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Coming soon: Mountain Mayhem Sportive new route recce

110km in the sun? Beats working...

We spent a happy day in the sun this week having a look round the new 110km course for the Mountain Mayhem Sportive on Sunday 19 June. We'll be there on the day too, but this was out first chance to try out the slightly longer and climbier route for 2011. We took our video camera too, so we'll post the recce vid next week. But we thought we'd give you a quick heads up.

First, it's longer: 110km as opposed to 100km. Not a big increase but that;s coupled with some extra climbing: basically the extra climbs are both to Upper Colwall on the ridge of the Malverns, climbing from both sides. The first ascent is pretty much straight away, the second just after the halfway point. First time you do it it's windier and steeper, second time it's longer and steadier, but both times you're treated to some fantastic views out over Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Plus, you get to barrel back down again.

The northern loop has been amended to take out the B-road section to Upton-on-Severn, and is a much nicer loop as a result, still with some big, flat, popen sections but just on quieter roads. The Southern loop is more or less unchanged, ending once more with the water splash at Clencher's Mill Brook. Poor old Dave had to ride through it about 15 times for the purposes of documenting the ride, which made for some very wet feet. But on the plus side, he only fell off once, and that was doing precisely what you'll hear him on the video telling you not to do: braking and steering rather than just running it out!

We'll post a full recce report plus video next week. In the meantime, have a look at the nice pics, and if you want to join us on the day then click here to find out more...

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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dave atkinson | 12 years ago
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if you can ride the south downs way you can ride to upper colwall, i reckon  1

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slow-cyclo replied to dave atkinson | 12 years ago
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Thanks for the vote of confidence but I didn't say I ride the whole South Downs Way, just the bits near me. I like to cheat like that  4

Anyway, you've convinced me (did I mention my gullibility?) I'm off to register for 110km

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slow-cyclo | 12 years ago
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Ooooo I'm tempted by the bigger distance but this will be only my second sportive and I'm still on cyclocross tyres, maybe this is the kick I need to get some road tyres to swap in once in a while when I ride the odd sportive or two. Hmmm can't decide.

Mind you, my (sporadic) training has been all on bridleways and the South Downs Way so at least grippy roads will make the climbs nicer won't it? Or is that just me clutching at straws?  20

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