Update 2016

[glaconman]

Very kind of you to say MLCMM. Well, it feels like an honour to be able to push hard occassionally and feel that vital edge.

Nestling amongst that lot is quite an interesting take on this sport which is coming around again soon: Harriers vs Cyclists. As the name implies you pick your own method of movement out of a dizzying choice of two: you run or you cycle. It makes for an intriguing contest. Certainly conditions play their part. And on wet, muddy courses the top runners tend to have the edge as the cyclists struggle to keep themselves upright on the descent or loose traction on the ascent.

Incidentally, there is an even more striking contest held in Wales entitled Man vs Horse. This is won by the horse as a rule. Not suprisingly.

Man vs Horse

But, you know, there's always something bigger and better.

I don't remember too much about last year's event. It was cold. There was a long wait for the gun. And the start is ridiculously steep.

But it goes down well around here because it brings together two treasured local sports: fell running and cyclocross. The latter is probably most famous in Belgium. And it must be said that the Belgians have mastered two of my favourite pastimes: cycling and brewing beer. So why have I never been to Belgium? Why don't I live in Belgium? Well, Yorkshire is the new Belgium I guess. Only with more hills. And we don't drink beer out of wine glasses.

You can find out all you need to know about this tremendous event on the link at the bottom. In fact reading this has done one thing: it's put it firmly in the diary for this year!

Harriers vs Cyclists