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Battle on the Beach 2016 entries open 1st January

Must-ride beach race returns on 20th March - last year 600 places sold out in a day

Have you started planning some events to ride 2016 yet? Here’s one to add to your diary, the unique Battle on the Beach race, on 20th March. Entries will open on 1st January, and with last year’s event selling out in a single day, you’ll have to be quick if you want a place. 

Battle on the Beach is the UK’s only beach race and takes place in Pembrey Country Park in South Wales. It stands out because it’s the only race to take place primary on a beach - beach races are popular in Holland, and Matt Page, founder of A Cycling, has successfully replicated the essential ingredients of the format in the UK. 

The race is held at low tide with the sea a mile offshore, which should ensure firm sand for racing across. 

The event is open to all types of bikes, from mountain bikes to cyclocross bikes. Last year there were a healthy number of fat bikes. The choice of bike is down to personal preference and experience with riding on sand. I raced a 29er rigid mountain bike with 2.3in tyres and it worked rather well. 

BOTB-1.jpg

There’ll be a healthy prize pot of up to £1,000 cash plus bundles of swag from sponsors SIDI, Halo, Lezyne, Kinesis UK and Schwalbe. Surly will be giving away a frameset for whoever matches the “magic lap”.

New for 2016 is the Battle in the Dark. This will be a single lap time trial on Saturday evening before the main event on Sunday. A single lap event is also available for anyone aged 12 and earlier in the day.

Entries open on 1st January and cost £28, or £40 with two nights camping included. Head to www.battleonthebeach.co.uk for more info and to enter online

Battle on the Beach is one of my riding highlights of 2015. It was the first time I had ever raced on sand, and it was a real blast. Standing on the start line in the soft sand of the dunes with 600 other people about to set off into the unknown was an exhilarating experience. I filmed the opening part of the first lap (until my camera battery died), you can watch it below. I’ll be back next year hoping to improve on my 21st finishing position in 2015.

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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ct | 8 years ago
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Another well organised and enjoyable event. The battle in the Dark was an experience. Course longer this year and far more going, loads of kid's events.

Chapeau.

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