Mountain Bike Orienteering. What's the Crack?

words by Anna Buick

MTB orienteering events can be ridden alone or in a pair, often parents and children riding together. It is a really family-friendly sport which fosters fitness, independence and sociability in young riders, an aspect which the Governing Body, organisers and participants are all keen to portray. That said, it can be a serious business too. Great Britain is home to some of the best Mountain Bike Orienteerers in the World, athletes who travel all around the globe to race with a GB jersey on their back. For example, Emily Blenham was crowned middle distance European Champion in Poland earlier this year and also has a silver medal from the sprint distance at the World Championships in 2012. She is a full time athlete based in Norway - XC ski orienteering in the winter and MTB orienteering in summer. Sounds pretty good to me!

It is an environment that allows competitors of all abilities to adapt to suit their level of fitness and skill. There are two different formats: 'MBO score' which has a time limit but no set route and is scored on how many controls a rider reaches within the set time, and 'MTBO' which is the international format and requires riders to ride between the controls in a set sequence in the shortest possible time. MTBO is perhaps what would appeal more to cross country racers, it being more of a conventional race, though MBO score certainly ticks boxes for the more adventurous and those willing to ride less trodden trails. There are sprint, middle and long distance MTBO disciplines lasting upwards of twenty minutes, fifty minutes and around two hours respectively. Helen Clayton, former GB MTB orienteerer and current Expert cross country racer, says of the sprint races "its really difficult and exciting...the hardest discipline in my opinion", whilst the middle distance races "are great, you have a few long legs and some short ones and while slightly less frantic it's still a real challenge for your brain to go fast enough for the speed you want to ride at!". I spoke to Helen about how mountainbike orienteering would appeal to cross country races and she emphasised that the technicality is as hard as your navigation makes it, and if you are from a pure mountain biking background you will have the advantage of being quick on the more technical sections and thus going the more direct routes may pay off.

So there is a lure of adventure, the chance to bash together some brain cells and the opportunity to ride with friends and family. In addition to this the sport takes you to some beautiful places. Andrew Windrum, a prolific winner in the UK, comments "I've been lucky enough to go to countries I'd never have dreamed of going to, such as Lithuania", and has, "just got back from the Czech Republic". As you do. Not only are you going to the wonderful places, but instead of riding at one compact venue, you can be riding for hours in natural landscapes. Hungary, Italy, Denmark, Israel...

Another plus point that may appeal to the cross country rider is the duration of MBO Score events, lasting up to five hours on bridle tracks or three hours in the more gnarly landscapes. Those long hours on the bike we do to build endurance, well, they can get a bit boring. Perhaps adding a map and a healthy dose of competition would keep things exciting. Emily Blenham says "the map reading takes my mind away from the burning legs and lungs so I can ride in my maximum zone for upwards of an hour - I would struggle to do this in an MTB race!!". If it's not the long hours or the killer race efforts, perhaps you are struggling to fill the race diary, or get to the events which are spread far and wide around Britain. MTB orienteering runs several race series around the country and has a packed calendar, sixteen events this month for example.

Steve Willis, an organiser and World Veteran Championships racer, sums the sport up rather nicely. He says, "I like Mountainbike Orienteering because I enjoy riding my bike in beautiful countryside and using my navigation skills as well as my fitness to do well." 

So there you have it. Check out www.bmbo.org.uk for more information, and get out there!

Advertise your business/event here »