The Marin Rough Ride

Sunday June 8th 2008

Photos by courtesy of Richard Sear www.diaryofamountainbiker.com

The most laidback moorland romp of a ride in the UK, stunning views, enthusiastic and capable organisation, great campsite, free post ride meal, a tiny town chock full of real ale pubs, hunkered down under the eastern edge of Hergest Ridge. Loads of tracks opened for this one event due to a really nice bunch of landowners. For 2008 the 'over 80% off-road' ride has been altered to have even less road, but don’t worry we haven’t made it harder. We don't mind what speed you go, you're here to enjoy yourselves

In our 6th year, we will again be offering the choice of a long route and a shorter route, about 75k and 48k, across the unchanged moorland of East Radnorshire in the Welsh Marches, away from farmland, and with NO forestry. The Rough Ride isn’t a race, but it is challenging - the longer route includes more than 7,000 feet of climbing and fast descending, as most of the climbing comes early and late the shorter route has the higher percentage of climbing. You won't need to decide which route you want to follow until the day itself - you can decide during the ride, as both routes share the first section.

For this year, we are using Sportident who are vastly experienced in timing mountain events, both cycling and running. With their system riders will dib into an electronic station on starting and finishing and in the case of the long event once more at Glascwm. This system is more reliable than last year's starting mat.

With the above changes and a different start road the initial route will be even freer flowing.

Marin Bikes have teamed up with us and will be providing a fleet of test bikes for you to try out on Saturday and lots of spot prizes, including a full bike, a Marin Bobcat Trail.

Hope GB have also provided us with a selection of lovely goodies as spot prizes.

We have teamed up with Spanish MTB holiday outfit Toroloco to offer a spot prize as a holiday - as with all our other prizes, the holiday winner will be drawn from a hat.

Dialled Bikes are again giving us frames as spot prizes.

We would like to thank Cliff Edwards, the Kington motor mechanic (01544 231026) for the generous loan of his quad bike to help with setting up the course.

Trekitt, the extreme outdoor sports equipment and clothing shop in Hereford are also sponsoring the event and donating spot prizes.

Carradice are supplying us with one of their great Carradry SQR Glentress Waterproof Bag as a spot prize.

Max from The Rough Ride Guide "Your bible to off-road mountain biking"has also donated a book token for a mountain biking guide book.

Torq, the energy drink people are supplying us with their amazing product.

Tracklogs are providing spot prizes of their mapping software.

Entry Fees: (not refundable or transferrable)

* £27 in advance

* £31 in person on the day/weekend (Saturday 7th or Sunday 8th June)

We are going to be sending out joining instructions around about May 27th.

What a few of our riders said in 2007. . . .

I would just like to send my thanks for a great weekend. It was my first ever organised event and aching body apart found it really enjoyable. Many thanks to all the marshals and organisers who made the whole thing run smoothly. Look forward to entering into next years event. Thanks Kevin

Thought I would just say thanks for a very well organised and designed ride in a great part of the country. I also thought the electronic timing was a very good idea and hope it is continued next year.  After speaking to Jerry in the indian take away you realise how much organisation is required in just gaining access.  I have to say I didn't quite realise how challenging it would be, but non the less hope to return next year to improve my time. Many thanks - chris Jackson

Thanks to the whole team for putting on another brilliant event. I can only try to imagine how much works goes in to running a day so slickly and professionally. I hope you all feel sufficiently rewarded and thanked. We came with 5 friends who have not ridden a long event before and we all thoroughly enjoyed the shorter ride. The new finishing section was absolutely fantastic! I hope you will allow us all back again next year. Also a special thanks to Anna and Molly for giving Fiona a great day, she could not believe it when she got her first ever days pay! Thanks again to the whole team. Jim and Ruth Sutherland

Thanks for a great day out, the 78K was really tough a great challenge with some brilliant riding in a lovely moorland setting, well done, the transponder timing is a great improvement on the mass start and the meal at the end is a bonus, how do you do it for the money!! Please do it again like this next year, Thanks again - John

Thank you very much for organising such a great event. I had a fantastic day. Great route, wonderful countryside, efficient and friendly marshals, outstanding organisation. Liked the timing chips they are a real bonus. Please pass on my thanks to the many people who contributed to a great day. This is one of my favourite events. I hope to be able to come back again. Rob

Thanks for a great day. I have done the last three event, this was the best yet and with so few road miles (was there even one?) the best route so far, even better for not going straight over the top of the last hill ! Thanks Struan

thank you for a superb event. My 12 year old son and I had a great time and he actually really wants to do more events, he enjoyed it that much. We will definitely be back and look forward to many more happy days riding with my son . Cheers - Nigel

Thanks for another excellent event, third year i've ridden, each time the route, atmosphere and organisation have all been superb. I, like most other riders I'm sure, ride a number of organised events during the year and the Rough Ride to my mind is the highlight of the season. Looking forward to 2008. Was glad to see that the end of the route has changed to avoid the step bank close to the finish though. Thanks very much. Best regards, Steve Jones

hi everyone,i would like to thank you all for a fantastic rough ride it was for the 3 of us our first organised event and we really had a great day out. also the back up, water and food stations,were very well organised,and a special mention must go to the guy's on the motor bikes who made sure us oldies were ok. what really drew us to this event was the fact we knew we were in for a challenge but also the heading on the web site,we don't mind what speed you go,you're here to enjoy yourself. and we certainly did,we took every opportunity to take photo's and take in the scenery,(we even watched a kite fly overhead).the only fly in the ointment for us was that we were told we had run out of time at about the 30 mile mark and had to come off the mountain and follow the road back to gladestry,where we picked up the route again. in no way am i condemning the decision, but had we known there would be a cut off time we may have decided to take the short route or not stopped to take in the views as much. maybe this could be pointed out in future. apart from that, again thanks for a great event. by the way did anyone not push there bike up any hills? all the best,hope to see you next year. bob

This was our second rough ride, and it was once again an excellent event. From the camping setup, the food stops, route markings to the route itself. All 5 stars. This year we did the 78km route and we certainly felt every one of those grassy moorland hills. The last section through the trees was glorious after all that. See you again next year (with sleeping bags and all! ;) ) Regards, Tas

Just a quick note to thank you guys for a fantastic event yesterday.  It was tough very tough but it felt great to complete it. I'd also like to give a huge thanks to all the marshals, it was great to get to feed station and be encouraged to continue when all I wanted to do was die! Also I love this event not only because it is well organised but also all the riders are so friendly - great atmosphere. Once again thanks and despite vowing never to ride again (a low point somewhere with a fab view) I will be back next year, you can count on it. Keep up the good work - oh also I loved the new finish I could not have faced another steep hill at the end ;o) Mugs

Hi there, I just wanted to say thanks for an amazing day. I finished in a not too unrespectable time and managed to only come off once. I totally enjoyed the ride, and yes it was bloody hard some of those climbs were awful and I take my hat off to anyone who made it round without pushing up at least one of them. I (and many others) pushed up many of them. Please would it be possible to post the tracklogs gradient profile on the site, as I cannot convert your data. No one believes me how hard it was. I have done a 100k merida at rhayader before and your ride beats that hands down. Once again thanks, I never did meet anyone personally but the marshals smiling faces and the presence of the ambulances in the right places was very reassuring. An excellent weekend, hopefully I will be back next year. Regards, Bill Richardson (old fart with cramp)

To the Rough Ride Team: Just a note to say a big THANKS for everything yesterday. 24 hrs later, I'm still aching like heck, but it was worth it. Thanks to you as the organisers, to the marshals, the water-stop people, the bacon butty farmers, the first aiders, the photographers, and last but definitely not least, Wilf for the catering. Great to have a bit of variety again, and this year to have timing chips. By far and away the best organised mass bike ride I do each year. See you next year! Graham Dean

Many many thanks to all for organising such a brilliant event.  It must be a huge task to put on something like that but your organisation was faultless – plenty of information, plenty of support, and great food at the finish – all enhanced by good weather conditions and the most glorious countryside. Congratulations one and all - Clare Johnson