Sponsored by For Goodness Shakes
If you had only 24 hours to live, how would you spend them? For hundreds of mountain bikers the chance to spend the whole day ... and night... on world class trails is like a dream come true. What could be better than tackling the breathtaking trails of Forestry Commission Scotland's Leanachan Forest, home to the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William? And when you were finished riding them again? And again? And again...
Britain's ultimate mountain biking endurance event kicks off on Saturday 11 October 2008 in Fort William - The Outdoor Capital of the UK. Relentless 24 is a cross-country mountain biking marathon to test riders of all skill levels and abilities. However simply getting around the testing course will not be enough for riders as they aim to complete as many laps as possible throughout the day and on into the night, hopefully emerging the next morning with enough energy to celebrate afterwards.
Beginning from the event hub at Nevis Range, with a Le Mans style racing start, as many as 300 riders from across the UK and beyond will battle it out on world-class trails, from Saturday lunchtime deep into the night, with the event concluding at 12 noon on Sunday 12 October. From 'weekend warriors' and 'have-a-go-heroes' to recreational riders and cross-country whippets, the Relentless24 will test physical fitness, stamina and mental toughness on a technical, but achievable route, which will take in some of the legendary Witch's Trail and sections of the 2007 UCI Mountain Bike &Trials World Championships course.
The route will start from and finish at the Nevis Range complex, snaking and climbing up Aonach Mor and deep into Leanachan Forest and onto the world famous Witch's Trail. With at least half of the event taking place in the dark, the course has been designed to be rideable for the full 24 hours regardless of the weather conditions; and it won't turn into a mudbath.
Frazer Coupland of event organisers No Fuss Events, said 'The course is fantastic again this year, largely unchanged from 2007 but perhaps with a wee variation here and there depending on the weather. The technical climbs are hard but fair and there are brilliant singletrack descents as a reward!
'We are delighted with year that we have had with attendance at our regular events being up on average by 10 to 25% on last year. No Fuss is all about getting out there and taking part and Relentless 24 is a perfect example of that. With a team of four everyone can have a go and try mountain biking through the night in the forests of Leanachan. Don't worry if you haven't registered yet we will accept entries right up to the morning of the event! Plenty of time for some last minute fitness training.'
Riders can enter as a solo competitor or in pairs, trios, or groups of four. For solo riders, the challenge ahead is to conserve as much energy as possible whilst still churning out the laps, and for those competing as part of a team race strategies come into play ensuring that as many laps as possible are completed before night falls.
As with all No Fuss events, the emphasis is firmly on participation, enjoyment and fun for all involved, whether riders, family members, spectators or support crew. The event organisers go to great lengths to provide good quality facilities, free camping, food and entertainment from start to finish and promise an experience for all to remember.
