Mountain Mayhem
Encyclopedia
Mountain Mayhem is a 24 hour mountain bike race
held in the UK. It has been held annually since 1998 and usually occurs on the weekend nearest to midsummer.
The 2011 event will be held at Eastnor Castle
's Deer Park, Herefordshire
.
and the following subcategories:
Challenging the country’s most fearless riders, the adrenaline filled event sold out in record time last year. Entry forms for the event can be downloaded from www.osmountainmayhem.co.uk from midnight on 28 February.
The first Mountain Mayhem took place in 1998 at Trentham Gardens
, Staffordshire
.
In 1999 the race moved to Sandwell Park Farm in the Sandwell Valley Country Park
, West Midlands
.
In 2004 the race moved to the Deer Park of Eastnor Castle
in Herefordshire
. The course currently uses a 9-mile loop. This year's race saw an estimated crowd of 15,000 spectators.
.
Between 2003 and 2006 it was sponsored by Saab
and Salomon
.
For 2007 it was sponsored by Giant
and T-Mobile
.
For 2008 it was sponsored by Giant
From 2009 it has been sponsored by Original Source, a PZ Cussons
brand.
which it often coincides with).
From the first event in 1998 the race suffered from very heavy rain and the course became very wet and slippery. Many of the subsequent years were also wet although most of them didn't experience rain on both days of the event.
The run up to the 2003 event was characterized by very dry conditions and the race was held in record temperatures leading to fears about dehydration for riders and warnings to teams to ensure riders drank enough water.
The move in 2004 to the Malverns (and its heavy clay soil) was accompanied by heavy rain throughout the race with many riders abandoning the race due to the adverse conditions and leaving many riders questioning the choice of the new venue.
Questions over the venue remained at the start of the following years race, which started in heavy rain with fears of a repeated "mudfest", however despite heavy rain at the start of the race continuing into the evening the rain cleared overnight to provide a dry and sunny end to the race.
2006 provided a break for rain- and mud-weary riders with dry and hot conditions throughout the weekend. The Eastnor Castle course, which in the previous years rain had clogged bikes and caused wheels to slide and slip, was suddenly fast and dusty providing very competitive and enjoyable racing conditions.
Both 2007 and 2008 however saw a return to the rain and heavy mud with the 2008 summer being the "wettest summer on record" provided particularly atrocious conditions in heavy downpours of rain.
For 2009 the weather was wet on Friday, but dried up for the start of the race on Saturday.
saw an estimated 2500 riders. According to Patrick Adams, an organizer of the event,
Competitors may enter individually or in teams of four, five, or ten. Registration fees are £200 for small teams, £265 for a ten-person team, and £265 for individuals.
Mountain bike racing
The Union Cycliste Internationale recognised the sport of mountain bike racing relatively late in 1990, when it sanctioned the world championships in Purgatory, Colorado. The first mountain biking world cup series took place in 1991. Its nine-race circuit covered two continents—Europe and North...
held in the UK. It has been held annually since 1998 and usually occurs on the weekend nearest to midsummer.
The 2011 event will be held at Eastnor Castle
Eastnor Castle
Eastnor Castle is a 19th century mock castle, two miles from the town of Ledbury in Herefordshire, England, by the village of Eastnor. It was founded by John Cocks, 1st Earl Somers as his stately home and continues to be inhabited by his descendents. Currently in residence is the family of...
's Deer Park, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
.
Levels of competition
The race has always had categories for teams in men/women/mixed. A solo category was introduced in 2000, with eight invited solo racers in 2000 and increasing numbers of solo entries each following year. The latest race, in 2009, had the following levels of competition:- Individual Male
- Individual Female
- Mixed Expert
- Mixed
- Open Men
- Open Women
- Sport Men
- Sport Women
- Tens
and the following subcategories:
- Guests
- Services
- Singlespeed
- University
- Veteran
Venues
Mountain Mayhem took place this year at Eastnor Castle, Deer Park in Ledbury from 18 – 20 June 2010.Challenging the country’s most fearless riders, the adrenaline filled event sold out in record time last year. Entry forms for the event can be downloaded from www.osmountainmayhem.co.uk from midnight on 28 February.
The first Mountain Mayhem took place in 1998 at Trentham Gardens
Trentham Gardens
Trentham Gardens are formal Italianate gardens, and an English landscape park in Trentham, Staffordshire on the southern fringes of the city of Stoke-on-Trent, England. The former house on the site, Trentham Hall, became one of many to be demolished in the 20th century when in 1912, its owner the...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
.
In 1999 the race moved to Sandwell Park Farm in the Sandwell Valley Country Park
Sandwell Valley Country Park
Sandwell Valley Country Park is a country park, run by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, in Sandwell Valley, on the River Tame in the middle of the urban conurbation between Birmingham and West Bromwich in the West Midlands of England.- Location :...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
.
In 2004 the race moved to the Deer Park of Eastnor Castle
Eastnor Castle
Eastnor Castle is a 19th century mock castle, two miles from the town of Ledbury in Herefordshire, England, by the village of Eastnor. It was founded by John Cocks, 1st Earl Somers as his stately home and continues to be inhabited by his descendents. Currently in residence is the family of...
in Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
. The course currently uses a 9-mile loop. This year's race saw an estimated crowd of 15,000 spectators.
Sponsors
Between 1998 and 2002 it was sponsored by Red BullRed Bull
Red Bull is an energy drink sold by the Austrian Red Bull GmbH, created in 1987 by the Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz. In terms of market share, Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the world, with 3 billion cans sold each year. Dietrich Mateschitz was inspired by an already...
.
Between 2003 and 2006 it was sponsored by Saab
Saab
Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, and between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, known as Saab-Scania.-History:"Svenska...
and Salomon
Salomon Group
The Salomon Group is a sports equipment manufacturing company that originated in Annecy, France. The company was started in 1947 by François Salomon and his wife and son. In 1997 it became part of the Adidas group. On 2 May 2005, Adidas-Salomon announced that it had agreed to sell the Salomon...
.
For 2007 it was sponsored by Giant
Giant Manufacturing
Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. is a Taiwanese bicycle manufacturer which bills itself as the world's largest bicycle manufacturer. Giant has manufacturing facilities in Taiwan, Netherlands, and Mainland China.-History:...
and T-Mobile
T-Mobile
T-Mobile International AG is a German-based holding company for Deutsche Telekom AG's various mobile communications subsidiaries outside Germany. Based in Bonn, Germany, its subsidiaries operate GSM and UMTS-based cellular networks in Europe, the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
.
For 2008 it was sponsored by Giant
Giant Manufacturing
Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. is a Taiwanese bicycle manufacturer which bills itself as the world's largest bicycle manufacturer. Giant has manufacturing facilities in Taiwan, Netherlands, and Mainland China.-History:...
From 2009 it has been sponsored by Original Source, a PZ Cussons
PZ Cussons
PZ Cussons is a major manufacturer of personal healthcare products, and consumer goods. It operates worldwide, especially in Africa and Commonwealth nations...
brand.
Weather
The race has recently had a reputation for wet weather (sharing similar weather to the Glastonbury FestivalGlastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
which it often coincides with).
From the first event in 1998 the race suffered from very heavy rain and the course became very wet and slippery. Many of the subsequent years were also wet although most of them didn't experience rain on both days of the event.
The run up to the 2003 event was characterized by very dry conditions and the race was held in record temperatures leading to fears about dehydration for riders and warnings to teams to ensure riders drank enough water.
The move in 2004 to the Malverns (and its heavy clay soil) was accompanied by heavy rain throughout the race with many riders abandoning the race due to the adverse conditions and leaving many riders questioning the choice of the new venue.
Questions over the venue remained at the start of the following years race, which started in heavy rain with fears of a repeated "mudfest", however despite heavy rain at the start of the race continuing into the evening the rain cleared overnight to provide a dry and sunny end to the race.
2006 provided a break for rain- and mud-weary riders with dry and hot conditions throughout the weekend. The Eastnor Castle course, which in the previous years rain had clogged bikes and caused wheels to slide and slip, was suddenly fast and dusty providing very competitive and enjoyable racing conditions.
Both 2007 and 2008 however saw a return to the rain and heavy mud with the 2008 summer being the "wettest summer on record" provided particularly atrocious conditions in heavy downpours of rain.
For 2009 the weather was wet on Friday, but dried up for the start of the race on Saturday.
Participation
This race is open to all who wish to ride to in it, subject to available space. The 2009 raceMountain Mayhem 2009
This page shows the results of the 2009 Mountain Mayhem 24-hour mountain bike race. 2351 riders competed in the 12th edition of the event, covering a total of...
saw an estimated 2500 riders. According to Patrick Adams, an organizer of the event,
Competitors may enter individually or in teams of four, five, or ten. Registration fees are £200 for small teams, £265 for a ten-person team, and £265 for individuals.
See also
- Mountain Mayhem 2008Mountain Mayhem 2008This page shows the results of the 2008 Mountain Mayhem 24-hour mountain bike race. -Male:-Female:-Mixed Expert:-Mixed:-Open Men:-Open Women:-Sport Men:-Sport Women:-Tens:-See also:**Mountain Mayhem...
- Mountain Mayhem 2009Mountain Mayhem 2009This page shows the results of the 2009 Mountain Mayhem 24-hour mountain bike race. 2351 riders competed in the 12th edition of the event, covering a total of...
- Mountain bike racingMountain bike racingThe Union Cycliste Internationale recognised the sport of mountain bike racing relatively late in 1990, when it sanctioned the world championships in Purgatory, Colorado. The first mountain biking world cup series took place in 1991. Its nine-race circuit covered two continents—Europe and North...
- 24 hour mountain bike races24 hour mountain bike races24 Hour Mountain Bike Races are a form of enduro mountain bike racing where solo competitors or teams race for a period of 24 hours.-Team Categories:...
- Sleepless in the SaddleSleepless in the SaddleSleepless in the Saddle is a series of 24-hour mountain bike races held in the UK, Australia and the USA.The format of the race allows entries to either be from solo riders, or by teams of varying sizes who ride in relay....
- 24 Hours of Adrenalin24 Hours of Adrenalin24 Hours of Adrenalin is a mountain bike event series in North America. In 2005, over 10,000 enthusiasts participated. 24 Hours of Adrenalin claims the title of "fastest growing mountain bike event series in North America"...