Some well known names on the MTB scene have come up with what sounds like a great new concept to create a day of riding and a social gathering for off roaders of all ages and abilities.
The ‘MTB Rendezvous 2012’ is scheduled for Saturday, September 23rd, in Co Wicklow and is the brainchild of Joe McCall and John Pennefather, both MTB legends on the Irish scene.
The concept is a different version of the road sportives that have become so massively popular in Ireland in recent years.
While those road events involve a number of rides of longer or shorter distances starting from the same place in staggered groups and finishing at the same spot, the MTB Rendevous 2012 will have a slightly loser structure.
The idea will be for off roaders – that is, anyone with a mountain bike – to ride on a route and distance of their choice in the Wicklow area on the morning in question, with everyone then meeting up at 12 noon at the Knockree Youth Hostel between Enniskerry and Glencree.
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McCall told stickybottle the concept of having an organised meeting point would enable people to ride with their club or regular cycling buddies for a as far as their legs would carry them rather than coming up with a structured route and distance that might not suit everyone.
“The only requirement is to rendezvous at 12 noon in Knockree Youth Hostel,” he said.
Pennefather said he had decided to work with McCall and a number of others from the MTB scene to simply try and put on a social event that everyone from the sport, irrespective of experience or ability, could participate in.
“Trying to create a spin to suit the super pro’s and the local trail riders proved just about impossible because the routes would either be too severe or too tame,” he said.
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“Either way, everyone would split up and be spread across two mountains – with wouldn’t be very sociable - within the first hour. So the idea was to reverse it; let each group of riders or club choose their own route and cycle out for one, two or three hours, whatever suits them. And then have a spot where everyone would rendezvous in the one place at the one time.”
The rendezvous itself sounds like a well organised bit of craic, with the Knockree Youth Hostel providing a venue that can cater for hundreds of hungry and thirsty off roaders after their rides. The venue is nestled between Enniskerry and Glencree and within view of Djouce Forest and the Wicklow Way. It’s an idyllic spot and involves only a short ride or drive home for those from Dublin or the surrounding area.
While only in its first year of planning, McCall and Pennefather appear to have used their standing in the sport as leverage to get plenty of people involved to the extent that refreshments at the hostel will be free of charge.
The event is being support by all the local MTB clubs, EPIC MTB, Mountainbike Association of Dublin, IMBRC, Team WORC, Racing 795, Rocky Mountain and Cycling Ireland’s off-road commission.
For further updates you can check the ‘MTB Rendevous 2012’ Facebook page.
The venue – you’ll travel far and wide before you find a sweeter location….
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