2002 is looking more and more like the year that mountain biking returns to the excellent atmosphere of ‘grass roots’ events of a decade ago.

First date for your diary is the Calderdale Mountain Bike Marathon, on Sunday 13th October 2002. The event – run by the local Scout group – is in its third year now, with over 400 entrants last time. Though the 26.3 mile route might not sound so tough compared to 100km marathons, the fact they’ve routed it across five vertical sided Pennine valleys and the exposed moorland in between means you’ll have to “be prepared” to “dib dib” deep on the last few climbs. Food stations, marshalls and a sweeper team for stragglers and commemorative T shirt or mug and tea to put in it are laid on for all riders for just £12, and there’s even a bar with a shower when you get back. For more details and entry form head for the 24th Sowerby Bridge Scout website and prepare to earn your “grinding through tough Pennine trails” badge.

National bike week will also be packed with events to get you out on your wheels. The Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride starts and finishes at the National Water Sports Centre, Holme Pierrepont on Sunday 23 June 2002. With 18 mile and 50 mile routes expect all levels of riders to turn out, and it might be a great opportunity to coax less bike-obsessed mates and relatives to haul their wheels out of the shed.

The £6 per rider entry fee goes to Sargent Cancer Care for Children, Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, Portland College and Headway – the brain injury association. If you can raise more than £25 sponsorship you’ll be entered in a prize draw for a SShockwave Mountain Beach holiday like we gave away on BIKEmagic last week. For more details head for the Notts CC Bike Ride website.

Finally, Gordano Valley Mountain Bike Club (the only ones with a motorway service station named after them?) are laying on the perfect preparation event for the Red Bull (or if you didn’t get in the perfect consolation event). The GVMTB CLIC24 mountain bike ride is a 24hr circuit event, in aid of Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood, with support from BIKEmagic, local businesses and even the golf club it runs through. The 11th of May event is a month before the Red Bull, but the 6pm Friday to 6pm Saturday timing means you’ll be able to start your recovery on Sunday rather than lapsing into a coma at work on Monday twice in a month. There are team, solo and “surprise guest riders” as well as an onsite mechanic throughout the race and recovery barbecue on Saturday night.

For more information point your headlight towards the GVMTB website, but don’t take 24 hours about it as places are filling up fast.

We’ve seen a gloomy picture of dwindling pro teams and loss of big name outside sponsors on the mountain bike race scene. With local scouts groups, golf clubs and county councils getting together quality events for real riders, all over the country this looks like being a cracking year to be a mountain biker.

All that saved sponsorship money put back into R+D, lots of events for people who like them, and more space on the rest of the trails for those who don’t. After all which sounds more like real mountain biking to you? TV coverage and World Cup trailers or the bloke from the local paper and a nice cup of tea and butty from the catering van?