Cheddar Challenge, "Mountain Biking's OctoberFest"

October 1st & 2nd 2005

Music has Glastonbury, F1 has Silverstone and mountain biking has Cheddar.

It's like the ultimate end of season pilgrimage, when everyone travels from around the nation to gather in the Somerset countryside and rip it up!

Cheddar is now pushing into its 17th year, some us can remember the early days and start lines of 200 Juniors, others have only raced the recent years and will only know Cheddar for perhaps downhill or even just the enduro XC.

Over the last two seasons Cheddar has taken a dramatic change in format and this year is building on that success. Broadway House owner David Moore is mad on mountain biking and when he and TF Tuned's Tim Flooks sit down and work out a race format then you can be sure that it is going to be a good'un.

Racing kicks off at 10am on Saturday with the start of the Triple 12 and Cheddar Team Enduro events on the short'n'fast circuit. These are both six hour enduros, either on your own, in a pair, or in a team of four. After some kids' races and stuff the racing continues in the evening when every entered rider has to complete in the ultimate showdown, the night TT. This is short, fast, exciting and a lot of fun when you are belting down through "the Witches Wood" in the pitch black.

Racing should be wrapped up by around 8.30pm and then Cheddar really comes into its own. The Saturday night party at Cheddar is legendary and, whilst it has to be said last year's bash was a little under par, this year sets to rock! Shred Magazine have picked up the shred-red Batphone and called in local rock band Junction27 to bring the night alive with their awesome mix of own tunes and rock covers. If anyone was at Bristol Bike Fest then they'll know that these guys kick ass. We'll also have some Shred goodies to bung out to the crowd and if you want to pull out your fanciest dress then this is the place to do it.

Sunday at Cheddar is all about the old-skool XC action with racing running all day on Cheddar's classic XC circuit. For some this will be another six hours in the saddle as they wrap up the Cheddar Triple 12 enduro. For the rest of us it'll be a chance to chill out, relax and ponder on a great season that has passed.

Cheddar Comp

OK, here's the good bit - we have a team entry to give away to four of our lucky BM members. We are looking for four riders to battle it out for the honour of Bikemagic.com/Shecycles.com in the team event. We'll provide a jersey, some Shred goodies, team entry and thanks to our buddies on the Shred/Bikemagic.com team we'll even have some Cove Bikes available for you to race on if you don't want to ride your own. All you have to do is register your interest over on the Cheddar Forum and be prepared to get yourself to Cheddar for the weekend.

To enter Cheddar online go here visit www.cheddarchallenge.co.uk