Everyday Cycling at the MTB Worlds
News Posted: 14 Sept 2007
The Everyday Cycling Event Truck and Event Crew trundled up to Fort William for the MTB World Championships and proved to be the biggest, loudest and most popular display in the event village.All week, we ran autograph signings, interviews and last but not least, the Everyday Cycling Static Bike Challenges. We staged two tests. The first was the Tacx Fortius Challenge, in which hapless members of the public were press-ganged into taking a 1.5km virtual challenge, against the clock. We saw some, erm, performances over the weekend, ranging from the frankly lame to the flabbergasting. However there could be only one winner… well actually two – one man and one woman. And after literally seconds of deliberation, interrogation of scribbled notes, number crunching and calibration of complex machinery, we’re pleased to announce that Daniel Wolfe of Dublin is our male winner, with a mindbending time of 1min 39 secs for the 1.5km. Daniel’s date with lactic acid burn wins him a Kona jersey signed by DH supremo Tracey Moseley.
Feeling the burn on the 2 minute challenge Taking the honours in the female category was Donna Urquhart of Aberdeen in a scorching time of 2mins 58 secs. Donna’s all-out-assault on the Tacx Fortius (supplied by
Fisher Outdoor Leisure – thanks guys) wins her a signed GB jersey.
Next we moved to the 2 minute challenge, which did exactly what it said on the tin – tested lucky contestants over 2 minutes. This time it was distance, not time, that separated the also-rans from the mediocre. However there were two shining lights. Uber man on the two minute challenge was Jim Lee, hailing from Edinburgh, who clocked a whopping 0.97 miles in two minutes, nearly beating the distance set by the Swiss Junior World Mountain Bike Champion, Thomas Litscher. Uber lady was Coleen Foggo from Perth, who stacked up a whopping 0.68 miles in the time alloted. Both 2 minute wonders win signed GB team jerseys. Congratulations to everyone who tucked in their trouser legs, threw off their inhibitions and took part – you made our week. We hope that you recover from your efforts.
Mingling with the crowd, the roving eye of www.everydaycycling.com But the winning didn’t stop there. We’ve also dusted down the Everyday Cycling tombola and drawn some names at random, from the list of visitors who registered for free with www.everydaycycling.com. The lucky winners (listed below) each won an MBR goodie bag with T-shirt, DVD, bottle opener key ring, stickers and more.
MBR Goodie Bag Winners
- Aiden Lowrie, Inverness
- Keith Thompson, Bradford
- Pete Scullion, Shrewsbury
- Gordon Brand, Dundee
- Lauren MacDonald, Inverness
We'll be getting in touch with all of our winners very soon so we can get their prizes posted out.
Fun and games aside, Everyday Cycling was there at Fort William with a serious purpose - to give visitors an opportunity to get involved with www.everydaycycling.com, find new events and new places to ride and keep up to date with the latest leisure cycling news. With the site developing all the time, and great new features coming online soon, we hope that Everyday Cycling becomes your one-stop shop for all your leisure riding.
Some people will go to any length to win themselves a signed GB jersey Our event crew was joined en masse on Saturday morning by the GB Junior Downhill team, who were interviewed by Everyday MC Andy Gillott. We chatted with the guys on the eve of their dates with Worlds destiny and like to think we were instrumental in Ruaridh’s mental preparation, resulting in his stunning Gold the following day. Seriously, congratulations to Ruaridh and the rest of the guys on the GB team for their fine performances.
If all that wasn’t enough, Everyday Cycling’s editor turned roving reporter Eddie Allen was all over the hillside like a midge covered, hog-roast eating rash, capturing the spirit of the event with a digital camera and laptop computer.
Go here to check out his spectator diary. The event village had it’s own special breed of folk, and to celebrate their diversity, we’ve assembled our very own gallery of Village People, in most cases without the dodgy moustaches and the Native American outfits. Check it out below.
We’ve also got loads more images from the event village including the Bikes of the Worlds, from eye candy gleaming on the stands, to works bikes of the famous.
We had a blast at the Worlds – a spectacle that added up to so much more than a racing event. We hope that you did too. And if you weren’t there, we hope that our reports here and on
www.britishcycling.org.uk brought you a little bit closer.
Village People
The human species is a many and varied thing and never more so than at a cycling event. Here's a celebration of the folk in the Fort William event village.
This chap was at the stand opposite the Everyday Cycling/British Cycling truck. Seen here in triumphant mood after his 2 minute challenge attempt.
Another 2 minute challenge victim, and living proof of the performance enhancing properties of the kilt and orange Crocs combo
Never mess with a man with a sledgehammer 
Never mind the Crocs, the 'CU Jimmy' barnet was another fashion cul-de-sac that Fort William folk were all too eager to drive into.
If you're going to spend a week on the side of a Scottish Mountain, you may as well be comfy. These guys even brought their own sofa. 
More faux ginger hair, this time teamed with the obligatory Tam O' Shanter.
Commentators Chris Furber and Dan Jarvis, the Ant and Dec of MTB commentary. 
The Elvis Cleaning Co. take a break from sweeping to throw some shapes in front of the EC event truck. 
More Tam O' Shanter action - this guy clearly shocked at the click of my shutter - yes I was a little bit scared.
Bikes of the Worlds
There were some interesting bikes on show, with a few sneak previews of 2008 stuff prior to Cycle 2007 next month. Fort William was also a rare chance to get close to the bikes of the stars.
A normal Orange P7? Look closer (see below) and you'll spot the belt drive singlespeed drivetrain - the ultimate in low maintenance.
Below: Charge are about much more than MTBs - here's their single/fixed urban bike, the Plug
More non MTBs - This time, brand new old skool BMXs from Raleigh, the Super Tuff Burner in Andy Ruffell team colours and gold laquered chrome - ah, takes me back...
Below: Islabikes specialise in proper kids bikes with a size for pretty much everyone. 
Below: Brian Lopes World Championship winning GT 4X rig.
Above: A certain Mr Peat's ride and below, teammate Nathan Rennie's 4X bike.
The World Championship winning Iron Horse rig of Sabrina Jonnier