A SCOTS town will turn into a two-wheeled festival this weekend as hundreds of bikers head to the Borders.
The Selkirk Mountain Bike Marathon and British Mountain Bike Marathon Championships will begin this Friday evening on the High Street in Selkirk.
Top class entertainment includes a new Pump Track (a huge airbag on which to try out big air tricks), lung-busting roller racing, displays from a bike stunt team and a showing of stunning bike films.
Hardies Bikes of Melrose will also be on hand for everyone’s biking related queries and repair needs.
At 10am on Saturday the biking marathons will get underway, as hundreds of mountain bikers ride in a huge procession from the centre of Selkirk to the entrance to Bowhill Estate behind a special lead vehicle.
Once the flag drops in the lead vehicle, it’s game on and the marathon can begin, with spectators and supporters waving the riders on from the sidelines.
The ever-popular Selkirk MTB Marathon has a choice of three single-loop and fully marked courses (approx. 25km, 50km and 75km), all setting off in waved start and visiting the valleys of the Rivers Tweed, Yarrow and Ettrick.
The British MTB Marathon Championships will see the UK’s elite riders fighting it out over the 75km loop for national honours and those coveted red, white and blue winner’s jerseys.
Paul McGreal from Durty Events, said: “Our Friday evening Bike Festival is an extremely popular event within the Selkirk MTB Marathon weekend, with both locals and visitors alike having a fantastic time on the traffic free High Street.
Spectacular
“This year we have a Pump Track, head-to-head Roller Racing, bike stunt displays, an airbag and a mini bike film festival. Best of all, it’s totally free of charge, family friendly, and pretty spectacular. Please come along, bring your bikes and join in the fun before hundreds of riders head into the stunning Scottish Borders’ hills on Saturday morning.”
To round off the Marathon weekend in style The Selkirk MTB Marathon and The British MTB Marathon Championships will be followed up by ‘The Reivers Raid’, the fourth round of the Scottish MTB Challenge Series (mountain bike orienteering) on Sunday 3 May 2015 -http://www.smbo.org.uk/.
