Wednesday 23rd March - Bike Park Wales - Mini Enduro Race Series - It is 7am, the sun is shining in Bristol, it's unseasonably warm, the shorts are on, van loaded with Specialized bikes and event gear and off we set across the Prince of Wales bridge and into South Wales, to Bike Park Wales, for a day at the Mini Enduro Wild Wednesday race day.
The format for the day was a Mash Up Enduro. For those not familiar, a Mash Up differs from a regular Enduro in that you can do as many race runs of each stage as often as you like, provided you have the legs for the climbs! The transitions between stages are not timed, you can do the runs in any order and ride with your mates down the trails - it’s the perfect format for those wanting race action while having some fun!
First up was sign on, and the guys at the Mini Enduro series did a cracking job with entries - fully booked with over 350 riders taking part - being that it’s a Wednesday, it’s amazing how many people managed to get away with “Working from Home”
There were 350 racers at the Mini Endruo Event
Time to get the MTB Beds event set up out and bikes ready
After getting our race timing chips and a decent coffee it was time to make ourselves seen. Up goes the MTB Beds awning and out came the Specialized bikes on display, showing off a couple of options of hire bikes we have here at MTB Beds, either Specialized Levo SL’s or Specialized Enduro’s.
So, why should you try out a race and why should it be an enduro mash up? Firstly, it’s fun. Any day out on the trails with friends is a good day in our eyes. Whether that's a week in Finale Ligura, a short trip to the Tweed Valley, or a quick evening blast at the local trails, they all count and they’re all awesome!
Enduro’s are a great format of racing, giving entrants the feeling of an epic adventure with transitions between stages, typically some longer descents sometimes with ascents thrown into them, and accessible to more bike setups, not just needing big, burly downhill rigs.
The Mini Enduro race series is focussed on fun. That doesn’t mean there aren’t fast boys and girls competing, but classes go from juniors up to 50+ Male & Female classes, with 17 classes in total. Plus with a great atmosphere around the pits, on the trails and afterwards at the prize giving ceremony with a beer in hand, these races are definitely worth checking out.
The crew over at GMBN were in attendance and put this together of their day at the race in one of the many E-Bike classes.
GBMN go E-Bike racing at the Mini Enduro Bike Park Wales
At MTB Beds we love attending as many grassroots events as possible. We love hearing where the MTB community wants to travel and where they’ve been recently. Chatting about adventures is our thing, so if you see us, come say hi!
Check out full results HERE
Mini Enduro Race Series Calendar
The Mini Enduro series was established with the aim of giving people a gateway into enduro and gravity events. After the success of their Mini Downhill series, Chris and the team launched Mini Enduro to provide even more opportunities for anyone wanting to get in between the tape.
The next Mini Enduro race series stops are;
- 26th June at Machynlleth, Wales
- 21st August at Machynlleth, Wales
- 2nd October at Caersws, Wales
You can find more information and enter HERE.
What events will MTB Beds be attending in 2022
There are so many events we would like to attend in 2022 and below are just a few we have confirmed so far
- 17th April - Root 1 Race RD1 - Tidworth Bike Park presented by B1KE Network
- 22nd - 25th April - The Cycle Show - Alexandra Palace
- 14th & 15th May - Sisters of Send - Afan Forest
- 29th May - Berkshire Turbo EMTB - Matterley Estate presented by Pedalhounds Enduro
- 4th & 5th June - Southern Enduro Mashup at Pippingford
Drop by our stand and chat to the team about your next mountain bike adventure. With trips to Finale Ligura, Aosta Valley, Morzine, Leogang, Tweed Valley & Cairngorms, we’ve got something to suit any rider and any budget. Check out our trips HERE.
