2021 Exposure Lights TwentyFour12

Distance: 13.1 Miles / 26.2 Miles
Surface: Trails / Undulating / 100% Off Road
Route: 1 Single Lap (13.1Miles) 2 Laps (26.2 Miles)
Water Stations: Every 4 Miles
Distance Markers: Every Mile
Parking: Off Road / Free / 100 Meters From The Start
Facilities: Toilets / Catering / Photographer (Free Download) / Free Parking / Free Camping
Prizes: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Male & Female / 1st Vet Male & Female / CaniX 1st, 2nd, 3rd (Half Marathon Only)
Freebies: Medal / Snacks At The End For All Finishers / Free Download Pictures
Camping: Free on Friday and Saturday evening - No booking required

Prices

Half Marathon - From £25 Pre Entry / £30 On The Day (If places available)
Marathon - From £40 Pre Entry / £45 On the Day

Age Restrictions

Half Marathon - Over 16's Only (On the Day Of The Event)
Full Marathon - Over 18's Only (On the Day Of The Event)

Participants strictly limited to 500.

Race numbers will be issued on the day of the event. Please allow time to collect the race pack from the race HQ before the start. We recommend at least 1hr before your event start) to sign on.

Signing on will be open at 8am so to give any keen runners time to get sorted well before their start time. At signing on you’ll need to find your name against your correct category and sign your name.

For any under 18’s we will need a parent or guardian to sign for you.

Start Time: 7.00pm
Distance: 10km
Surface: Trail / Hilly / All Off Road
Route: 1 Lap
Water Stations: None
Distance Markers: None
Routing: Self Navigation with map if required
Parking: Cash Car Park
Facilities: Toilets / Catering / Bag Drop / Photographer / Free Parking
Prizes: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Male & Female / 1st Vet (40+) Male & Female.
Photos: Free download after the event
Timing: Chip Timed
Results: Full results will be available online from Thursday after the event. A link to these and the photos taken on the day will be posted on the Facebook page.
Signing On: Opens 8am and closes 15 minutes before the start of the event

Please follow the signage or Postcode ST17 0UH for Milford.
ST17 0UH - Google Maps Link Here
From there look for "Event Signage" for parking.
Signing on will be at Run & Ride which will be open from 5.30pm.
We recommend that you arrive at this area at least 30 minutes before the start of the event.
Spend some time and warm up before the start and make sure you wear suitable clothing for night time conditions.
The start area can get quite windy so a windproof jacket and full length bottoms are recommended.

Given the event is at night time and in the dark then the temperature could be a lot lower than normal. We'd recommend you plan for damp / chilly conditions. A long sleeved top and a thin windproof that you could remove if you become too hot.
Avoid heavy fleece or cotton bottoms as these will just soak up any water and make running hard work.
Trail shoes are recommended. The course will feature some technical trails which aren’t suitable from road running shoes.

Transfers

You may trade your entry for a Transfer Credit at a cost of £1.00 until 15/06/2025.
You will have 12 months (from the date of the event) to spend your Transfer Credit. You may also use your Transfer Credit to enter someone else.

Refunds

You may Refund yourself the entry cost less £5.00 until 15/06/2025.

All of the above can be done by logging into your Racespace account and clicking on "My Entries". Please do not email or DM us with last minute requests.

Only 1 entry per person permitted.
We plan a route on Strava taking in the local roads, lanes & hills, so climbing legs are required!
You download the GXP file onto your Garmin so you know where you're going. The file will be supplied via email before the event. There will be NO route arrows or signposts.
You pick the start time based on what avg speed you expect to ride at.
You complete the ride and have fun doing so.
There's no need to sign-on on the day, just get going when you're ready.
Our Milford store is the official end point. There you can expect a warm welcome that includes coffee & cake should you want it.
Participation is totally FREE. It's open to anybody and everybody but please be mindful that you are out at your own risk. Run & Ride take no responsibility for you and your bike when you are riding the route.
Please don't participate in groups of more than 6. We are very mindful of the Governments social distancing guidelines.
When entering our store please make sure you sanitise your hands & wear a face mask, so please don't forget to put one in your pocket. We can supply face masks, but we only have limited availability. Hand sanitiser will be available at the front door.
Breakdown support is available, but only under essential circumstances.

Entries close midnight, Wednesday 28th April 2021.

The GPX route will be shared via email to all participants on or around Thursday 29th April 2021.

Please make sure you book your place so we can plan for the post ride catering. It'd be rubbish if you couldn't get any refreshments afterwards because we weren't expecting you.

Only 1 entry per person permitted.
We plan a route on Strava taking in some of the local lanes / roads / hills. Expect a mix of on & off road.
You download the GXP file onto your Garmin so you know where you're going. The file will be supplied via email before the event.
You pick the start time based on what avg speed you expect to ride at.
You complete the ride and have fun doing so.
There's no need to sign-on on the day, just get going when you're ready.
Our Milford store is the official start / end point. There you can expect a warm welcome that includes coffee & cake should you want it.
Participation is £5. It's open to anybody and everybody but please be mindful that you are out at your own risk. Run & Ride take no responsibility for you and your bike when you are riding the route.
Breakdown support is available, but only under emergency / essential circumstances.

Held as before on the popular area of Cannock Chase the event will once again be focused more towards the newbie or fun rider. The Classic events have always been about grass routes of mountain biking. Riders from 3 years old to 70 years. People who ride everyday and those that have just started. Everybody with one thing in common and that’s a love for Mountain Biking.

The course is traditional mountain biking with everything from short and sharp climbs, single track descents and fire road blasts. We aim for a course which 100% ride-able therefore where we have a technical section we will also have an easy route for those who may be not quite so confident. We often get asked what standard you need to be to ride in our events. We would say that if you're capable of riding the red route around Cannock Chase then you are at a suitable level. If you aren’t quite at that level yet then you may find sections of our full course a little tricky.

At the venue you’ll find camping facilities, fresh water, toilets, hard standing parking 100metres from the start and great view points for spectators. We’ll also have caterers and trade stands along.

Pre Event Information

We will send out a pre event email to all competitors 4 days before the event. No numbers or details will be sent out in the post. Amongst other things this email will confirm start times and lap numbers. Prior to this email please consider the race start times and lap numbers below for reference

Race Timing

All events will be electronically timed. Full results will be available straight after the final racer in that particular category finishes. Results will be available online after the event.

Photography

We have a professional photographer onsite during to the day. Pictures will be available as a FREE download on the day or after the event

Please follow the signage from Penkridge Bank to the car park area. From there you will be directed to the start / finish arena. We recommend that you arrive at this area at least 45 minutes before the start of the event.

Before you can start you’ll need to sign on and collect your number and timing chip. This can be done from the event HQ which is situated next to the start / finish. Using the zip ties provided, fit your race number to the front of your bike and place your timing chip around your ankle (either ankle)

About 15 minutes before the start, head over to the start area. Keep warming up and wait to be called up to the start.

Camping is free and will include:

Portable toilet facilities.
Access to drinking water.

There is no need to book for camping. You can turn up anytime after 2pm on Friday and camp for free on Friday and Saturday night. Please make sure you vacate the site before 6pm on Sunday evening.

Given that we provide the camping for free, we ask that campers assist us by taking their own rubbish away from site. Please do not use the toilets to empty toilet waste from caravans / motorhomes and the like.

Also:

Electrical hook-ups are not available.
Camp fires / fire pits / non-cooking open flames are not permitted anywhere on the site.

We understand that friends and family may wish to come along and watch you suffer. Therefore we’ve done our best to keep the course as close to the start / finish arena as possible.

You’ll find that riders will enter the arena at least 2 times per lap so the spectators will never get plenty of opportunities to encourage or heckle.

We encourage spectators along and make as much noise as possible.

Whilst onsite please make sure you:

Keep dogs on the lead at all times.

Please don't walk through or damage any of the course marking tape

We will be happy to process any cancellations up until 2 weeks before the event or entry transfers up to 1 week before the event. Please note that after this time we'll be deep in preparation and won't have the time or the access to make further changes.

For refunds or transfers please email info@runandride.co.uk with "Event Name" and "Refunds or Transfers" in the header. Please don't send requests through social media as they may be missed.

Transfer of entries or refunds will carry a surcharge:

Refunds - £5.00

Transfers - £2.50

Any booking fees are non refundable.

Toilets - posh loos are back for 2025 after a very successful trial in 2024
Free Camping - No need to book.
Free Parking. There’s lots of hard standing parking at the venue.
Food & Drink – we’ve managed to secure a ‘real’ coffee car vendor, Per-Cup, to attend the event. For the true coffee lovers they’ll be offering proper coffee. We’ll also be offering a wide selection of home baked cakes & savoury treats and delicious hot food.
Onsite drink water – there are a number of taps around the parking area with fresh drinking water.
Run & Ride Store will be offering the essentials should you forget something and dare we say something breaks. Of course all will be at a reduce “special offer” rate.
We’ll have trade stands from some of the biggest cycle companies in the UK along showing off their new range's.

Our race categories are designed to encourage close competitive racing regardless of what position you finish in. The breakdown of categories is as follows. Please, please, please enter the correct category! There’s no glory in entering a race that you are clearly too good for likewise there’s no point in entering a race against people who are much much quicker. If you've not entered an XC event before then please consider that whilst 2 or 3 or 4 laps may not sound like much. But at flat out top speed it can be really tough.

Women's Racing

During 2023 we noticed a change in that many riders male or female were quite happy to race together and each other. For 2024 we tested combining the male and female races with great success. For 2025 we'll continue with the same format. Male / Female will start together and compete over the same amount of laps. We'll still have final results split in to Male and Female

Beginners - Normally 2 laps of a 3mile course

Please before you enter this category ask yourself is this the right race for you. If you are fit and have any inclination to chase and beat the best Strava times then this is not the right category for you. As the name suggests this is for beginners, new riders or those that just know they aren’t super fit but like to have a go and be part of the event

Fun - Normally 3 laps of a 3mile course

Next category up from beginners. This is the most popular category. It’s for those who may of raced before but want to just enjoy it and not really worry about how quick they are. You like to go fast but you don’t spend hours a week on the bike and don’t class yourself as “quick”

Enthusiast - Normally 4 laps of a 3mile course - SOLD OUT

For the guys who race a fair regularly, spend a lot of time training and generally rip round. Ideal for any Vets, Sport and quick Junior riders. Not a category for Elite or Expert riders.

Elite / Expert - Normally 5 laps of a 3mile course

Top level racing for the quickest guys around. Ideal for Elite, Expert and the very best Junior riders.

eBikes - Normally 3 laps of a 3mile course

The race will be based over 3 laps of the main course. No age or ability categories. One single race for all. All e-bike's must be restricted in line with UK regulations i.e limited to 15.6mph. Spot checks will be carried out as will tests on the top 3 finishers.

Retro Bike - Normally 3 laps of a 3mile course

The history of “Cannock Chase Classic” goes way back to the early 90’s when mountain biking was just starting in the UK. We thought it would be great to see some of those old bike racing once again. To qualify for the retro category the bike must be pre 1997. Prize for best in class – The best looking Retro Bike in the event!

Cambridge Vs Oxford - 4 laps Male / 3 Laps Female of a 3mile course

A special race for the 2 university's Cambridge VS Oxford mountain bike teams up against each other over either 4 (Male) or 3 (Female) laps

Children's Race's - These are for kids aged 12 and under. For kids aged 13 to 16 then please enter the Youth category.

The kids races have proved to be a massive success at every race we do. Lots of really enthusiastic kids wanting to race their bikes and it makes a great spectacle to watch. The one piece of feedback we get is how fast some of the kids are and how difficult it is for new riders to take part and feel like they are on the same level. We've also noticed that we're getting really quick riders entering a couple of races as they look for a bigger challenge.

Our category system is quite different from British Cycling races. It's based around children entering an event based on their ability rather than their age. New comers can race in a simple 10 minute event or those with speed and experience can step up and ride a longer more challenging race. You guys choose which suits.... All we ask is that you enter the suitable event based on ability rather than the one you think you (or they) can win.

Children’s Racing is as follows:

Youth - (13 to 16) - Boys and Girls (Full laps of the adult course)

Kids - Racers - 25 minute race based on a half lap of the main course. Will include a couple of technical sections and hill climbs. Ideal for kids that are super confident and fast for their age. They would be competing on a regular basis

Kids - Fun Times - 15 Minute race based on a shortened version of the main course. Will include a technical section or 2 but nothing dangerous. The most popular category. Riders will be reasonably fit and confident riding the local Cannock Chase trails.

Kids - Newbies - 10 minute race based around the arena. Designed for new riders from young Balance Bikers to older riders who would like to be part of an event.

Please note that the race times for the kids event are approx. We aim for the time listed above to be the average so the quicker riders will be under whilst a few towards the rear of the field may be over.

The Course

As for the course, expect a real mountain bike course. What do we mean by that? Well plenty of nice techy, but fast flowing single track. Some lung busting climbs mixed up with a few fire road sections. As with all our events we try to create a few new sections with the backing from the Forestry Commission ready for the event. If you are a newcomer don't be put off by the "real mountain bike" talk. Our routes are 100% ride able by all levels and we don't put anything too dangerous in the course, plus anywhere that has a difficult section in will have a 'chicken route' alternative.

The course will be around 5 / 6km in length and take an average of 15mins (Top riders) 25mins (first timers) to complete. The course will be similar to one used for last years Winter classic but with changes to make it different and interesting.

If you are nervous about the course then look out for our special Pre Event course ride toward the beginning of February. Details will be posted up on our Facebook page

09.00 - E-Bikes Male & Female

09.01 - Youth Male & Female (Yes on the course at the same time as the E-Bikes. We've tried it multiple and it works)

09.02 - Beginners Men/Women

10.30 - Fun Men/Women

12.00 - Rouges

12.30 - Storms

13.00 - Sabres

14.00 - Elite / Expert Men / Enthusiast Men/Women

14.01 - Cambridge Vs Oxford

14.01 - Retro Bike Men/Women

Pre Event Information

We will send out a pre event email to all competitors 4 days before the event. No numbers or details will be sent out in the post. Amongst other things this email will confirm start times and lap numbers. Prior to this email please consider the race start times and lap numbers below for reference

We will not be sending out race numbers prior to the event. Please arrive with enough time (we recommend at least 1hr before your event start) to sign on. Signing on will be open at 8.00am so to give any keen riders time to get sorted well before their start time. At signing on you’ll need to find your name against your correct category and sign your name.

For any under 18’s we will need a parent or guardian to sign for you. By signing you are agreeing to follow the rules and regulations of the event (these will be posted on the rider notice board at signing on). You’ll be issued with your race number and cable ties.

Entry on the day will be available (Subject to the categories not selling out) with a surcharge of £5.00 (£2.50 for the U8’s, U10’s and U13’s categories). Please ensure you allow for more time to enable you to complete a brief application form. To avoid disappointment it is advised that you pre-enter via the website.

Pre Event Information

We will send out a pre event email to all competitors 4 days before the event. No numbers or details will be sent out in the post. Amongst other things this email will confirm start times and lap numbers. Prior to this email please consider the race start times and lap numbers below for reference

Lap Numbers - Lap Approx 3mile (15 to 25 minutes depending on ability and weather conditions)

Kids "Newbies" Boy & Girls (10 Minutes)

Kids "Fun Times" Boy & Girls (15 Minutes)

Kids "Racers" Boy & Girls (30 Minutes)

Youth Male & Female (3 laps)

Beginners Male & Female (2 laps)

Fun Male & Female (3 laps)

Enthusiast Male & Female (4 laps)

Pro / Expert Male & Female (5 laps)

Single Speed Male & Female (3 laps)

Fat Bike Male & Female (3 laps)

Retro Bike Male & Female (3 laps)

E-Bikes Male & Female (3 Laps)

*Please note lap numbers are subject to change depending on the conditions of the course

Pre Event Information

We will send out a pre event email to all competitors 4 days before the event. No numbers or details will be sent out in the post. Amongst other things this email will confirm start times and lap numbers. Prior to this email please consider the race start times and lap numbers below for reference

• Helmets must be worn at all times whilst you are on course with your bike.

• Your bike must be in good working order and suitable for the terrain.

• Any areas on the bike that could cause damage to yourself or others during a crash must be covered. E.g. open ends of handle bars / bar ends.

• Suitable clothing must be worn for the conditions.

• Abusive or offensive behaviour towards the organizers or other competitors will not be tolerated. Please refrain from using any offensive language.

• Please remember that you will be in a public place and whilst we have the backing from the Forestry Commission to use the land we must still share it with other members of the public.

• Please be courteous towards other competitors when passing. If passing a back-marker please give them plenty of warning that you will pass on the left or right. You must then wait for a suitable moment. Remember everybody has the same right to be on the course as you. Anybody found to be barging past or endangering others will be disqualified.

The start / arena area is based at the Tackeroo Campsite in the heart of Cannock Chase. The course route is based on a figure of 8 which makes it ideal for spectators. From the arena they will get to see you at the start ,after 1 mile, 3miles then at the finish.

The route is on mainly rolling terrain, hard stone tracks, singletrack sections that add an extra bit of fun to the course. We recommend trail shoes as the surface is un-even and could be muddy in sections.

From the beginning you head out of the arena into the trees and loop around and back into the arena before heading down into the valley on a mile long singletrack fun section. From the bottom of the valley to head along a steady climb back up into the arena. At this point you’ll find the first feed point.

Now you head out in the opposite direction where the course flattens out for a few miles. You’ll zig zag through some dense wooded areas before heading back into a valley. Now you’re faced with a long steady climb back up on the top of the ridge bringing you to the half way point.

Again the course flattens out before heading into another valley and an area called Brindley Heath. A really picturesque section of the course, you run along the valley with a stream and heathland to your right and wooded area to the right.

Now you're heading back toward the arena at which you come to at the 10mile point. You can pick up encouragement knowing you've nearly made it. One final long climb before you complete the final loop around the arena.

Route Elevation - 1882ft (Based on 2024 route)

2024 Strava Route Map

Please follow the signage from Penkridge Bank to the car park area. From there you will be directed to the start / finish arena.

We recommend that you arrive at this area at least 1hr before the start of the event. There will be a secure bag storage area for you to leave clothing / keys etc if you require although the car park is only 100 metres from the start / finish

Spend some time and warm up before the start and make sure you wear suitable clothing for winter conditions. Trail shoes are a must

The start area can get quite windy so a windproof jacket and full length bottoms are recommended.

Camping is free and will include:

Portable toilet facilities.
Access to drinking water.
Arrivals no earlier than 2pm on the Friday before the event.
All campers must off the site by 7pm on the Sunday.
Tents & campervans are permitted.
No booking necessary, we operate on a first-come-first-served basis.

Also:

Electrical hook-ups are not available.
Camp fires / fire pits / non-cooking open flames are not permitted anywhere on the site.

We understand that friends and family may wish to come along and watch you suffer. Therefore we’ve done our best to keep the course as close to the start / finish arena as possible.

The course makes a figure of 8 shape around the arena meaning spectators don’t have to walk far to see and support you a number of times.

Entry and parking is free for spectators so please invite friends and family along. Food and drink will be available from our vendors throughout the day.

We will be happy to process any cancellations up until 2 weeks before the event or entry transfers up to 1 week before the event. Please note that after this time we'll be deep in preparation and won't have the time or the access to make further changes.

For refunds or transfers please email info@runandride.co.uk with "Event Name" and "Refunds or Transfers" in the header. Please don't send requests through social media as they may be missed.

Transfer of entries or refunds will carry a surcharge:

Refunds - £5.00

Transfers - £2.50

Any booking fees are non refundable.

It's not all about the bike! Lets kick off the weekend with a 10km adventure trail run around the beautiful surroundings of Newnham Park, supported by Hoka One One.

Steep climbs and tricky fast downhills... we've set a course that we test any runner whilst at the same time will be one of the most fun runs you've ever done making it suitable for all.

This run is different to other runs in that you'll need your lights!! Yes this is an evening run starting at dusk and finishing in the dark!!

Newnham has got so much to offer for a trail running lover. It's got lots of hills (up and down), hard stone tracks, muddy single track sections, water holes... the course we put together includes bits of everything whilst also taking runners off the beaten track.

Don't expect any walls to climb over or barbed wire to go under. No boring grass farmers fields…. This is a "Trail Run" we use one of the best and most beautiful areas in the country filled with fantastic natural trails that make the area such a destination site.

The course / route is a tough one but that doesn’t mean it’s not suitable for everybody. We don’t time cut offs or anything like that. Some runners will choose to blast round whilst others will run / walk the route and just enjoy being outdoor enjoying the experience.

Medal and goodie bag for all finishers
Under 16's must be accompanied by an adult

Back in the day Newnham Park was regarded as one of the best XC World Cup courses in the world. What made it special was it's "Gnarly" (yes they used that word back then) downhills which made the venue famous. Sections like "Cottage Return" used to put the fear of god into the best riders in the world. These sections will be more technical than the standard course. We're not taking you down anything super technical and dangerous but they will certainly test the skills.

6 varied stages taking in some of the old favourites and a few new ones that will challenge any rider. The rider with the quickest times overall for all 6 stages is the winner... Simple but loads and loads of Fun!

Unlike in previous years we're moving the Enduro to a "Mash Up" format. This means that between the start time and finish time you can ride as many of the stages as you wish over and over again. The event will be chip timed and results will be taken from your fastest run on each section. You'll be able to session the stages over and over again to perfect your lines and improve your time.

Categories for this event are:

Male and Female - Standard Bike
Male and Female - eBike

Prizes will be awarded to the first 3 in each category plus the 1st Vet (40+) in each category. Minimum age is 16yrs

On the Saturday morning it's time for the kids to take to the start line for the 12 or 24minute XC race. The U16's and Under 12's will race over a slightly longer more technical course for 24 minutes whilst the U10's and U8's will complete on a slightly shorter course for 12 minutes.

The category chosen should be based on the child's age on the day on the day of the event.

Wolverines - U16's – *9.30am
Sabres - U12's – *9.30am
Storms - U10's – *9am
Rogues - U8's – *9am

*Times are approx. and will be confirmed nearer the race day.

The event will start at 11am on Saturday as part of the main race.

Solo (16yrs + ) Yes that's right, just you and your bike doing as many laps as you can in the time allowed. Male, Female Categories. Category is limited to 100 riders.
Pairs (14yrs +) 2 of you means you have someone to hand over to when you're tired, wet, injured or you just fancy a brew, men, women and mixed pair categories available.

Solo (18yrs + )

Yes that’s right just you and your bike doing as many laps as you can in the time allowed. There are two solo categories under 40 and over 40. Please note minimum age to enter the 12hr race is 16yrs

Pairs (16yrs +)

2 of you means someone to hand over when you’re tired, wet, injured or you just fancy a brew, men, women and mixed pair categories available.

Teams of 4 (16yrs +)

4 of you spread the load, which means strategy and planning or just arriving at transition to find noone there and shouting very loudly until your cries are heard. Also means that not everyone needs amazing lights with plenty of opportunity to recharge both yours and the lights battery.
Riding the 12 hour event means you get to finish at midnight sit round the barbie, crack open some beers and heckle the brave souls who are carrying on for the full 24.

Solo (18yrs +)

Keith Bontrager says you don't race for 24 hours solo, you just exist. Well that may be true but there are some mad people out there who do it regularly and can perform well without any sleep. These people usually have a dedicated team of helpers keeping them fed, watered and working (often affectionately known as pit bitches). These people should be marvelled at and celebrated (riders and bitches). This category is limited to 100 riders. For 2021 Exposure TwentyFour 12 will host the National 24hr Solo Championships (TBC).

Pairs (18Yrs +)

Same as 12 hour pairs...except twice as long. In many riders opinion 24 hour pairs is harder than 24 hour solo for deep psychological reasons... try it and you'll agree. This category also sells out...we have no idea why it is popular... prizes will be awarded for top 3 in each category.

Open Teams (18Yrs +)

4 riders in a relay format, you can choose who goes when and whether they ride 1, 2 or 3 laps at a time (this means less changing over and less time wasted in the relay transition), this also means that you just be able to get some sleep but make sure you have a good alarm clock for that 4am changeover. There are male, female, mixed and Veteran categories.

As the name suggests there are multiple races taking place at the same time on the same course. We have 24, 12 & 6 hour races all starting at 11am. The 6hr will finish at 5.00pm, the 12hr at 11pm and the 24hr continues on until 11am Sunday.

The venue is perhaps England's finest XC mountain bike site with beautiful scenery, a flat arena/camping area complimented by a course that has been used for five rounds of the Cross Country World Cup in the 1990s. It continues to have a superb reputation for variety and fun riding and is able to withstand some horrible weather and still be rideable.

Well ask a few questions of yourself first:

Have you raced your Mountain Bike off road before?
Do you have people who will be able to keep you and your bike moving?
Do you have high quality lights with a long ‘burn time’ (how long they will last before needed recharging).
Can you perform well with little or no sleep?
What preparation will you do?
Will it freak you out being alone in the dark woods at night?

There are lots of other questions but this event is meant to be endurable and enjoyable so if you have lots of No answers to those questions then you should really be thinking about getting some like minded souls together to form a team or a pair, this will make the weekend more sociable and will aid your ability to prove that you spent the weekend taking part in a 24 hour mountain bike race, challenging yourself and creating memories to tell everybody when you go back to work on the Monday.

Camping is free and will include:

Toilets and shower facilities will remain open for the duration for campers to use, subject to any change in Covid restrictions.
Catering will remain onsite and open for the race weekends only.
A designated spot near the race arena within Newnham Park is a private area not open to the general public.

Also:

Electrical hook-ups are not available.
Camp fires / fire pits / non-cooking open flames are not permitted anywhere on the site.

General

For 2021 the mandatory race briefing will be in a video form rather than the normal live arena meeting. It’s the responsibility of all team captains and individual riders to watch the briefing and inform members of the team about the detail. Any updates to the briefing will be issued at signing on.
Rider / Teams must complete as many laps as possible within their chosen time period (i.e. 6hr / 12hr or 24hr) Unlike in previous years, all laps must be completed within the time frame. Laps completed after the time has finished will not count towards the results.
All riders will be required to sign on in a designated website prior to the start of the event. Link will be issued in the pre information. The team captain will not be able to collect race numbers until all members of the team have signed on.
Riders may accept mechanical support on the course by any other registered rider but not from support crews. The transition and camp areas is the only area where assistance from support crews is acceptable.
Riders may accept food and water from anyone on the course.
Riders heading out onto the course after 8pm must do so with suitable lights on their bike. Riders main front light must have at least 1000 Lumins of power. Riders must also have a 2nd “back up” front light. 1 light must remain switched on when out on course at all times. Switching lights off during sections to save battery life is not acceptable.
Helmets must be worn at all times whilst you are on course with your bike.
Your bike must be in good working order and suitable for the terrain
Any areas on the bike that could cause damage to yourself or others during a crash must be covered. E.g. open ends of handle bars / bar ends.
Suitable clothing must be worn for the conditions.
Abusive or offensive behaviour towards the organizers or other competitors will not be tolerated. Please refrain from using any offensive language.
Please be courteous towards other competitors when passing. If passing a back-marker please give them plenty of warning that you will pass on the left or right. You must then wait for a suitable moment. Remember everybody has the same right to be on the course as you.
Anybody found to be barging past or endangering others will be disqualified.
For “track & Trace” reasons All riders and general public will be required to register their name and contact details before entering the venue
Should you or any member of your team feel Ill and show Covid symptoms in the week prior to the event then we will require you to take a test before coming to the event.
Should you feel Ill and show any Covid symptoms during the event then we ask you to self isolate within your camping area including members of your team and contact the race organiser. A 24hr number to call will be issued in the pre-information pack
Subject to Covid Regulations, masks must be worn when in and around the race arena
Masks must be worn for anybody attending the prize presentations.
No E-bikes to be used during the event. Unless given prior consent for specific reasons

Teams

A maximum of one rider to be on the course at any one time.
Handover between members of the a team must take place within the transition area only. A time penalty will be given to any team found doing their handover outside of this area.
For reasons of heath and safety we operate a strict “no ride” system within the transition area.
Each member must complete a minimum of one lap. Any team who are found to not be complying with this rule will face DQ unless they can prove a genuine reason why a rider hasn’t completed a lap (such as a accident/sickness).
Only one member of team will be required to visit the signing on area and collect numbers / information

Site

No camp fires / fire pits / non cooking open flames permitted anywhere on the site.
10mph speed limits applies when driving anywhere around the site.
Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times. It’s the owners responsibility to clean up any dog mess and dispose of correctly.
A main skip is provided for camping and site rubbish.
Condition of the Free camping fee is that you are responsible for putting your own rubbish in the skip yourself. Please don’t leave bags in the campsite or at the side of the access roads. Please help us reduce waste by recycling paper / plastics etc You park / camp on the site at your own risk.
We as organisers can not be held responsible for damage or theft of items whilst onsite.
Any easy-ups / structures must be pegged and tied down securely. In the event of high winds we may ask all to collapsed for the safety of those on site.
No petrol generators on site, only silent diesel generators are allowed.
No generator noise after 11pm or before 7 am.
Event field gate to be locked each night at midnight and open again in the morning at 7am.
You will be required to show your race number to gain access in or out the site during closed hours.

Our race categories are designed to encourage close competitive racing regardless of what position you finish in. The breakdown of categories is as follows. Please, please, please enter the correct category! There’s no glory in entering a race that you are clearly too good for or there’s no point in entering a race against people much quicker.

Beginners

Please before you enter this category ask yourself is this the right race for you. If you are fit and like and have any inclination to chase Strava times then this is not the right category for you. As the name suggests this is for beginners, new riders or those that just know they aren’t super fit but like to have a go

Fun

Next category up from beginners. This is the most popular category. It’s for those who may of raced before but want to just enjoy it and not really worry about how quick they are. You like to go fast but you don’t spend hours a week on the bike and don’t class yourself as “quick”

Enthusiast

For the guys who race a fair bit, spend al lot of time training and generally rip round. Ideal for any Vets, Sport and quick Junior riders. Not a category for Elite or Expert riders.

Pro / Expert

Top level racing for the quickest guys around. Ideal for Elite, Expert and the very best Junior riders.

Single Speed / Fat Bike

Once again we’re offering a category for Single-Speed and Fat Bike. Tyres on a Fat Bike must be 3″ plus

Retro Bike

The history of “Cannock Chase Classic” goes way back to the early 90’s when mountain biking was just starting in the UK. We thought it would be great to see some of those old bike racing once again. To qualify for the retro category the bike must be pre 1995. Prize for best in class – The best looking Retro Bike in the event!

Children’s Race

The kids races have proved to be a massive success at every race we do. We generally got lots of really enthusiastic kids wanting to race their bikes and it makes a great spectacle to watch. The one piece of feedback we get is how fast some of the kids are and how difficult it is for new riders to take part and feel like they are on the same level. We’ve also noticed that we’re getting really quick riders entering a couple of races as they look for a bigger challenge.

We’ve decided to test a new format for the Winter Classic. It’s based around children entering an event based on their ability rather than their age. New comers can race in a simple 10 minute event or those with speed and experience can step up and ride a longer more challenging race. You guys choose which suits. All we ask is that you enter the suitable event based on ability rather than the one you think you (or they) can win.

We’ve been and competed in a number of Off Road Duathlons and always end up disappointed with the quality of the courses. You’ll be pleased to know that both the Run and Bike course will be on real off road trails.

Expect lots of tight twisty single track, short sharp climbs and fast and fun downhills. The ground in Cannock Chase is mostly sand and gravel based so it drains very well meaning its suitable for all year round riding. Saying this please expect to get wet and muddy... it's part of doing events at this time of year.

The terrain isn’t particularly rocky and we will not be including any dangerous technical sections such as jumps or drops. This means it’s challenging for the fast riders who will hit sections at speed whilst manageable for newbies riding or running the sections at a slower pace.

09.30 – E-Bikes Male & Female
09.30 – Youth Male & Female
09.31 – Beginners Men
09.32 – Beginners Ladies
10.45 – Fun Men
10.46 – Fun Women
12.15 – Rouges
12.30 – Storms
13.00 – Sabres
13.45 – Elite / Expert Men / Enthusiast Men
13.46 – Single Speed / Fat Bike Men / Retro Bike Men
13.46 – Elite / Expert Female & Enthusiast Ladies
13.46 – Single Speed / Fat Bike Ladies / Retro Bike Men

We will not be sending out race numbers prior to the event. Please arrive with enough time (we recommend at least 1hr before your event start) to sign on. Signing on will be open at 8.30am so to give any keen riders time to get sorted well before their start time. At signing on you’ll need to find your name against your correct category and sign your name.

For any under 18’s we will need a parent or guardian to sign for you. By signing you are agreeing to follow the rules and regulations of the event (these will be posted on the rider notice board at signing on). You’ll be issued with your race number and cable ties.

We’ll need to take a £1 deposit for each number which will be given back on return of the number.

Entry on the day will be available with a surcharge of £5.00 (£2.50 for the U8’s, U10’s and U13’s categories). Please ensure you allow for more time to enable you to complete a brief application form. It is advised where possible that you enter via the website, this will remain open until midnight Wednesday 26th February.

The main adults course is based on a 3 mile lap on undulating terrain. We would estimate that lap times will be between 18 minutes for the fast riders and 30 minutes for the beginners.

Rouge’s Boy & Girls (10 Minutes)
Storm’s Boy & Girls (15 Minutes)
Sabre’s Boy & Girls (30 Minutes)
Youth Male & Female (M – 3 laps / F – 2 laps)
Beginners Male & Female (M – 2 laps / F – 1 laps)
Fun Male & Female (M – 3 laps / F – 2 laps)
Enthusiast Male & Female (M – 4 laps / F – 3 laps)
Pro / Expert Male & Female (M – 5 laps / F – 4 laps)
Single Speed Male & Female (M – 3laps / F – 2 Laps)
Fat Bike Male & Female (M – 3laps / F – 2 Laps)
Retro Bike Male & Female (M – 3laps / F – 2 Laps)
E-Bikes Male & Female (M – 3 Laps / F – 2 Laps)

Helmets must be worn at all times whilst you are on course with your bike.
Your bike must be in good working order and suitable for the terrain.
Any areas on the bike that could cause damage to yourself or others during a crash must be covered. E.g. open ends of handle bars / bar ends.
Suitable clothing must be worn for the conditions.
Abusive or offensive behaviour towards the organizers or other competitors will not be tolerated. Please refrain from using any offensive language.
Please remember that you will be in a public place and whilst we have the backing from the Forestry Commission to use the land we must still share it with other members of the public.
Please be courteous towards other competitors when passing. If passing a back-marker please give them plenty of warning that you will pass on the left or right. You must then wait for a suitable moment. Remember everybody has the same right to be on the course as you.
Anybody found to be barging past or endangering others will be disqualified.

Distance: 12km
Surface: Trails / Undulating / 100% Off Road
Route: 1 Single Lap
Water Stations: Every 3 Miles
Parking: Off Road / Free / 100 Meters From The Start
Facilities: Toilets / Catering / Photographer / Free Parking / Free Camping (no booking necessary)
Medal: Bespoke design. Now optional for those that are happy to go without and save themselves a few quid
Start Times: U14's 9.30am / Adult And Junior 10.30am
Time Cut Off - None

We will not be sending out race numbers prior to the event. Please arrive with enough time (we recommend at least 1hr before your event start) to sign on and complete your warm up. Signing on will be open at 8am so to give any keen runners time to get sorted, maybe nip off and run the local Parkrun and get back well before their start time. At signing on you'll need to find your name against your correct category and sign your name. You'll then collect your race number, pins and timing chip. Please remember that we'l need your timing chip back after the event. Drop your timing chip in the buckets after the finish line

We believe that the kids deserve to be part of the event as much as the adults. It also gives the whole family a chance to have a go. For Under 14's the course will be approx 2.5k long and include similar sections to the adults course but slightly less technical. We are happy for parents to join the children on course and run round with them if required. All will receive a little prize and a *medal on completion.

*Medal option. Please choose during entry

Distance: 12km
Surface: Trail / Hilly / All Off Road / Water Section (average sized person knee deep)
Route: 1 Lap
Water Stations: Every 4km
Distance Markers: Every 3km
Parking: Off Road / Free (100metres from the start
Facilities: Toilets / Catering / Bag Drop / Photographer (Free Downloads) / Free Parking / Free Camping (Friday / Saturday Night)
Prizes: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Male & Female / 1st 50yrs+ Male & Female / 1st Junior Male & Female
Freebies: Medal
Start Time: 9.30am – Under 14’s, 10.30am – Main Event (Adults And Junior Start)

Please follow the signage from Penkridge Bank to the car park area. From there you will be directed to the start / finish arena.

We recommend that you arrive at this area at least 1hr before the start of the event. There will be a secure bag storage area for you to leave clothing / keys etc if you require although the car park is only 100 metres from the start / finish

Spend some time and warm up before the start and make sure you wear suitable clothing for winter conditions. Trail shoes are a must

The start area can get quite windy so a windproof jacket and full length bottoms are recommended.

We understand that friends and family may wish to come along and watch you suffer. Therefore we’ve done our best to keep the course as close to the start / finish arena as possible.

The course makes a figure of 8 shape around the arena meaning spectators don’t have to walk far to see and support you a number of times.

Unfortunately the "Ditch Of Doom" is at the furthest section away from the finish so it's not easy for spectators to get to that point unless they've got a bike with them.

Entry onto the site and parking is free for spectators so please invite friends and family along.

Given the time of year we recommend you plan for wet / cold conditions. Last year we experienced rain, hail, wind and sun! To start with trail shoes are a must. It will be wet and slippy throughout the event and trail shoes will give you the best chance of getting grip and staying on your feet!

Look out for details of the Scott Sports Shoe demo where you can test a pair of their amazing trails shoes during the event.

Cover the legs with tights or very light track suit bottoms. Avoid heavy fleece or cotton bottoms as these will just soak up water and make running very hard work.

On top we recommend a good base layer with either a highly breathable top for those running quick or a lightweight waterproof for those taking their time. Again try to avoid thick cotton or polyester tops. You don’t need to carry any water as you can get this from the water stations around the course.

It's always good to have a pair of gloves and a hat with you. You can always take them off if you need to

We’d recommend that you don’t carry phones or cameras as the course does include an areas of deep (ish) water. If you do please make sure they are in waterproof holders.

We will be happy to process any cancellations up until 2 weeks before the event or entry transfers up to 1 week before the event. Please note that after this time we'll be deep in preparation and won't have the time or the access to make further changes.

For refunds or transfers please email info@runandride.co.uk with "Event Name" and "Refunds or Transfers" in the header. Please don't send requests through social media as they may be missed.

Transfer of entries or refunds will carry a surcharge:

Refunds - £5.00

Transfers - £2.50

Any booking fees are non refundable.

Prize presentation will take place around 15 minutes after we have all the podium competitors finished.
Full results will be available online from Monday after the event.
A link to the results and the photos taken on the day will be posted on the Facebook page and emailed to each competitor
It's quite difficult to measure a trail course accurately therefore the course maybe slightly short or long (more likely)
This is a fun event rather than a serious race. Above all else we want you to have fun!
We don't have any cut times for this event

The event begins with a mass start. This means regardless of category or duration (3hr or 6hr) the Solo riders and 1 member of the team will all start at once. The idea is to complete as many laps as possible within the time. Only laps completed within the 3hr or 6hr mark will count so you need to time your final laps to perfection. If you cross the line after your time is up then that lap won't count. Even if you're 1 second over! This means you'll need to give plenty of thought to how quick you or your team mate has been completing a lap and if you can complete that last lap in time.

Solos - It just you. Well you and a number of helpers no doubt. You'll start and ride as many laps as you can in the 3hrs or 6hrs. You can leave the course at the designated point in the arena at any time for supplies, repairs or a rest and then rejoin again if you wish. To register a result you must complete as least 1 lap. The winner is the person that completes as many laps as possible within the 3hrs or 6hrs.

Teams - So you're going to share the riding. 1 member of the team will start the race at the beginning. You will then hand over the baton to your team mate at the designated point (at the end of a lap) so they can continue. Only 1 member of the team can be on the course at 1 time. They can complete 1 lap before handing over or as many as they wish before they hand over the baton to the team mate. Like the solo's the idea is to complete as many laps as possible within the 3hr or 6hr time. To register a result each team must complete at least 1 lap. The team member who's not riding doesn't have to wait in a pen or anything like that.

Tackeroo Camp Site Penkridge Bank Road Nr Rugeley Staffordshire WS15 2UA

Cannock Chase is a "Hot Spot" for mountain biking in the UK. A venue famous for it's Follow The Dog / Monkey Trail mountain bike routes. Multiple National MTB events as well as regular grass root level events under the "Cannock Chase Classic" title have been held at the venue over the past few years.. It's an area of outstanding natural beauty and blessed with miles and miles of tracks and trails perfect for a number of outdoor sports. The Tackeroo site which we use is ideal for MTB events. Hardstanding flat base for the arena with parking and camping within a few hundred meters from the arena. The trails are challenging without being dangerous. Technical to test the fast rider but safe enough for the beginner riding at a slower pace. This makes our courses suitable for experienced and new riders alike.

Easily accessible from the north or the south Tackeroo is around 15 minutes from the M6 motorway junctions at Cannock (South) or Stafford (North).

As for the course, expect a real mountain bike course. What do we mean by that? Well plenty of nice techy, but fast flowing single track. and some lung busting climbs mixed up with a few fire road sections. As with all our events we try to create a few new sections with the backing from the Forestry Commission ready for the event. If you are a newcomer then please don’t be put off by the “real mountain bike” talk. Our courses are 100% ride-able by all levels and we don’t put anything too dangerous in the course, plus anywhere that has a difficult section in will have a ‘easy route’ alternative. The course will be around 10km in length and take an average of 30mins (Top riders) 45mins (first timers) to complete.

Please follow the signage from Penkridge Bank to the car park area. From there you will be directed to the start / finish arena. We recommend that you arrive at this area at least 45 minutes before the start of the event.

Before you can start you’ll need to sign on and collect your numbers. 1 (solo) or 2 (team) will need to be fitted onto your bike with zip ties (given when signing on) You will not be allowed to enter the course without a number board on your bike.

There will be a secure bag storage area for you to leave clothing / keys etc. Spend some time and warm up before the start and make sure you wear suitable clothing for winter conditions. The start area can get quite windy so a windproof jacket and full length bottoms are recommended.

About 15 minutes before the start, head over to the start area. Keep warming up and wait to be called up to the start.

Camping is free and will include:

Portable toilet facilities.
Access to drinking water.
Arrivals no earlier than 2pm on the Friday before the event.
All campers must off the site by 7pm on the Sunday.
Tents & campervans are permitted.
No booking necessary, we operate on a first-come-first-served basis.

Also:

Electrical hook-ups are not available.
Camp fires / fire pits / non-cooking open flames are not permitted anywhere on the site.

Facilities:

Toilets.
Camping – FREE on the Friday / Saturday night.
Parking – Free, there’s lots of hard standing parking at the venue.
Photography - Free downloads to pictures after the event.
Food & Drink – we’ve managed to secure ‘real’ coffee car vendor to attend the event. For the true coffee lovers they’ll be offering proper coffee. We’ll also be offering a wide selection of home baked cakes & savoury treats and hot food from some fantastic caterers.
Onsite drink water – there are a number of taps around the parking area with fresh drinking water.
Massage Therapy will be set up early Sunday morning offering pre-race treatment and post race treatments. The effects on the legs of a good massage cannot be under estimated.
Run & Ride will be offering the essentials should you forget something and dare we say something breaks. All of course all will be at a “special offer” rate.

We understand that friends and family may wish to come along and watch you suffer. Therefore we’ve done our best to keep the course as close to the start / finish arena as possible.

The course makes a figure of 8 shape around the arena meaning spectators don’t have to walk far to see and support you a number of times.

Entry and parking is free for spectators so please invite friends and family along.

We will be happy to process any cancellations up until 2 weeks before the event.

Cancellations will carry a £5 admin fee. You will also have the option to change details, move category or transfer entries to another rider or have a refund. This can be done through the entry site.

Transfer of entries will carry a surcharge of £2.50

All transfers and refund can be done through the Racespace website. Log into your account and click on “my entries” for further details

No changes or refunds after this date.

Start Time: 8.30pm
Distance: 10km
Surface: Trail / Hilly / All Off Road /
Route: 1 Lap
Water Stations: At 5km
Distance Markers: Every 2km
Parking: Off Road / Free
Facilities: Toilets / Catering / Bag Drop / Photographer / Free Parking
Prizes: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Male & Female / 1st Vet Male & Female. Prize presentation will take place around 30 minutes after the 3rd place female has crossed the line. Prizes for the Team events will be posted out a few days after the event.
Freebies: Medal / Goodies
Photos: Free download after the event
Timing: Chip Timed
Results: Full results will be available online no later than Monday after the event. A link to these and the photos taken on the day will be emailed to all participants and also posted on the Facebook page.

Please follow the signage from Penkridge Bank to the car park area. From there you will be directed to the start / finish arena.
We recommend that you arrive at this area at least 30 minutes before the start of the event.
There will be a secure bag storage area for you to leave clothing / keys etc although the Car Park is only 100metres from the start.
Spend some time and warm up before the start and make sure you wear suitable clothing for night time conditions.
The start area can get quite windy so a windproof jacket and full length bottoms are recommended.

Given the event is at night time and in the dark then the temperature could be a lot lower than normal. We'd recommend you plan for damp / chilly conditions. A long sleeved top and a thin windproof that you could remove if you become too hot.
Avoid heavy fleece or cotton bottoms as these will just soak up any water and make running hard work.
Trail shoes are recommended. The course will feature some technical trails which aren’t suitable from road running shoes.

Transfers

You may trade your entry for a Transfer Credit at a cost of £1.00 until 13/05/2023.
You will have 12 months (from the date of the event) to spend your Transfer Credit. You may also use your Transfer Credit to enter someone else.

Refunds

You may Refund yourself the entry cost less £5.00 until 6/05/2023.

All of the above can be done by logging into your Racespace account and clicking on "My Entries". Please do not email or DM us with last minute requests.