Mountain Biking

Rossendale Harriers Mountain Biking section
Contact 01706 224444
email rossendaleharriers@sky.com
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The Pennine Bridleway Mountain bike challenge is no longer organised by Rossendale Harriers although the event is to be organised by the local mountain rescue team, for details, contact and entry form see below :
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ROSSENDALE & PENDLE MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
www.rpmrt.org.uk
PENNINE BRIDLEWAY MOUNTAIN BIKE CHALLENGE
SUNDAY 14th SEPTEMBER 2008
Can you cycle the Mary Towneley Loop?

The Mary Towneley Loop is 47 mile circular section of the Pennine Bridleway, the entire route is way marked and easy to follow. The riding surfaces are mainly good on tracks, newly created paths and trails or minor roads. The route involves approximately 6300 feet of ascent.

The Loop takes in some of the best scenery and off road biking that the South Pennines have to offer, traversing the hillsides and crossing the valleys between Rossendale, Burnley, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Rochdale. The route crosses high exposed moorland and is a strenuous demanding day out. A good time would be 7 hours but it has been done in just over 4 hours, riders must be over over 18 years of age or over 16 years if accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.

Start and Finish: Fearns Community Sports College
Booth Road, Waterfoot, Rossendale. OL13 0TG
Grid Ref. SD 842220
Register from 07.30 Mass start 09.00

EVENT DETAILS AND RULES
THIS IS NOT A RACE
Copies of the Countryside Agency map can be obtained from local tourist offices, the OS Explorer map OL21 South Pennines includes the Mary Towneley Loop.
The route will not be marshalled and it is up to each rider to navigate their way around the route which is well waymarked and easy to follow. 6 check points are located on the route, you must stop at checkpoints to allow your number to be checked by a marshall. Water and basic provisions will be provided at each check point but we advise you to carry extra supplies according to your preference. Each entrant will be given a laminated number which must be attached to the front of the bike. There will be a maximum of 10 hours to complete the event with cut off times at the later checkpoints.
Helmets must be worn and adequate clothing carried. The organisers do not provide personal accident insurance. All entrants must follow the MTB code of conduct and respect the countryside and others. The event is being organised by the Rossendale & Pendle MRT, team members will transport tired entrants or broken bikes from checkpoints to Fearns. Everyone must check out at event control whether you finish or not – WE NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE ACCOUNTED FOR.

ROSSENDALE & PENDLE MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
www.rpmrt.org.uk
PENNINE BRIDLEWAY MOUNTAIN BIKE CHALLENGE
SUNDAY 14th SEPTEMBER 2008

Entries to Robert Stokes
26 Moorland Rise, Haslingden, Lancs. BB4 6UACheques payable to RPMRT Entry fee £15 pre entry

Email penninemtbchallenge@hotmail.co.uk

Click here for entry form
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Pennine Bridleway MTB challenge Sunday 3rd June 07
Event report
Well done to everyone who completed the challenge, we hope you all enjoyed the event.We had a record number of starters this year, 180 set off, 19 pre entries for whatever reason failed to turn up on the day and we also had a record number of retirees 25 in all. The hot weather took its toll on some challengers although most challengers that I brought back in the van underestimated the toughness of the event and were simply not fit enough, most vowing to train harder, get fitter and return to complete the loop.We were short handed on the day although everyone worked hard to ensure that the riders needs were catered for and I think most riders enjoyed their day judging by the comments I received on the day and from the lots of emails of thanks that I have received since. The route is certainly a tough one and the trail this year was nice and dry.The gates cause some problems and thanks to everyone for heeding my appeals to close the gates behind you and to show courtesy to other users and especially to take care around horses. So far I have received no complaints from landowners,members of the public or horse riders.
The event is not a race or a time trial, we do not advertise the event as such and nor do we encourage riders to race around the route to post a fast time, in fact we would canvass for the opposite and encourage riders to simply enjoy their day out in the South Pennines the object being to complete the full route.
Thanks to everyone who helped on the day,to all of the checkpoint marshals, The Mountain Rescue teams from Rossendale and Calderdale without whose attendance events of this kind could not be held, to Fearns School and to Julie and my wife Valerie for doing an excellent job in the shop and to Valerie for making all of the homemade cake !
The provision of times would suggest that the event is a race, although we realise that some riders like to see how long their challenge took them.With this in mind and reuctantly we will be providing approximate finish times. A stopwatch was not used, time of day being used to determine overall finish times taken by ourselves as a safety measure.Click on the link below to view ( not in finish or time order)Graham Wright (event organiser)
Challenge completion times (click)(previous link problem solved)
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