FAQs: 24hr MTB Racing

Can anyone race?

Pretty much, although you do need to be over the age of 18. You'll be made more than welcome whatever your skill level, but be warned this is a real challenge and won't be a ride around the park. To really enjoy the experience we recommend that you do a few regular rides on the build up to the event. We're not expecting you to go out and ride for hours, but if you can get used to being in the saddle for at least an hour, it'll help. Regular rides will also help you gain the confidence to ride some of our technical sections, but don't be put off, we won't be expecting you to be an expert trail rider, we just want you to enjoy the event and go away brimming with enthusiasm for mountain biking and the Wild Boar itself!

Will I need a license to race?

No. Part of your entry fee pays towards 3rd party insurance.

What do I need to race?

People have ridden these events in all sorts of attire, ranging from floral frocks through to nothing at all! But we recommend at least the 'bare' basics: a working bike; a well fitting helmet; a set of lights that will run for at least 1 hr and an attitude to have fun! However if you do fancy setting the naked bike riding record then that's entirely up to you...

When can I enter?

Entries are available now, visit the entry page and you'll either be able to enter directly on line or if you wish to use snail mail, you can download an entry form and send it to us.

Do we need a Team Captain?

Well if you want to race as a democracy that's up to you, but we recommend you elect at least one responsible member of the team who can organize you all. All correspondence regarding the event will be sent to their contact address and the Captain will be expected to attend the riders briefing on the morning of the race.

What category should we enter?

You should enter the category that your highest ranked rider falls into, e.g. if you have an elite rider in your team then you have to enter the Expert class. Please don't try and smuggle a ringer into the race, it goes against our ethos plus you'll get disqualified when you're found out, and we will find out.

What categories are there?

EXPERT MEN/WOMEN/MIXED: This is open to all Pro, Elite and Expert class men and women, as determined by their normal national race category. This team consists of 4 members of the same sex and 3 men and 1 woman in the mixed category. NB: The lady rider in the MIXED category MUST complete a minimum of 4 laps.

SPORT MEN/WOMEN: This is open to teams consisting of 4 members of the same sex who would normally race in the sport (or fun) category of a British NPS XC race. That means NO experts and NO elites.

MIXED: The mixed category is for teams of five that must contain at least one woman and one man. The rest of the balance is up to you.

PAIRS MEN/WOMEN: This is open to teams consisting of 2 members of the same sex. Make sure you're on good terms with your prospective partner it's going to be a long night!

SOLO MAN/WOMAN: This is the hardest category of all, a true test of both mental as well as physical fitness for all who attempt the holy grail of endurance racing. This category cannot be entered lightly, you must be aware of the challenge ahead. This however has to be the most fulfilling of all the categories, just you and your machine against the clock.

How many laps do we have to ride?

Every team rider must complete at least two laps to count, apart from any lady riding in the expert category; they must complete a minimum of 4 laps.

What facilities will there be on site?

Expect food, hot and cold drinks, toilets, tech support and much more, though it might be an idea to bring some water along for your own consumption. Experienced mountain bike event caterers will be on hand to provide your carbo needs 24/7, while our nutrition partner will be on site with a plentiful supply of energy products. We'll also have The Bike Wash Man on site with a plentiful supply of Hope Sh1tshifter and a powerful jetwash to help keep your bikes in good working order throughout the event.

Will I be able to recharge my lights?

Light charging facilities will be available throughout the night. We strongly suggest you bring a backup set of lights just in case and don't forget your charger! Keep checking back as we may be able to persuade our lighting sponsor to provide you with a killer event deal!

Will there be Tech Support?

Yes. Shimano will be on hand providing support. However please be advised that their support will not include a complete rebuild and/or service of your bike. It's up to you to bring a fully functioning bike along to the event. They will gladly fix emergency problems to enable you to finish the race, but please do not try to take advantage of them. Why not these lovely lads and show your appreciation for their support, beer is always greatly appreciated to keep them going through the night.
We also suggest you bring your own tools, spare parts, tubes etc and know how to use them. Although Wheelbase will be on site they may not have that certain part you need to continue your race.

Do we have to pay for camping or car parking?

No, your entry fee includes free camping and parking from Thursday night through to Monday morning. We're even throwing in free entertainment Friday night too!

What about the weather?

Well we can certainly guarantee the weather - there will definitely be some! Just come prepared, it could be blisteringly hot followed by monsoon type rain, but whatever happens, the race still goes on, and on and on regardless. We do our utmost to ensure good weather but hey, this is the UK you're racing in!