On 12/13 October the popular Stan’s Oktoberfest will return to Ashton Court in Bristol for a celebration of the closing MTB season and a reminder of the start of autumn riding. Sunday at the event will also see a VDO RunRider Off Road Duathlon take place and you can be sure there will be plenty of beer to ease entrants through the weekend of racing… Get yourself entered if you live in or near Bristol!
We’ve just had word through from the organisers and here is what they have to say on the event:
Oktoberfest and RunRider Bristol 2013
As in the last two years the unofficial season finale – the Oktoberfest – will be the main but not the only event single track lovers can get involved in.
Let’s do this step by step – Oktoberfest
On the 12th October the Stan’s No Tubes Oktoberfest will return to the all weather tracks of Ashton Court Bristol with the infamous 8 hour mountain bike endurance event as well as two 4 hour (one has an AM start, the other a PM) races. All events can be ridden as solo riders, in pairs or in teams of 4. The 8 and the 4 hour events are run entirely in daylight – so no lights needed.
As always the Oktoberfest offers a huge variety of categories – 25 all together so you should be able to find the most suitable for you with ease. And each category can win trophies, beer and German baked goods on a ribbon – ACE!
A category NOT for everyone
And to take our category spread to new heights we event added a FAT BIKE category to the event. So if your steed has tires of 4 inches and wider and you fancy having a ride or race (your call) around with other FAT BIKERS than this is your chance. Just put FAT BIKE ENTRY in your team name box when you enter to be added to the growing list. We only offer the 8hour solo category this time round!
The course and other stuff
The Bristol course offers an almost 10km long loop with the perfect mix of fast flowing single track, short sharp climbs and all that sprinkled with a bit of technical descending. Pretty much perfect for a relay type event. The course is long enough for you to get into it, super exciting to look forward to every extra lap and to top it all 100% weather proof.
Friday and Saturday night will see the Oktoberfest Bar (loaded with a broad variety of local beers and hopefully some quirky German brew again) ready for business accompanied by our long standing event DJ. Catering will also be on site provided by the Luff Bus and we are expecting once again a nice mix of trade and retail stands.
The Oktoberfest will be in the new venue right next to the course with ample trackside camping to give your team mates plenty of encouragement, hot showers to get yourself freshen up for your next lap and/or the after party and lots of changing rooms so that you don’t have to strip down next to your car.
So make sure you get your entry in at the Oktoberfest Entry Page and if you don’t know your team members yet – don’t worry just get your entry in and you can tell us the other members later on. For all other details on the Bristol Oktoberfest please go to www.bike-fest.com.
But that is not it… RunRider
Sunday the 13th October is all about the VDO RunRider Off Road Duathlon. The RunRider mixes the aforementioned Ashton Court MTB trail with some beautiful yet demanding off road running trails to create a fantastic Off Road Duathlon.
Again with all level of athletes in mind the RunRider can be tackled solo or in a pair and there are all together three different distances on offer. The MINI RunRider with around 11km or running and 9km of mountain biking – the STANDARD RunRider with around 11km of running and 18km of riding and finally the big one the CLASSIC RunRider with 16km of running and 27km of riding. So lots to choose from! The event is run from the same venue as the Oktoberfest and competitors and expect fenced and marshaled hand over area, secure baggage storage, superb facilities and a great atmosphere out on course.
And if you want to make a weekend of it why not come along and do a bit of both. Maybe a more relaxed team event on Saturday, followed by a couple HEFE from the bar and a night camping in Ashton Court and then completed by some RunRider action on Sunday. We can’t think of anything better.
For all the details on the VDO RunRider please go to www.runrider.co.uk or go directly to the RunRider entry page to secure your entry. The entry has grown by 40% year on year and entries are limited so if you want to make sure you get in don’t wait any longer and press the button now.
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