A new Enduro race series has been confirmed and dates can now be announced. They will be based in the north of England – with a toe dipped into southern Scotland – the Empire Cycles/PMBA Enduro Series starts in April.
Pitched as a grass roots regional series, with an emphasis on entertaining tracks that experienced riders will relish, yet the stages will still be able to be handled by first-time racers, with the organisers classing it as “Enduro for everyone.”
Last September PMBA put on the well-received ‘Escape To Gisburn’ Enduro event (see here) in Gisburn Forest. After the success of that event, the organisers decided to commit to try and put on a full series, this commitment has paid off.
There’ll be a whole load of new and one-off courses used for the stages, but the relaxed vibe and fun atmosphere of last year’s ‘Escape To Gisburn’ will be much in evidence too. There’ll also still be the flexible start times for stages, so you can ride round with your mates.
As well as the traditional PMBA locations of Gisburn Forest, Lee Quarry and Cock Hill, the organisers are putting on an event at Grizedale Forest in Cumbria and another at Kirroughtree in the Scottish Borders.
EMPIRE/PMBA ENDURO SERIES 2014
Rd1. 27th April – Gisburn Forest / Escape Bike Shop “Escape to Gisburn”
Rd2. 18th May – Grizedale Forest / Grizedale Mountain Bikes “Event name TBC”
Rd3. 15th June – Kirroughtree / The Break Pad “Break Out of Kirroughtree”
Rd4. 14th September – Gisburn Forest / Escape Bike Shop “Escape to Gisburn”
The first 4 events are a one day format, practice in the morning and then the race lap in the afternoon, 8-10miles per lap and three stages.
Round 5. 4/5th October – Lee Quarry & Cock Hill / Ride-On Bike Shop “Ride-On the Pennines”
The final is a 2-day event, 20 mile lap and 5 stages. Practice on the Saturday and then race on the Sunday, the final will be as tough physically and technically as a national level event.
PRIZES AND SPONSORS
Empire Cycles – have committed to give massive support for the series, coming onboard as title sponsors and promising six of their new-for-2014 MX-6EVO framesets for the series first prizes in the six main categories.
Hope Technology – will be providing series prizes and support for the series
KS – dropper seat-posts, as dropper’s are a must on any Enduro bike, so a great tie in with the series.
Ride Slovenia – JT who runs the business is a long-time friend of PMBA. One lucky series entrant will be off to Slovenia for a week with a friend in 2015 for an Enduro Holiday, so you don’t have to win a race to win a big prize in this series.
Singletrack Mag – Media sponsors with subscriptions into the prize fund also.
Entries now open via the Borderline events website – http://www.borderline-events.co.uk
Keep up with news on the Facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/PMBAEnduroSeries
WHO ARE PMBA?
PMBA are a grouping of riders, clubs and volunteer trail building teams from across Lancashire and the North Pennines. They are all volunteers and the thing that brings them together is the belief that putting some effort into digging and diplomacy can make the future of mountain biking even better. www.pmba.org.uk
Photos by Nick Moor http://www.npmphotos.co.uk/
Word PMBA and Jim Buchanan
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