Tweed Valley Bike Bash

Thanks to Tweed Valley Tourism Consortium, St Ronan’s Primary School in Innerleithen enjoyed a biking extravaganza on Friday the 19th June. The Tweed Valley Tourism Consortium, a marketing consortia made up of 67 businesses involved in tourism in the Tweed Valley has recently been part-financed by the Scottish Government and the European Community Scottish Borders LEADER 2007-2013 programme with match funding from Scottish Enterprise. This has given it more opportunity to become more proactive in its marketing and work closely with the local community.

The Mountain bike sub-group, chaired by Richard Latimer, felt that a local school event would really help achieve its aims. Richard said after the event “it has been great to have the chance to put something back into the local community – Mountain Biking is so important to the local economy, it is important to share its success with the future generation of Innerleithen”.

The afternoon began with a fantastic biking display from ‘The Clan’, Scotland’s very own stunt team. Boasting some of the most talented riders in the world, Danny, Nash and Duncan wowed the kids with some amazing jumps, back flips and bunny hops on their locally built trials rig.

The pupils were then given the opportunity to see and try some of the wealth of Mountain Biking that is available in the Tweed Valley.

Following the buzz of the Clan display and some freebies from Cycling Scotland the kids were encouraged to get on their bikes and learn some skills from top mountain bikers Emma and Tracey from the ‘The Hub’ at Glentress.

The one and only Carl Lane from Peebles Cycling Club and Glentress Bike Patrol setup a biking obstacle course where the pupils were encouraged test their skills and balance.

Andy Wardman, a trail building expert from the Forestry Commission at Glentress came along to give the pupils an insight into the construction of a top class mountain biking trail. With the help of pupils and staff at the school he has drawn up plans for an all weather professionally built trail within the school grounds for the kids and community to enjoy.

Ben and Rich from local company bikesandberms.com setup one of their purpose built pump tracks to show the pupils how to have fun without pedalling. With help from local trail builder Richard Hamilton the bikers raced around the track using only a pumping motion to propel the bikes forward. The pupils looked on to make sure there was no cheating and to count the number of circuits the riders could do within a fixed time.

Finally, Elliot from I-Cycles in Innerleithen gave a talk about downhill bikes and biking. Innerleithen is hosting both the British Downhill and Cross Country National Championships on the 18th& 19th July this year and pupils were asked to answer questions all about the downhill bikes and the local downhill courses. The afternoon was a great success, even a spot of rain couldn’t dampen the fun.

British National XC Mountainbike Champs 2009

Innerleithen MTB Racing and I-Cycles, along with some help from the TVTC bring you the British National XC Mountainbike Champs 2009. This year it is a combined event, with Descent Gear/MSC Bikes providing the Downhill Champs. Double the fun!

I-cycles are on Traquair Road. Don't forget to call in for any bike or nutrition supplies or last minute repairs, you will drive past on your way to the venue.

Top Five Reasons why you should ride the British National XC Champs
1. The course ! Interesting and challenging, to test the skills of our very best riders
2. Races for all, with the Championship race for licence holders and Sport and Open Fun races for non licence holders
3. Big fat UCI points in the Senior Championship race, the best chance all year in Britain
4. £1000 prize fund and loads of kit to give away
5. A great weekend out, plenty to do in the beautiful Tweed Valley, trade pitches and food stalls in the arena and a quiet camping area for XC

The Championship races are open to BC licence holders, but there is something for everyone with a Sport race open to non-licence holders of any age over 19 on the sunday, and the Fun Open race over one lap on the saturday. If you have entered the Downhill you can ride the Fun Open race for a fiver! Just bring a suitable bike...

The Champs closes a week of festivities in Innerleithen with the St Ronans Games taking place the week before.

Looking for somewhere to stay?
www.visittweedvalley.co.uk

Entry
Online entry available.

Sponsorship opportunities
Contact helenmfindlay@yahoo.co.uk for information on how you can support this event.

Closing Dates
Championship races - BC licence required - closing date 19th June
Sport race - no licence required - closing date 12th July
Open Fun race - closing date 17th July, day entry if places left

Camping
A campsite will be made available, details on this website soon. Camping for the XC riders will be separate from the DH and trade camping, please indicate on your online entry if you will be using the camping. You will need to report to the XC registration to get your camping token, and must have pre-booked. No pre-booking, no token = no camping.

Schedule
Schedule and lap numbers below - this is subject to change so please check the event website for confirmation and the noticeboard at the registration tent. Masters riders will be gridded according to National Rankings as close to the event as possible. Categories may be merged to create a championship. Medals will be handed out for the 5 year age bands in Masters and Vets, with the overall winner in each category taking the Champion's jersey.

Timing
Event timing will be provided by Finishline. Chips issued at registration on the saturday. You must return the chips after your race, missing/non-returned chips will be charged for at £15. Chips attach to the bike, on the frame above the bottom bracket, chip facing downwards.

Schedule
Friday:
12.00 - 16.30 XC and DH course inspection walk only, and DH Comms Inspection
18.00 - 20.00 DH registration

Saturday:
08:00 - 11.00 DH Registration and XC Comms Inspection
11:00 - 16.30 XC Registration
09.30 - 17:00 DH Open practice
17:00 - 17:30 DH Expert and Elite practice only
13.30 - 16.30 XC Marshalled practice
16:45 - 17.00 XC Riders and Teams meeting
17.00 - 18.30 XC Open/Fun race
17:45 - 17:50 DH Riders meeting

Sunday:
09:00 - 10:45 DH Open Practise
09.00 - 11.00 XC Race 1 - Youth/Juv/Jun
11.30 - 12.00 XC Race 1 Podiums
11.00 - 13.00 XC Race 2 - Masters/Vets
13.30 - 14.00 XC Race 2 Podiums
11.00 - 14.00 DH Seeding runs
13.00 - 15.30 XC Race 3 - Seniors/Espoirs/Sport
14.30 - 17.30 DH Race runs
16.30 - 17.00 XC Race 3 Podiums
18.00 - All DH Podiums

Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William

The Tweed Valley Tourist Consortium will be exhibiting at the Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William on the 6th & 7th June 2009. Thanks to Ian at MB7 and The Clan we will have a presence at the biggest and best mountain biking event in the world. Whether your coming to see the 4x, DH, XC, Trials or just for a wander around the biking village call in and see what the Tweed Valley has to offer or just to say hello. See you there?

5th April 2009 - MBUK/BikeRadar.com Demo Day

If you are looking to purchase a new bike and not sure what you want, or have your eye on a particular model and would like to test it in the comfort of the best trail centre in the UK then you need to come along to MBUK/Bikeradar.com Demo Day at Glentress.

The event is totally FREE and will give you an opportunity to test and compare some of the latest and best bikes on the market. There'll be technical staff from What Mountain Bike, MBUK and BikeRadar.com on hand to help point you in the direction of the right bike for you. Booking advised

Kailzie launches new Bunkhouse for Mountain Bikers

The new Kailzie Bunkhouse close to Glentress and Innerleithen, next to Cardrona Forest in the Tweed Valley and opened on 21st August 2008.

We have 3 bunkrooms with 2 bunks in each (4 person rooms) all with either shower rooms or bathrooms en-suite.

There are also 2 dormitory style rooms with bunks and single beds sleeping 5 or 7 people, each also with a shower room.

There is a large communal kitchen and dining room with cookers, microwaves, fridges etc., and a cosy sitting room with television, DVD player and a wood-burning stove.

Full availability starts from 20th September but to inquire about dates for up to 24 people, follow this link to the Kailzie Gardens website.

There are also more photographs if you click on the Gallery link, with more expected next week.

Tweed Valley Mountain Bike Hospitality Scheme

“Mountain bikers climb into bed in Tweed Valley”

What do Britney Spears, Spooky Wood and Blue Velvet all have in common?

If you know that they are all names of some of the sections at Glentress Mountain Bike Centre near Peebles then chances are you are one of the 200,000 bikers who visit there each year.

Glentress is reputed to be the best mountain biking course in Britain and truly delivers a world class adventure product. The Tweed Valley Tourist Consortia recognises the importance of mountain biking tourists to the area but want to encourage more of them to stay a little longer and discover the wealth of other things that this stunning area has to offer.

As a result of listening to mountain bikers and finding out exactly what they would need from accommodation, they have developed a brand new Mountain Bikers Hospitality Scheme. This is a special collection of hotels, bed and breakfasts and self catering properties which are totally geared up to providing mountain bikers with everything they need for the perfect break.

As well as offering a lovely place to stay and a wonderful bike friendly welcome they can be assured of safe lockable storage for their prized mountain bike, bike washing and maintenance area, a clothes drying room and plenty of quality high carb meals to re-fuel for the next day’s adventure.

The Tweed Valley is the first area in Scotland to provide mountain bikers with a hospitality scheme which assures them of finding accommodation which is genuinely mountain bike friendly and focussed on providing them with a world class mountain biking experience in this beautiful corner of Scotland.

To find out how to book just visit www.visittweedvalley.co.uk and look out for the sign at accommodation properties throughout the Tweed Valley.

Dishing the Dirt on a Racy Weekend - Dirty Weekend 2008

The UK's first ever multi-sport adventure sports festival hits the Scottish Borders on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July 2008.

Three heart-stopping multi-sport events descend on the Tweed Valley as the ACE Adventure Race, the Polaris Mountain Bike Challenge and The Dirty Dozen, a new 12K Trail run, combine to create an extraordinary adventure sports festival.

The Dirty Dozen is a 12K race with a difference, taking to the woods and forests of the Tweed Valley and providing a superb run on off-road trails; passing through woodland, crossing rivers, traversing rough ground and tackling some major ascents (and descents) along the way.

For a slightly tougher challenge, the ACE Race (Adventure Challenge Endurance) 1 and 2 Day adventure race events will also be hosted alongside the Dirty Dozen. With options over 1 and 2 days, ACE Races are adventure races that combine running, biking and kayaking whilst navigating for checkpoints in challenging terrain.

Third in this triple crown is the Polaris Challenge, a mountain bike navigation event held over two days where competitors have to reach as many checkpoints as possible within the allotted times. Riders are given a list of checkpoints and sent out from the base camp at Traquair where they ride for between 5 and 7 hours before returning to base to receive further instructions.

Choose from adventure racing, mountain biking or trail running with the selection of well established and brand new events, all based from a bustling adventure village in the grounds of a Scottish baronial stately home - Traquair House.

Full details of the Dirty Weekend are available here.

Outdoor Show 2008 Video Update