Scottish Mountain Biking Orienteering

Bike — By Outdoor Adventure Guide on July 2, 2012 at 1:54 pm

Scottish Mountain Bike Orienteering is a fun off road event were you choose the course! 30 electronic checkpoints are scattered across a 60 to 100 square kilometre playing area. The winner is the person who collects the most points in a set time

Tactics, fitness and the odd bit of luck all play a part in being a successful Mountain Bike Orienteer.

Start
- When you register, you will be given a Sportident dibber
- Some events will have map on the wall or give out maps without checkpoint values on them to allow you to see the terrain.

- Get ready, Go! place your dibber into the start box control and your time’s ticking!

- Receive your map. This is normally a 1:50,000 ordnance survey map with the values (5-30) of all the checkpoints and their numbers premarked.
- Receive your checkpoint descriptions list, showing checkpoint No, value and description eg. “T-Junction, On Gate Post”
- Plan your route. Will you go high and far for the most high value points or stay close and collect lots of lower value points?
- You now have 3 or 4 hours depending on the event to get as many points as possible
- Look at the contours, look for a natural route that will take you 3 hours. It should have some escape routes or ability to collect more points. Once you get into the “zone” you will be surprised how many checkpoints you can collect. When you find the checkpoint, insert your dibber until you hear a noise and the lights f lashes.

Kit
-It is a good idea to have a map board. These can be easily made from old clipboards or pieces of plastic. Attach the board to your bike with a zip ties and the map to the board via bulldog clips.

The following is mandatory
- Mountain Bike (kinda’ essential!)
- Helmet
- Waterproof jacket
- Water bottle or bladder
- Food (energy bar/ banana/ nuts etc)
- Puncture repair kit
- Simple First aid kit

The following is recommended
- Compass
- Pen
- Map holder
- Allen Keys
- Spare chain links
- Spare innertube

Want more of an idea? Lindsey Leinster takes the brood to the Scottish borders for some SMBO of her own…