More sizable event shenanigans from the Trail Break guys – this time it’s the eighth Wight Diamond Mountain Bike Festival on that there Isle of Wight (that’s the diamond-shaped bit in the English Channel just off Portsmouth). They’re planning a range of rides and activities from the rugged to the family-friendly, with a side order of parties and assorted daftness. Ground Control is Ninham Country Holidays, from which all the rides and events will take place.

The main attraction is the Wight Diamond Challenge, a checkpoint-based navigator race over Saturday and Sunday (returning to base at the end of each day). Then there’s the more laid-back alternative, the Trail Ale Trail – a similar concept except that some of the checkpoints are in pubs and shops…

Monday sees the King of the Hills mountain time trial, with a route over five hills. Or for the beer monsters, the SiS Hedstart challenge is the same route but you have to have drunk beer the previous night. If all that sounds a bit energetic, the Chill in the Hills ride offers an easy-to-follow waymarked route so you don’t have to think too hard, just pedal and enjoy the view.

And of course there’s a host of evening activities and side-shows back at base. Food, drink, live music, those comedy monkey bike things, exploding inner tubes and anything else that anyone comes up with… The island’s got some great riding, Trail Break know how to put on a fun event, so the Wight Diamond Challenge can’t fail, really… More information on the Trail Break website, including a full PDF information sheet.