GORE BIKE WEAR™ TransWales 2009 – online entry now open
The entry to the 4th TransUK - the TransWales 2009 (15-22nd of August 2009) is open and we have already received lots of entries from all over the world. But no worry there are still lots of places available.

The online entry makes payment from abroad a doddle as well as it allows participants to pay for the event via credit or debit cards. If you have already paid your deposit by cheque then you an still pay the remaining entry fee through the online entry (meaning via credit or debit cards). Please click here to be taken directly to the entry page on the TransWales 2009 website.

Besides the TransWales entry the entry to the sister events of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2009 (ideal training events for the Transwales) are open as well.

Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2009 – entry now open
The 2009 Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series will be once more sported by our long standing and loyal sponsor Merida Bikes. For the 2009 series will again 5 UK events plus one ‘Merida Marathon on Holiday’ round in Austria up for grabs with all together 29 courses to choose from which will allow riders of all ability to find the ideal challenge.

Entry now open
We have now opened the entry by adding the downloadable entry forms and the updated online entry to the site. Riders will be able to enter all Merida bikes MTB marathons (except the Austria round) and Gore Bike Wear Sportives through the entry facilities. Click here to be taken directly to the Merida Bikes MTB marathon Series 2009 entry page.

Unfortunately the planned Barnoldswick round had to be cancelled due to excess issues which could not be overcome but rather than cutting the series down to 4 events John Lloyd managed to find two new locations to fill the Barnoldswick gap as well as replace the Builth Wells summer round. That means that we will add all together 8 completely new and never before used courses to the 2009 line-up. Exciting times in particular for the regular marathons riders we think. Beside the new additions we will see the return two long standing events within the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series – the Exposure Lights Bike Night Out (sponsored by Exposure Lights) night marathon and the ‘on holiday’ round in Bad Goisern, Austria.

You can find all the details on the new rounds as well as the old face full once on the event pages.

Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive Series 2009
The Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive Series will return with three rounds in 2009.

Dates (sportive to be run on the Saturday of the event weekend):
• 4th July --- Llanwrtyd Wells
• 1st August --- Selkirk
• 19th September --- Ruthin

As in the launch years each round will have two different courses (classic with 80-100mile and standard with 40-50mile) with the Selkirk round making the exception by hosting three. Selkirk will have the classic and standard sportive but also the newly introduced ‘extreme’ sportive with a course length of 130-140miles. So with three locations to choose from and with all together 7 course on offer sportive riders off all abilities should be able to find a suitable challenge.

We are currently in the last few stages on the new sportive website which similarly to the marathon website will have all the event and location details, course distributions and course maps as well as downloadable entry forms and online entry. If you can’t wait till the new site is up and running please be aware that you can enter the sportives also through the marathon website.