Best of Luck at the 2010 National Mountain Bike Championships

For those not in the know, the 2010 National Mountain Bike Championships are taking place this weekend in Djouce Woods County Wicklow. The weather forecast predicts rain but that will make the event even more fun! If you’re racing, best of luck or if you fancy a day out with a difference then come along to watch.

Mega Avalanche Race Results

Wow what a day, 5.30 wake up to be up at the gondola for 6am, the race started at 9am. Niall finished 19th out of 2000 riders who entered the event, beating off many top professional racers, happy days! Race report to follow soon.

Mega Avalanche Qualifying

Starting from the 4th row Niall finished 10th out of the 200 riders in qualifying today. The course was mainly downhill with just a short section of climbing. He’s riding a standard Trek Remedy with 150mm of travel front and rear, perfect for the job. The top 39 from each of the 12 qualifying groups go through to the main Mega Avalanche race on Sunday. Should be good!

Mega Avalanche Practice

Rough as hell this year and very hot! The qualifying track is the same as last year with loose rocky sections at the top, flat out fast grassy meadows in the middle and tight trees at the bottom. It’s a real mix and a great test of ability to hang on, 95% is downhill so its tough on the body.

On a side note, I got chatting to 6 time winner of the Mega Rennie Wieldaber earlier today, he was asking lots of questions about the new Columbia sportswear backpack... There’s a sure sign that the Columbia have got it right! Check out the review of the Mobex on http://www.spoke.ie/?p=2803#more-2803

The track for the main event is much the same as last year but the big problem will be the snow. With Europe experiencing somewhat of a heat wave, the high temperatures are causing the snow at the top of the course to melt. That’s going to be interesting come race day!

Mega Avalanche 2010

This week we are heading to France for the Mega Avalanche, the world’s longest downhill bike race. This is our second year in a row at the event, once you get a taste for the events it’s hard to stop coming back. Steeped in cycling culture, the event is based in the Alpine mountain resort of Alp d’Heuz, the site of many a great Tour de France stage. The Mega Avalanche itself is a mass descender (everyone goes at the same time) with 2000 riders fighting it out to be crowned the world’s best biker.

The thing we love about the Mega:

1. Euro techno music at the start line (LOL!)

2. French bread

3. The 2km glacier section (the start is at 3300mtrs altitude!)

4. Sunny weather (we hope)

5. 2000 riders all after the same line in the single track!

6. Chairlifts to get you up the hill

National Points Series XC race 3Rock- Results

Well done to MAD MTB who hosted a great event on Dublin’s 3Rock. If missed the event and want to ride some of the trails around 3Rock then contact us about a guided bike tour. Here are the results

National Points Series XC race 3Rock

Dublin’s 3 Rock Mountain is one of the best natural areas for mountain biking in Ireland. The mountain bike event there will see Ireland’s top racers battle it out on some of the best single track trails around. Congratulations to MAD MTB for promoting what is set to be a great event and best of luck to everyone competing. Here is an update on the course from the MAD men.