We’re just getting our stuff together for this weekend’s Saab Salomon Mountain Mayhem. As is traditional, we’re busily trying to cobble together some functioning bicycles, write a shopping list, wonder if we’ve got enough gas for the stove, charge things up and gather together as many pairs of clean socks as humanly possible. Big shout to the Lupine guys who’re sorting us out with lights for the event.

As ever, all eyes are on the weather forecast – what with Mayhem, Wimbledon and Glastonbury all on the same weekend, good weather would be a miracle, but actually it doesn’t look too bad – at the time of writing it’s predicted to hose it down on Friday and then be OK Saturday and Sunday. Fingers crossed and all that.

As well as our own Team Bikemagic.com, other vaguely BM-affiliated teams (ie ones made up at least partially of BMers) include Peak Midweek, Nelly’s Jazz Heroes, Woburn Crankers, Titus UK, Worcestershire Sores and multiple Hill & Valley Coffee/Origin teams (plain old coffee, latte and espresso, apparently). If we’ve missed any, let us know… We’ve no idea where the BM encampment will be, but it’ll have big banners all over it so you can find us – drop in for a chat any time. The kettle will always be on, although you might have to bring your own mug. And possibly milk.

We’ll aim to get pictures of as many riders as possible over the weekend, so don’t forget to style it up for the camera – the trick is to lean the bike far more than necessary in the corners and give it some pro elbows. Or crash in an amusing fashion, that works too.

Last year’s Dirt Demo day is now a Dirt Demo weekend, running from Friday to Sunday on its own course. The weekend is sponsored by Giant but includes bikes from BMC, Cove, Cannondale, Cotic, Gary Fisher, Giant, Haro, Santa Cruz, Saracen, Schwinn, Scott, Rocky Mountain, Maverick, Spot, Independent Fabrications, Specialized, Titus, Trek and Yeti. Online booking is now closed, but if there’s anything you’re interested in it’s always worth popping along to see if you can pick something up. It’s all being run from the Singletrack stand.

Other late SSMM announcements include Crank Brother’s pedal demo service. Head for the big Crank Bros tent any time over the weekend, sign up and they’ll set you up with suitably-cleated shoes and your choice of funky four-sided pedals – Eggbeaters, Candys or Mallets. Everyone who signs up for a pedal test will be entered into a prize draw to win some Crank Bros pedals. Whether one lucky winner gets to clean all the shoes is yet to be decided.

Right, we’re off to the cake shop for essential supplies. See you at Eastnor…