Upcoming events..
*The Solstice 2020 Quarantine Ride – 31stMay-21st June 2020
*Liverpool to Edinburgh Mtb Adventure – 17th-22nd May 2020
EVENT POSTPONED UNTIL 2021 DUE TO COVID 19
New provisional dates are 23rd – 28th May ’21
*The Solstice 100 – 20th June 2020
EVENT POSTPONED UNTIL 2021 DUE TO COVID 19
Provisional date is 19th June ’21
A New MTB Experience..!
The Solstice 2020 Quarantine Ride
31st May – 21st June 2020
Sadly, due to Covid 19, we’ve had to cancel all our scheduled events this year.
BUT we’ve come up with an alternative to replace our annual Solstice 100 event!
It’s a kind of DIY type of event.
So how does it work?
Riders can freely download a GPX file and OS maps of the course.
You will then have 3 weeks to ride it once or as many times as you wish. You can then upload your ride to Strava, where there’ll be a specially created segment of the whole course.. After the 21st, we’ll then create a final leaderboard and publish it on our website and Facebook page. Fastest lady & gent win a free entry to any of our future one day events..
The route is approximately 53 miles (85km) in length with 2,500ft (762m) of elevation gain.
The route, around 60% off-road, starts and finishes in Northampton and will traverse the beautiful rolling countryside of Northants and Bedfordshire. Highlights include the some long off-road trails around Santa Pod raceway and some scenic riverside stretches near Olney.
The trails will consist of bridleways, byways, double & singletrack, cycle paths, forest tracks and quiet lanes, all with a wide variety of surfaces.
This event is free to enter but we encourage donations. You can donate as little or as much as you want.. 50% of all proceeds will go to The Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance which also covers the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland areas
Please donate via Paypal
using the email address info@mtbepicsuk.co.uk
GPX file link – https://ridewithgps.com/route
OS maps – SQR #1 SQR #2 SQR #3
FAQ’s
– What type of bike would be suitable for this event?
Hardtail or full suspension mountain bikes and cyclocross/gravel bikes would all be fine
– Do I need a Strava account?
Yes, you will if you want to be on the leaderboard
– Do I need to be a Strava subscriber?
No, you can still record and upload your time, BUT unless you’re in the top 10, you won’t be able to see where you are on the leaderboard. We’ll be able to see though as we have a subscription
– How much is a Strava subscription?
They are currently offering a free 60 day trial IF you are a current user of their ‘free’ service
– What should I do if my ride doesn’t get recognised by the ‘event segment’?
The main reason your ride might not get included on the event segment leaderboard is because you made one or several navigational errors en-route. If you think you gained no advantage, then email us with a link to your ride and we’ll add you to a final leaderboard that we’ll make public after the 21st June
– Are there any shops on the route?
Yes, the route passes by shops in Little Houghton, Sharnbrook, Harrold and Hanslope. There are shops in Olney but you’d need to make a detour for them which would jeopardise your segment time if you want to get on the Strava leaderboard
– What happens if i can’t make it to the finish?
With a small detour, It would be possible to get a train from Wolverton back to Northampton. Shortly after Tyringham, continue south-west over M1 and through Haversham to get to Wolverton train station
Tips
– Before you ride, study the route very carefully (on RWGPS in OSM & satellite views) if you want to get on the Strava leaderboard, the last mile is a little tricky if you don’t know it!
– Download OS maps onto a smartphone, where you can zoom-in without losing clarity
– An external power pack is handy for keeping phones and GPS units topped up
– A rear light is useful for safety reasons when riding on roads