Road Book/Information Pack
This event is a challenging mtb marathon event in the Dark and White Peak District with a choice of two routes: 70km
long route with 1600m of ascent or a 47km shorter route with 1000m of ascent. Riders will be required to self navigate the
route using a full colour, bagged OS route map and route description provided to each rider at registration. A few “tricky”
parts of the route will be arrowed to avoid any confusion – overall the ability to navigate using an OS map is important.
The use of GPS devices is allowed. Feel free to program in the route and follow your device.
Both routes promise some epic Peak District mountain bike riding through a mixture of designated rights of way linked
together with short sections of road/lane in between. Part proceeds from this event are to be donated to the Peak District National Park ‘Rights of Way Maintenance Fund’ –
this is our way (i.e. yours!) of helping to ensure that essential maintenance work on rights of way can continue to be
funded in this very special place which we all enjoy!
Route Overview
The anti-clockwise routes start and finish in the village of Hope nestling in the Hope Valley. Heading south both routes
start with probably the most challenging ascent of the day up the rocky Pindale and Dirtlow Rake - from there it is onto
Old Moor and down Oxlow Rake. At the village of Wheston the shorter route takes a left heading for the villages of
Tideswell, Litton and Cressbrook before rejoining the longer route at Monsal Head. The longer route continues south
to Wormhill before a multiple switch back descent down the Pennine Bridleway to the idyllic Chee Dale on the Wye River.
From there it is uphill to Priestcliffe and over to Brushfield before dropping back down to the Wye Valley via a tricky rocky
descent. At Rowland the longer route heads off to do a clockwise southern loop over to Pilsley including a cracking
descent down through Ballcross Woods to Bakewell. Now heading north riders head up and over Longstone Edge and on
to the historic plague village of Eyam. From Abney a short climb will bring riders up onto Abney Moor and with all the
climbing done it is time for one final hurrah down the last descent. A short section of road brings the riders back to the
finish line in Hope.
Start Location
Hope Sports
Club, Hope,
Hope Valley,
Derbyshire,
S33 6SD
Parking
There is limited parking on-site (follow event signs),
when that's full parking is “DIY/on-street”
Registration
Registration opens at 7:30am you can start riding at
anytime between 8:00am - 9:30am
**NB we strongly advise all riders of the long route
to start before 9:00am to ensure they reach the cut
off time at the feed station**
**Finish closes at 5:00pm**
Registration process
At registration you will have to sign on/check in and
you will be provided with a SPORTident timing chip,
a bagged/colour OS route map plus a route
description sheet. The map and route description will
detail positions of the feed-station, control points
i.e. SPORTident boxes where you need to visit/punch,
public toilets and route split points plus emergency
numbers. This is your own personal guide to the
route, please keep the map and description sheet
with you for the duration of the event.
SPORTident timing
SPORTident timing will be used and you will need to
punch control points on your ride to register that you
have completed your chosen fixed route in full. Control point sites will be marked on
the route map handed out at
registration and identified on the ground
by bright coloured tape on an obvious
feature to which a SPORTident scoring
box will be attached. ** Anybody seen riding non-public rights of way
(private land, footpaths etc) will be excluded from the
results and banned from future events!**
Care signs will be placed at the side of the route before
dangerous junction/descents please adhere to them,
they are there for your safety! Some of the descents
are steep so please take care! and remember it is not
a race! Always respect other trail users and be
particularly careful when approaching horses and
walkers from behind.
Beat the Bonk Feed-Station
Our en-route feed station will keep you topped up with
a range of different brands of sports nutrition products
supplied by Sheffield based independent online retailer
Beat the Bonk. In addition there will also be water,
biscuits, bananas and fruit squash. These are not to
be relied on and riders are advised to carry what they
require from the beginning!!
Event Photos
“Dib” in the SPORTident box at the start,
fi n i s h ,
all controls visited and the download box at the end. You must use a SPORTident dibber to take part in
this event. You will have chosen to either use your
own dibber or rent one when entering. You will need
to present your dibber to any marshal on demand i.e.
no dibber = no entry!!
**The key things to remember is dibbing is
compulsory NO EXCUSES**
Course Signage
The Spring MTB Marathon route will be partially
marked and signed with distinctive blue arrows on a
yellow background attached to gateposts/signposts/
telegraph poles etc.
Chris Meads is in charge of event photography. Photos
will be uploaded & available to purchase
here shortly after the event
chrismeadsphotography.zenfolio.com
Event Certificates
Every Spring MTB Marathon finisher will receive
either a Gold, Silver or Bronze certificate (see timing
award below).
Abandoning your event
If for any reason you are unable to continue but still
able to ride please return to the HQ using
your map as navigation. All riders who decide to
abandon MUST return to HQ to return your ‘dibber’
and inform us your abandonment. We don’t want to
be out searching for anyone after the event has
finished!
At the finish
All route splits will be clearly marked with distinctive
split arrow signs - these will be followed by route
confirmation signs designating which route you are
now following.
If at any point you are unsure as to your location or
think you may have gone off route please refer to the
detailed OS map/route description provided.
At the finish make sure you ‘dib’ in the last
checkpoint to stop the clock on your ride. Then
make your way back to registration to return and
download your time from the ‘dibber’ and receive
your finishing certificate.
Post ride refreshments/showers
Hot drinks, cake and savoury snacks will be made
available to all riders at the finish. In addition there are
some showers at the Sports Club that you many wish
to make use of. Route Map & Profiles
Map issued on the day will include location of control points. Timing Awards
Long 70km / 43miles
Men
GOLD – Sub 4hr 15 SILVER – Sub 5hrs 15 BRONZE – 5hr 15+
Women
GOLD – Sub 4hr 45 SILVER – Sub 5hrs 45 BRONZE – 5hr 45+
Short 47km / 29miles
Men
GOLD – Sub 3hr 15 SILVER – Sub 4hrs 00 BRONZE – 4hr 00+
Women
GOLD – Sub 3hr 40 SILVER – Sub 2hrs 25 BRONZE – 4hr 25+
Cut off Time
Litter
Any riders found littering will be excluded. Litter bags
are provided at all feed-stations so there is no excuse!!
Keep litter/wrappers/cartons etc in your pockets until
you reach a feed-station.
It is not a race!
The Spring MTB Marathon is a non-competitive
event so please show respect to all riders and all
other road and trail users.
Toilets
1:00pm cut off time
All riders must reach the cut off time at the Monsal
Head feed-station. If you fail to reach the control/feedstation by the cut off time you will need to head
directly back to HQ using the event map as supplied.
**Finish closes at 5:00pm prompt**
Essential Kit
A roadworthy bike, helmet (ANSI or BSI only – not
climbing, caving or canoeing types) and a watch are
compulsory for this event.
NO HELMET - NO START!!
Dress appropriate to the prevailing weather
conditions – do not skimp on clothing, it’s still early in
the year and it can still get very cold and very wet very
quickly in the Peak District. Spot checks may be
carried out to ensure you comply with these
requirements. You should also bring food/drink
sufficient for the duration of the event – do not rely on
the feed station for your food & drink supplies.
NB Cyclo-cross bikes are not allowed – MTB only!!
Ensure your bike is roadworthy and in good working
order approximately 1-2 weeks before the event in
order to give yourself plenty of time to bed in new brake
blocks, chains and cassettes, seat, new tyres etc. This
way potential problems arise in advance of the event
rather than on the day.
Essential spare kit
There is a broom wagon however all riders must be self
sufficient so bring all the tools, pumps and tubes you
would on a normal ride.
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Cycle Pump (able to inflate to at least 40 psi)
2 inner tubes (minimum)
Multi Tool (incl. chain tool)
Power Link
2 Tyre Levers (they like to break when you most need them!)
Please use the marked public toilets on the map and
refrain from urinating in public!
Local bike shops
For any last minute bike issues/requirements there is a
bike shop in Hope village centre called 18 Bikes
Also there is The Bike Garage, High Peak Garden
Centre, Hope Road, Bamford S33 0AL
Hospitals
Hopefully no one will need one of these but here are
local A&E’s
A&E Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield,
South Yorkshire, S5 7AU 0114 243 4343
Minor Injuries Unit, Buxton Cottage Hospital, London Road,
Buxton SK17 9NJ 01298 212208
BMBO Membership/ Rules &
Regulations
You must be a member of British Mountain Bike
Orienteering (BMBO) to take part in this event – it’s
quick and easy to register by using the link below.
BMBO membership arrangements for 2014/2015 as
follows:
Full Member: annual cost £6
Day Rider: free BMBO membership but events are £1 extra
to enter over and above Full Members
free membership/pay for events the same as Full
Members
Under 21’s:
For all details see here
See here for all BMBO information, rules &
regulations: http://www.bmbo.org.uk/index.php &
h t t p : / / w w w. b m b o . o r g . u k / r i d e r - i n f o r m a t i o n /
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