An inaugural mountain bike endurance event that was postponed in April due to the wet weather will take place on Saturday 9 June.
The ‘Chevy Chase’ is a six-hour event taking place on a purpose built mountain-bike trail centre at Cheverton Farm near Shorwell.
A circular trail of approximately three miles of downhill and single-track has been constructed by the farm with help from keen cyclists and local bike shop Wight Mountain. It has been built on the trails constructed for the NatWest Island Games held on the Isle of Wight last year.
The six hour enduro event will see cyclists work in teams to complete a ‘Le Mans’ style race late into the evening – beginning at 3pm. The off-road venue will also be used for events throughout the Isle of Wight Cycling Festival, which this year runs from 22 to 30 September.
The centre is based on private farmland, providing cyclists with challenging rider-built jumps and banked corners, weaving through woodland.
The Isle of Wight Council has helped to co-ordinate the project which has also involved the NHS, Cycle Wight, cycling charity CTC, British Cycling and Natural England.
The Isle of Wight Mountain Bike Centre will be a seasonal facility, open between April and October. Cyclists will be asked to pay a subscription to use the track to cover maintenance and development costs, public liability insurance cover, materials and administration costs. Annual permits will cost £20, day permits will be available for just £2, either online or from Wight Mountain’s shop in Newport or the office at Cheverton Farm.
For further information including how to register, people should contact Cheverton Farm on 741034 or Wight Mountain on 520530.
The Big Wight Enduro according to www.cyclewight.co.uk takes you on a tour of the Islands finest off road riding. From the base in Yarmouth, you’ll climb up onto Afton Down and Brighstone Forest, before striking out into the heart of the Island and off the the Wights highest points in it’s south eastern corner. And the Islands hills are not to be underestimated! Form the beach at Ventnor to the top Stenbury less than two miles to the north, is a climb that would rival many in in Peak District!
What goes up, though… Superb descents litter this course, and the backdrop never lets up, through picture box villages, past rolling farmers fields, wooded hillsides and endless sea views on the high downs!
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