challenging and fun. The highlight of the day is as always the Team Challenge Cup currently held by the Evans race team, a three-man team race where all three riders start together in a mass start with all the teams finishing positions counting towards the team's overall position. New for 2005 is a seperate women's team prize thanks to sponsorship from speeddater.com, the number one dating agency. -Chris Denman
King of the Holm, Newcastleton Forest - 22/23 October
The Rush bike shop has recently opened a mountain bike centre at Newcastleton Forest, one of the 7Stanes sites, to provide bike hire, a café, accessory sales and trail advice. To celebrate, The Rush has teamed up with the Newcastleton Development, Leisure and Tourism Group to organise The King of the Holm. Contenders will compete in three races. Stage one is a race covering two laps of the red trail. Stage two is a lap of the same trail in the dark using lights. Stage three takes place on Sunday and is a timed descent of a section of the red trail. The event is sponsored by Solstice HID lights (also the work of The Rush). Riders can choose to take part in just one, two or all three stages. So if you fancy just doing the night stage then that's fine. You have to do all three to be eligible for the overall title, though. There will be classes for men and women with the Kings winning a special edition mountain bike jacket and a coveted trophy. Places are limited, so pre-entry is advisable. There will also be a race for young riders on the Saturday with classes for 7-10 year olds, 11-13 year olds and 14-16 year olds so they can be involved in the fun. The blue trail at Newcastleton will form the course which is particularly suited to younger riders. If you're not up for racing, then it'll be worth coming along to The Rush Mountain Bike Centre over the weekend. You can lend your support to the riders, but also there will also be the opportunity to test ride the new 2006 bikes from Marin and Norco so the scene is set for a great weekend. -Tony Yates
Temple To Temple stage race, Belize - 26 November-3 December
The spirit of cycling takes on a whole new meaning with the launch of the world's first on/off road bicycle race based on an ancient trail linking the historic sacred temples of the Mayan civilisation in Belize.
The 750 km Temple to Temple race kicks off on 26 November, 2005 and
runs until 3 December, following a track created by the Mayan people 1,500 years ago across rugged mountains, gorges, steaming jungles, caves and local villages to link their spectacular ancient temples.
The seven day challenge is the brainchild of Tour D'Afrique creator
Michael de Jong who has plotted a seven day stage race between the country's traditional spiritual centres of Lubaantun and Caracol.
Each night along the route the riders and support staff (support vehicles sweep the course throughout the event) will camp in the wilderness, at jungle lodges or at the foot of Mayan temples. In the spirit of the race all competitors and tour riders will unwind together with some activity on offer in the locality before setting off again in the morning as a group. The winner of Temple to Temple will be determined by the lowest accumulated time over the seven days of the event.
Participants - from racers to touring cyclists to cycling enthusiasts - need to register for the event by 1 November and entry fee includes accommodation at the start and finish at the event's base in the luxurious Placencia Hotel and Residences on Belize's Caribbean Coast. -Caroline Keith
2005/06 London Cyclo-Cross League
The 2005/06 London Cyclo-Cross League began a 15 round tour of the South East on Saturday, September 17 at Eastway Cycle Circuit, and closes on February 5, 2006 with the London Team Championships. The increase in the number of rounds from pervious seasons underlines the
higher profile of cyclo-cross in recent years and the accessible nature of the sport. Categorised as 'Cat C' entry fees are; Under 10s and 12s race for free, Youth pay £4, juniors £6 & seniors £10. Non LCCA and British Cycling members pay more to cover insurance etc. Entry is on the day and mountain bikes
are welcome.
All riders in the London League are counted in the results, but if you want to have your results counted toward the league you or your club must be affiliated to the London Cyclo-Cross Assoc. All levels of ability are welcome and there are prizes for youth, women, Veterans, Juniors and seniors.
The league will visit a number of varied courses, from open fast ones to a few snaky bike handling testers. The London Cyclo-Cross League will journey to the south coast (Brighton, Lancing and Lydden), Rainham (Kent), East Grinstead, Penshurst off road circuit, Footscray, Strood, and in London at Eastway and Hillingdon. A new venue is on December 18 at Gatwick, promoted by Evans RT.
Once more the league will be sponsored by Mosquito Bikes and after a successful introduction in 2004/05, the 'USE Star of the Race award' will continue this year. A seatpost will be given to a rider who shows the spirit of cross by their actions at each race day. -London Cyclo-Cross League
Don't forget that you can quickly find events near you on the Bikemagic Events page.
