Fair City Enduro 2016

The annual Fair City Enduro took place in Perth last weekend. It always happens around Halloween, and is probably the only bike race where you’re guaranteed to see Dracula on the starting line! As ever the entrants didn’t disappoint with their fancy dress efforts- there’s nothing quite like seeing a trio of bananas (well done ladies- we’ve been calling you ‘Bananarama’ all week) on wheels or a quartet of grown men on pink BMX’s (high five to each and every one of you) hurtling through the panoramic views that surround our beautiful city.

The ride itself took place on misty trails with breath-taking backdrops and is suitable for those from a competent novice right up to advanced riders. With high intensity off-road climbs of up to 20mins at a time you certainly need a reasonable standard of fitness to keep up, and most trails are Red graded although Orange and Black sections also feature.

Terrain is tricky; high speed single tracks with fast descents, rock gardens, steep chutes, roots and medium-sized drops are all standard with bike park jumps and roll-able berms also making an appearance.

The event is run by Muckmedden who have a reputation for delivering fun, family-friendly mountain bike events. Aaron Gray (AKA Aaron “Muckmedden” or occasionally “Lord Muck”) worked in the flooring trade until 2015 before finding himself in his dream full time job as Events Organiser with Muckmedden.

From an early age Aaron loved riding bikes and was obsessed with BMX when it first hit the UK.  When he left school, like many boys in their late teens, he discovered the joys of “adult life”, passed his driving test and didn’t really look at a bike again until his mid-twenties when he bought his first mountain bike.  This kept him reasonably amused until he decided to sell most of his material belongings and travel the world (as you do!).

After several ‘wilderness years’ away from bikes he treated himself to a Trek Fuel EX8, a spur of the moment decision that changed the course of his life forever. After entering some XC races for fun he became hooked on riding mountain bikes again and wondered what it would take to organise a race on his local trails in Pitmedden.  Aaron spent several months talking to Landowners and Councils and before he knew it he was organising a mountain bike event.

So Muckmedden was born and with some friends helped set up a website and create a logo to spread the “Muckin’” word about the new event. The first Muckmedden MTB Event was held in Pitmedden on April 22nd 2012 and was a runaway success, attracting 300 riders from across the UK.

After the event Aaron reportedly said “I can honestly say I’ve never been so terrified in my life and swear I will never to do that again.”

Fast forward several years and Muckmedden have built a portfolio of successful, unique and spectacular mountain bike events ranging from multi-day cycling festivals to Enduros like the one we're lucky ennough to have right here in the Fair City.

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Thanks to Ian Potter of PK Perspective for capturing these images. To view their full gallery please click here>

For more information about Muckmedden events including the Fair City Enduro see their website here>