The Exmoor Explorer

The Exmoor Explorer is a 'non-race' around the amazing trails of Exmoor, starting from Minehead.

What is a non-race, I hear you ask? Archaic English land laws prevent competitions on public rights of way. This means races are restricted to private properties, and anything using the extensive and fantastic network of trails we have has to be called an 'event', rather than a 'race'. It's a quirky system, but it has some advantages. The first, exemplified by the Explorer, is that friendly events attract a huge range of people, from first timers to seasoned experts. The second is that because events on public paths are rare, they get a great turn out, are well organised, and are supported by the local community.

The logistics of organising a 'non-race' are pretty funny. It's like a race in most respects. There's a start line. There's 500 riders with numbers attached to their bikes, and there's a start, like any other. The organiser annouced before the race event that it was 'non competitive' to a few chuckles from the racers participants. There's also a finish line, and results. So it's a little bit like a race, really.We started through town of Minehead behind the neutral car. For once the pace actually was neutral, and we rode steadily to the base of North Hill, a 15 minute climb onto the coastal hills above the town. I didn't know what to expect from the start, but got a surprise when everyone decided that 700 watts was the appropriate effort for the start of a 'non-race'. It soon settled down, and I was left with a young and enthusiastic rider who was rallying the descents to suggest he'd ridden them before, and a self confessed 'veteran' who was being cheered on by all the marshals, so he was definitely local.

We rode into the first check point (it's timed, but it's not a race) to the surprise of the marshals, who quickly worked out how to scan our tags and sent us out onto loop number two. This one was longer, taking in forest roads and some tight single-track through a plantation. I got a gap on a couple of the shorter climbs and just kept riding. The non-competitive part of the event made me hesitate for a second or two. Through the first check point I'd waited up for everyone to get scanned, and we left smiling and chatting. The first couple of gates we went through were opened and closed together. So it seemed almost rude to go ahead and ride off. But then I realised I was being slightly too British, and I should ride at my own pace. I did so, enjoying myself a lot more when I realised that the trails on Exmoor are best ridden at full speed and nothing slower!

I came through the check point at the end of the second loop to see a huge mass of people heading out to start it. The directions given for the third loop were "Follow the road until you see the Fish and Chip shop, then take a left and the course markings start". This was accurate, but the friendly marshal didn't tell me that the left turn would lead me to a 15 minute climb that gradually got steeper and steeper, with no corners whatsoever, and a slick moss covered surface that had been lovingly churned by the lead moto.

From here on I could enjoy myself. The trails on the last loop were sublime; hidden wet roots underneath pine needles, and tree stumps on the apexes of off camber corners. I enjoyed it. The course did some gratuitous climbing to make up the miles, zigzagging back and forth through a small section of forest. Each up was followed by an awesome down, though. It would have been better with someone to ride it with, as the trails sapped all speed and energy out of your legs, leaving you floundering without momentum on heavy, damp soil.

I knew the final climb was over when I crested it to see the Bristol channel staring back at me. The Sea! From here it was all downhill back into Minehead, where I was greeted by endless cake, and tea from my favourite tea company, Miles.

The Exmoor Explorer is a fantastic event run for all the right reasons. Although I feel it would be enhanced by becoming an official race, there are lots of people who disagree. Its current format allows a wider range of abilities to take part, which is certainly the aim at the end of the day. I had great pleasure in propping my Turner up in the finish area and watching successive groups of riders come over to stare at it - it garnered a lot of attention in a short space of time!