We have found a coach operator who is investing significantly in TWO road legal, fully regulated coaches (albeit a little in the older side of the 2nd hand coach market) and is willing to consider further investment if the demand is sustainable…

One coach will be used to transport you guys and another coach will be stripped-out and modified and used to transport your bikes. So, with a bit of luck, no more scratched stanchions and frames in the back of an over sprung quarry lorry!

We truly believe that this solution will work, as the operator fully knows what is involved before hand and has sourced coaches that are suitable for the job in hand.

Furthermore, we have submitted a number of Event Applications to the Forestry Commission for the coming months and we will update the website as and when they are approved.

Hope to see you rippin’it at a WDMBA uplift soon!

Cheers,

The WDMBA Boys.

This post is open for comments; please leave your name in the comment at the end of the post to let us know you will be there.

I have spoken to the FC today and they have approved a dig day at Rheola, for next Sunday 15th Feb.

Here’s some info that you might like to know!

We have been granted permission by the FC to maintain the FC DH tracks in south Wales, BUT…..

1. I have been appointed by the FC as the person responsible for overseeing the work, what I say goes! I have to be strict or we could use the right to be allowed to do this!

2. No power tools are to be used! If you have a chainsaw license or similar, it will need to be submitted to the FC prior to work and relevant risk assessments done. I’m not really prepared to work with power tools so for now we’ll say NO POWER TOOLS TO BE USED!!

3. There are no real restrictions to what can and can’t be built, but it has to be safe and agreed before it’s built, also, NOTHING CAN BE LEFT HALF BUILT. If it’s started it has to be finished.

4. Bring your Bike! You build it you ride it?! That’s fair right?

5. No unauthorized cars or vans will be allowed in the forest, However I am going to see if I can get access to park near the bottom of the track, so that cars are not left on the road. If the FC don’t allow this then please don’t leave valuables in your cars!

6. Bring some lunch, there is normally a burger van in the lay by at the bottom but I’m not 100% sure they will be there… I will ask them.

7. Bring some tools! We don’t really have any spares so grab whatever you can get your hands on! We recommend you use gloves for health and safety reasons also make sure you dress correctly for the weather conditions on the day, and wear some good strong boots.

8. All riders will need to sign on and off on a sheet that I will provide in the morning. We will also need a name of an emergency contact and a number! NO EXEPTIONS! It’s for your safety! ALL PERSONS UNDER 18 WILL NEED TO BE SUPERVISED BY A RESPONSIBLE ADULT!

9. We aim to have a laugh! There will be no bitching and no disagreeing with what we can do! WE WELCOME ALL IDEAS but you have to appreciate that if you can’t do it then that’s just the way it is! I do want the track to have some input from everyone!

I will need to have an idea of numbers and we can’t have hundreds of people there, the end of this post is open for comments. Can you leave your name if you are interested.

Cheers

JT

WDMBA Presents… THE *insert sponsor* WELSH SERIES! 

This years Tentative dates are:

RHEOLA March 21,22

CWMCARN May 2,3

GETHIN June 13,14

MOUNTAIN ASH August 8,9

MYNDD DU Sept 19,20

TBC Oct 10, 11

I have to add, these dates are not 100% confirmed but I’m pretty sure that’s when they are going to be!  Practice and Track building dates to be released very soon!

W.D.M.B.A. PRESS RELEASE!!

We would like to announce that the Welsh Downhill Mountain Biking Association has been formed.

The WDMBA is a not-for-profit association, set up by riders from South Wales and has been established to promote the sport in Wales and surrounding areas. We aim to run in a similar way as Scotland’s SDA and will be running a Regional downhill series in place of Dragon Downhill for 2009. Other goals will be to give beginners and people on a low budget access to the sport, to allow riders to get hands on and give something back to their local tracks in a regulated manner, to raise the profile of the sport, to hold some great events and get riders together on a regular basis.

We are currently busy working towards arrangements for next years season, which is our main priority at the moment. But when thats underway we will be looking to find new areas to ride and working on promotion of the sport. keep an eye on our site, wdmba.co.uk for more information. We should be releasing some tentative dates in the next few weeks so watch this space!

James Tennant:  Chairman WDMBA.

a few words from Jason Carpenter: Dragon Downhill…..

“Dragon Downhill wishes the WDMBA the best of luck for it’s future endeavors – I recommend a Volunteer Association to run DH in Wales based on the model laid out by the very successful SDA.  I expect all DH riders in Wales to assist the WDMBA in it’s endeavors with Volunteer support across the board of event management and in Governance.  In this way, the workload will be spread out ensuring that things are able to run efficiently and no one person gets lumped with too much work.  Also, all income generated from the events can be ploughed back in to grow the sport in Wales.  Dragon Downhill will continue to assist the WDMBA wherever possible.  We have the hills, so lets go, ride them. Jason”

PRESS RELEASE IMMINENT!!!!

Over the next few week’s we will be offering club membership, with all fee’s going back into the association. Nobody will be paid a wage by the W.D.M.B.A. and all money will be put into the promotion of Downhill Mountain Biking in Wales and surrounding areas. 

There are plans to pick up where Dragon Downhill has left off, using the same accurate timing systems on Forestry Commission and Privately owned land. We will also be running free or low cost, members only timed, non uplift, short track, practice events in a similar format to the one being held at Cannock Chase in November.www.racersguild.co.uk

Watch this space! 

The WDMBA will be formed by riders and run as a Not For Profit Organisation. Funding will come from members entry and membership fee’s as well as sponsorship and grants. The WDMBA will be affiliated with British Cycling and also any other local Mountain Biking club or association who wishes to do so. All races, events and meetings with be operated under full health and safety guidelines and in accordance with BC and land owner rules. The WDMBA will aim to promote the creation of facilities to be used for the sport, but all activities will be highly regulated.

A few words from the Chairman…

“Having raced in the Dragon Downhill series, I have seen the potential for a seriously good race series in Wales. My goal is not to take over from the Dragons but to run a new series, which picks up where the Dragons left off. We are in the early stages of getting the association set up, but it is happening pretty fast…. and I do intend to run a 2009 series, I do anticipate teething problems but I have a lot of support from some really knowledgeable people, so fingers crossed, there will be racing in South Wales next year!”

“There are idea’s and plans to add a few new tracks, as well as run a mini series for beginners and people who don’t want to spend loads of money to race, I would also like to see some races outside of Wales as there are a lot of people who travel to Wales to race. I want the association to pull riders together, to build and maintain tracks and more than anything, have an awesome race series and enjoy riding! But I must add, We have a long way to go! 

I am 100% open to your idea’s and I know a lot of people have some really good ones! But please allow us time to set up then I will be able to listen to you all and take on board what you have to say! Look forward to riding with you all soon!”

James Tennant, Chairman WDMBA

and from Jason Carpenter, Dragon Downhill……

“Dragon Downhill wishes the WDMBA the best of luck for it’s future endeavors – I recommend a Volunteer Association to run DH in Wales based on the model laid out by the very successful SDA.  I expect all DH riders in Wales to assist the WDMBA in it’s endeavors with Volunteer support across the board of event management and in Governance.  In this way, the workload will be spread out ensuring that things are able to run efficiently and no one person gets lumped with too much work.  Also, all income generated from the events can be ploughed back in to grow the sport in Wales.  Dragon Downhill will continue to assist the WDMBA wherever possible.  We have the hills, so lets go, ride them. Jason.”