Sunshine, a super-dry yet physically and technically challenging course, and a laidback atmosphere were the ingredients to the third Kona Cheddar Bikefest.
Around 700 mountain bikers riding in teams of four, two or solo took part in the 10-, five- or three-hour events and enjoyed a great day's racing on the short but tough Cheddar course.
Much-loved sections like Viper's Vale, Devil's Drop and Witches' Wood put big grins on the riders' faces, and some put in an astonishing number of laps and blisteringly quick times.
On the Saturday (12 September), when temperatures at host venue BroadwayHouseCaravanPark reached mid-summer levels, it was Werner Van Der Merwe (What Next?/London Phoenix) who won the 10-hour solo event with 29 laps in 9hr 50min. Rickie Cotter (Genesis/Cytek) took the women's title with 26 laps in 9hr 32min.
The pairs victory went to MyLifePT.com, with mixed pairs won by Torq/Kona. The open team competition was also won by Torq/Kona (41 laps), who had another great weekend after their domination of the Kona Bristol Bikefest in June.
By Sunday the course was truly ridden in and offered a variety of new challenges, even for riders who had taken part in Saturday’s 10-hour event.
Rob Holbeche won the open solo men’s five-hour competition with 15 laps in 4hr 43min, David Hayward from Patterson Training/Bikelab won the old gits' solo event with 17 laps in 4hr 51min and the female solo crown went to Fran Mundy from Torq Development, who would have placed fifth in the men's race with 13 laps in 4hr 54min.
For full results, see /www.timelaps.co.uk. For photographs see www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk.
Provisional dates have been set for next year, with the Bristol Bikefest due to take place on 5-6 June and the Cheddar Bikefest on 25-26 September, plus a new Bristol Mudfest in October. For more details, see www.bike-fest.com.
