It looks like 2007 is going to be the year of the demo ride. And in an interesting bit of cross-brand participation, industry behemoths Specialized and Giant have teamed up to run combined challenge rides and bike demo days.
The full name of the new series is the Specialized Challenge Series Incorporating Specialized and Giant Dirt Demo, which we suspect is going to end up being referred to as the Specialized Challenge Series for the sake of brevity. Also involved are SRAM, Magura and the Forestry Commission, at whose trail centres several of the events will take place.
The exact format of the days has yet to be announced, but we're told that each event "will combine demos of Specialized and Giant bikes and rides for different ability levels". Organisational duties are being handled by Pat Adams, so they're bound to be very slick operations.
Also included in the series are a couple of existing events, namely Enduro 6 and Mountain Mayhem. Specialized has already been involved in the former for some years and the latter features an increasingly-popular demo element, so their inclusion makes perfect sense. Those dates in full:
- 1 April: SCS 1, 7Stanes trailhead, Dumfries
- 22 April: SCS 2, Grizedale Forest Park, Cumbria
- 28/29 April: Enduro 6, Catton Hall, Staffordshire
- 12/13 May: SCS 3, Gwydyr Forest, Snowdonia
- 3 June: SCS 4, Staunton Country Park, Hants
- 22-24 June: Mountain Mayhem 24, Ledbury, Hereford
Enduro 6 will also incorporate a Ladies Day on 28th April with lady riders specifically in mind giving them the opportunity to test their performance in what might be a less competitive environment. Riders can invite along a non-riding or novice ability friend to experience mountain biking for the first time with a one lap challenge ride on the Enduro 6 course. Similarly at the Snowdonia Bike Fest a special short ride will be marked for lady mountain bikers to bring friends along on the Saturday.
Richard Hemington, Managing Director of Specialized in the UK, said, "The Specialized Challenge Series are a great opportunity for Specialized and its partners to interact with outdoor and cycling enthusiasts and to give experienced and non-riders alike a fun day out to remember".
Ian Beasant, Managing Director of Giant UK, said, "We are delighted to be working with Specialized on their Challenge Series in conjunction with the already established Giant Dirt Demo. This partnership offers everyone the chance to test the latest product from both Specialized and Giant; it is all about the consumer having fun whatever their ability".
Further details will be along shortly...
Bex Hopkins
