MTBMeetup 2016

What started out as a conversation between two friends on Twitter has fast grown into the UK’s largest social mountain bike gathering. Now into its third year, the 2016 MTBMeetup is in April and promises to be a great day out.


The first MTBMeetup, which took place at a very wet Coed Y Brenin in February 2014, saw 40 riders meet and do introductions over coffee before having a fun day on the trails. It was such a success that soon afterwards questions were being asked about the next MTBMeetup. It wasn’t long before the date and venue were released for the 2015 meet, which took place in the April at One Planet Adventure, Llandegla. This time, the weather gods looked down favourably and over 170 riders were treated to blue skies and dry trails. The 2015 MTBMeetup also saw the addition of an Adventure Photography Workshop run by Chris Davies, skills training by Chasing Trails, a women-only ride led by Trail Takeover and a Kids Ride guided by Craig Walmsley.


While the event was growing, organiser Si Bradley was keen to retain the grassroots ethos that had led to its popularity. The event is all about getting like-minded mountain bikers together to meet and ride amazing trails and is completely free to attend so it is accessible for all. Key to the event is a cycling raffle with goodies from lots of top biking brands helping to raise money for a cycling themed charity, this year the money is being donated to St Gemma’s Hospice in memory of the late Singletrack Deputy Editor, Jenn Hill.


For 2016, the event returns to One Planet Adventure Llandegla and will be held on 23 April. Building on the success of the previous workshops, Chris Davies will be running his photography workshop and including making adventure films. Chasing Trails will focus on a Jumps and Drops skills session and Alliance MTB will be running a Basics Beginners skills course to boost confidence. Judging by the amount of women who have registered the Trail Takeover, the girls will be kept very busy running ladies rides. Si has worked his magic with the team at One Planet to add a demo day to the MTBMeetup with Yeti, Santa Cruz, Orange and Ibis all bringing their latest models for attendees to test. Also supporting the demo day are brands like Hope, Sixth Element Wheels, Sealskinz, Broken Riders and Vee Tire Co showing off their latest products. Finally to keep the little ones happy, Ride North Wales will be bringing their Shoretrax.


The 2016 MTBMeetup promises to be an amazing day with 300 riders already registered. The event is free to attend and there’s even a number of free goody bags with products from Wiggle, Skratch Labs, Broken Riders and many more brands. If all this isn’t enough to persuade you to attend, then maybe the fact that Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery will be returning this year to provide free beer brewed especially for the MTBMeetup!

All photos: www.chrisdaviesphotography.com

For further information visit www.mtbmeetup.uk, follow @MTBMeetupUK on twitter or ‘like’ MTBMeetup on Facebook. To register for free go here.

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MENTIONS: @GoodGuySi / @hopetech / @Mudhugger

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