Course Profile

We’ve been and competed in a number of Off Road Duathlons and always end up disappointed with the quality of the courses. You’ll be pleased to know that both the Run and Bike course will be on real off road trails. Expect lots of tight twisty single track, short sharp climbs and fast and fun downhills. The ground in Cannock Chase is mostly sand and gravel based so it drains very well meaning its suitable for all year round riding. Saying this please expect to get wet and muddy... it's part of doing events at this time of year. The terrain isn’t particularly rocky and we will not be including any dangerous technical sections such as jumps or drops. This means it’s challenging for the fast riders who will hit sections at speed whilst manageable for newbies riding or running the sections at a slower pace.

Race Schedule

• 09.30 – E-Bikes Male & Female
• 09.30 – Youth Male & Female
• 09.31 – Beginners Men
• 09.32 – Beginners Ladies
• 10.45 – Fun Men
• 10.46 – Fun Women
• 12.15 – Rouges
• 12.30 – Storms
• 13.00 – Sabres
• 13.45 – Elite / Expert Men / Enthusiast Men
• 13.46 – Single Speed / Fat Bike Men / Retro Bike Men
• 13.46 – Elite / Expert Female & Enthusiast Ladies
• 13.46 – Single Speed / Fat Bike Ladies / Retro Bike Men

Race Categories

Our race categories are designed to encourage close competitive racing regardless of what position you finish in. The breakdown of categories is as follows. Please, please, please enter the correct category! There’s no glory in entering a race that you are clearly too good for or there’s no point in entering a race against people much quicker. Beginners Please before you enter this category ask yourself is this the right race for you. If you are fit and like and have any inclination to chase Strava times then this is not the right category for you. As the name suggests this is for beginners, new riders or those that just know they aren’t super fit but like to have a go Fun Next category up from beginners. This is the most popular category. It’s for those who may of raced before but want to just enjoy it and not really worry about how quick they are. You like to go fast but you don’t spend hours a week on the bike and don’t class yourself as “quick” Enthusiast For the guys who race a fair bit, spend al lot of time training and generally rip round. Ideal for any Vets, Sport and quick Junior riders. Not a category for Elite or Expert riders. Pro / Expert Top level racing for the quickest guys around. Ideal for Elite, Expert and the very best Junior riders. Single Speed / Fat Bike Once again we’re offering a category for Single-Speed and Fat Bike. Tyres on a Fat Bike must be 3″ plus Retro Bike The history of “Cannock Chase Classic” goes way back to the early 90’s when mountain biking was just starting in the UK. We thought it would be great to see some of those old bike racing once again. To qualify for the retro category the bike must be pre 1995. Prize for best in class – The best looking Retro Bike in the event! Children’s Race The kids races have proved to be a massive success at every race we do. We generally got lots of really enthusiastic kids wanting to race their bikes and it makes a great spectacle to watch. The one piece of feedback we get is how fast some of the kids are and how difficult it is for new riders to take part and feel like they are on the same level. We’ve also noticed that we’re getting really quick riders entering a couple of races as they look for a bigger challenge. We’ve decided to test a new format for the Winter Classic. It’s based around children entering an event based on their ability rather than their age. New comers can race in a simple 10 minute event or those with speed and experience can step up and ride a longer more challenging race. You guys choose which suits. All we ask is that you enter the suitable event based on ability rather than the one you think you (or they) can win.

Race Distances

The main adults course is based on a 3 mile lap on undulating terrain. We would estimate that lap times will be between 18 minutes for the fast riders and 30 minutes for the beginners.

• Rouge’s Boy & Girls (10 Minutes)
• Storm’s Boy & Girls (15 Minutes)
• Sabre’s Boy & Girls (30 Minutes)
• Youth Male & Female (M – 3 laps / F – 2 laps)
• Beginners Male & Female (M – 2 laps / F – 1 laps)
• Fun Male & Female (M – 3 laps / F – 2 laps)
• Enthusiast Male & Female (M – 4 laps / F – 3 laps)
• Pro / Expert Male & Female (M – 5 laps / F – 4 laps)
• Single Speed Male & Female (M – 3laps / F – 2 Laps)
• Fat Bike Male & Female (M – 3laps / F – 2 Laps)
• Retro Bike Male & Female (M – 3laps / F – 2 Laps)
• E-Bikes Male & Female (M – 3 Laps / F – 2 Laps)

Race Numbers

We will not be sending out race numbers prior to the event. Please arrive with enough time (we recommend at least 1hr before your event start) to sign on. Signing on will be open at 8.30am so to give any keen riders time to get sorted well before their start time. At signing on you’ll need to find your name against your correct category and sign your name. For any under 18’s we will need a parent or guardian to sign for you. By signing you are agreeing to follow the rules and regulations of the event (these will be posted on the rider notice board at signing on). You’ll be issued with your race number and cable ties. We’ll need to take a £1 deposit for each number which will be given back on return of the number. Entry on the day will be available with a surcharge of £5.00 (£2.50 for the U8’s, U10’s and U13’s categories). Please ensure you allow for more time to enable you to complete a brief application form. It is advised where possible that you enter via the website, this will remain open until midnight Wednesday 26th February.

Race Rules

• Helmets must be worn at all times whilst you are on course with your bike.
• Your bike must be in good working order and suitable for the terrain.
• Any areas on the bike that could cause damage to yourself or others during a crash must be covered. E.g. open ends of handle bars / bar ends.
• Suitable clothing must be worn for the conditions.
• Abusive or offensive behaviour towards the organizers or other competitors will not be tolerated. Please refrain from using any offensive language.
• Please remember that you will be in a public place and whilst we have the backing from the Forestry Commission to use the land we must still share it with other members of the public.
• Please be courteous towards other competitors when passing. If passing a back-marker please give them plenty of warning that you will pass on the left or right. You must then wait for a suitable moment. Remember everybody has the same right to be on the course as you.
• Anybody found to be barging past or endangering others will be disqualified.

Venue

Tackeroo Camp Site
Penkridge Bank Road
Nr Rugeley
Staffordshire
WS15 2UA The venue at Tackeroo is ideal for holding events at. Easily accessible from the north or the south Tackeroo is around 15 minutes from the M6 motorway junctions at Cannock (South) or Stafford (North).

Cancellation & Detail Changes

We will be happy to process any cancellations up until 2 weeks before the event. Cut off date is 13th February 2022. You will also have the option to change details, move category or transfer entries to another rider or have a refund. All this can be done by logging into your Racespace account. Transfer of entries will carry a surcharge of £1.00. Cancellations will carry a surcharge of £4.00. No changes or refunds after this date.

Arrival

Please follow the signage from Penkridge Bank to the car park area. From there you will be directed to the start / finish arena. We recommend that you arrive at this area at least 45 minutes before the start of the event. Before you can start you’ll need to sign on and collect your numbers. 1 will need to be fitted onto your bike with zip ties (given when signing on). About 15 minutes before the start, head over to the start area. Keep warming up and wait to be called up to the start.

Spectating

We understand that friends and family may wish to come along and watch you suffer. Therefore we’ve done our best to keep the course as close to the start / finish arena as possible. You’ll find that riders will enter the arena at least 2 times per lap so the spectators will never get plenty of opportunities to encourage or heckle.

Facilities

• Toilets
• Free Camping - no need to book.
• Free Parking. There’s lots of hard standing parking at the venue.
• Food & Drink – we’ve managed to secure ‘real’ coffee car vendor, Per-Cup, to attend the event. For the true coffee lovers they’ll be offering proper coffee. We’ll also be offering a wide selection of home baked cakes & savoury treats.
• Onsite drink water – there are a number of taps around the parking area with fresh drinking water.
• Massage Therapy will be set up early Sunday morning offering pre-race treatment and post race treatments. The effects on the legs of a good massage cannot be under estimated.
• Run & Ride Store will be offering the essentials should you forget something and dare we say something breaks. Of course all will be at a reduce “special offer” rate.
• We’ll have trade stands from some of the biggest cycle companies in the UK along showing off their new range's.

General Information

Held as before on the popular area of Cannock Chase the event will once again be focused more towards the newbie or fun rider. The Classic events have always been about grass routes of mountain biking. Riders from 3 years old to 70 years. People who ride everyday and those that have just started. Everybody with one thing in common and that’s a love for Mountain Biking. The course is traditional mountain biking with everything from short and sharp climbs, single track descents and fire road blasts. We aim for a course which 100% ride-able therefore where we have a technical section we will also have an easy route for those who may be not quite so confident. We often get asked what standard you need to be to ride in our events. We would say that if you up to riding the red route around Cannock Chase then you are at a suitable level. If you aren’t quite at that level yet then you may find sections of our full course too difficult. At the venue you’ll find camping facilities, fresh water, hard standing parking 100metres from the start and great view points for spectators. We’ll also have caterers and trade stands along.