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Off Road Duathlons

Santa CruzSanta Cruz Posts: 1
in General Chat
I currently go mountain biking as a leisure activity and recently took part in one of the Merida Enduro's, which is your standard type mountain bike marathon, 1000 entrants of wildy varying abilities. I have recently started looking at the possibility of having a go at Off Road Duathlons and wondered if this is generally a more competitive world rather than an "All Abilities" type sport. When I mean all abilities, I have basically never done any cross country running and would class myself as an average mountain biker. So is this something that I would be recommended to have a go at or should I stay clear.

If the response is favourable, which events in the UK would you recommend?

Many Thanks.

Comments

  • Jack HughesJack Hughes Posts: 1,262
    If I can coax my old MTB out of retirement, I'll be doing the Haworth Mudman Duathlon on 1st November.

    Never done one before. It's a mix of road/trail/single track. Actually, they are old pack horse trails which have turned into bridle ways. I'm hoping the emphasis will be on fun!

    http://www.4lifeeventsuk.co.uk/events/13.html
  • ashthetashashthetash Posts: 164
    I've done a couple of these and think they are tremendous fun (except when you break your bike with 7k to go and have to run with it and then do the actual run and end up finishing last).

    All the ones I have done are very mixed in ability range. There are the inevitable specialists but also plenty of complete novices, runners who don't really cycle, cyclists who don't really run and so on.

    Not sure where you are. There is a one in Cirencester in mid-November. Remember it being very muddy last year and I'm looking forward to this years.
  • JaminhoJaminho Posts: 11
    I'm going to be doing my first ever duathlon this year (Cirencester). I'll be borrowing a mountain bike having never cycled off-road before and assuming it's not too dissimilar to triathlon i'll be around the back! I wouldn't worry too much about what level others are at, if you think you'll enjoy it give it a go! My theory is i'll almost never be last, someone always gets a puncture or injury but mans up and carries on. Also if you are last, you get a big round of applause when you finish from people like me who hang around to clap everyone home!
  • diddsdidds Posts: 655
    I'll see you guys at Cirencester on the 15th then

    I guess Ash will be easy to spot!

    didds
  • robshaw99robshaw99 Posts: 15
    Jack, I'll see you at the Mudman (there will be 3 of us with White t-shirts on and Orange names on the back). First Duathlon for all of us and I'm not looking forward to the run up Haworth main street!
  • Jack HughesJack Hughes Posts: 1,262
    robshaw99 wrote:
    Jack, I'll see you at the Mudman (there will be 3 of us with White t-shirts on and Orange names on the back). First Duathlon for all of us and I'm not looking forward to the run up Haworth main street!
    I'm actually looking forward to the run, in relative terms . Unless I can find a better one to borrow, I will be on a 1992 Muddy Fox - which is knackered, and has no front suspension, so going down hill over rough terrain is a real pain. I think it is held together by ingrained dirt. So if I clean it, it will promptly collapse. Ah well, maybe one last blaze of glory for her, before she expires.

    As you are in the area, did you do the Bradford 10 Mile run last weekend? A good warm up!

    I'll watch out for you...

    I'll probably have a giant furry half bear/half dog licking me to death... should be easy to spot.
  • CaliforniakidCaliforniakid Posts: 31
    I'm entered in this weekends Mountain bike Duathlon in Wales, Coed Y Brenin, not fully persuaded myself to do it yet.
    Do you think taking a 5 day course of anti-biotics until Saturday, which my Dentist put me on will have an effect on my performance?
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