For the very first time ever, the event, one of the biggest and best 24-hour mountain bike challenges in the UK, included ‘Kickbike Magic’, a 3-man relay team riding a standard production XC Kickbike, rather than mountain bikes.

There were over 2000 pro, semi-pro and serious riders competing at Mountain Mayhem, along with spectators and back-up teams in an enormous tented city of several thousand tents. The objective is to finish as many laps as possible over the 24hour period from 2pm Saturday until 2pm Sunday. The main category of entrants is the 4-person relay teams plus about 50 or so solo entrants who ride the entire 24h!

Petes’ team were riding Kickbikes, which look like a cross between a standard two-wheel bike, and a scooter. They were up against 253 all male teams riding mountain bikes on the 4-person relay.

The course this year was a seriously tough 10 mile route over many different terrain’s in the fine setting of Eastnor Castle Deer Park near Ledbury, climbing a total of 1600ft with technically demanding stretches both up and downhill.

The Kickbike team included Alpo ‘the beast’ Kuusisto record holder in many categories, one of Europe’s fastest riders Rick van Camp and Graeme Lloyd, a triathlete who has been smitten by the Kickbike bug, from Rugby UK. Hannu Vierikko was due to join the team, but had to pull out at short notice with a fractured foot from running and broken ribs (from beating his chest). Pete Sheterline of course, managed the team.

The team completed 16 laps of the 10mile route, with only 3 riders (in the 4 man relay) and against competitors on mountainbikes. The team finished a superb 63rd position, utterly unexpected and equally to the amazement of bike riders who are definitely not used to being overtaken by a scooter! (And many were on many occasions).

Pete commented: “We were seriously competitive and beat MOST of the non-pro/semi-pro teams – how about that! Put another way, the results show that we beat about 190 4-man mountainbike teams with only 3 riders. It was tough!”

Patrick Adams, the founder and organiser of this event, personally greeted each finisher – a nice gesture to round off a splendidly organised and challenging event.

In a call out to all new kickbikers, or those interested in getting started, Pete said, “We want to put in more than one footbike team next year, around the last weekend in June, at the same venue – this should be a major event in everyone’s diary for next year. Start now and get 4 riders together for your team entry to Mountain Mayhem 2005! WE’LL BE BACK!”

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For official timings, go to www.ssmm.co.uk. If you are interested in getting involved in Kickbiking, details can be found by clicking on the Kickbike UK logo, above. Details of the Mountain Mayhem event, can be found by clicking on their logo below.