Cycling
6 of the weirdest bike races in the world
Fancy a completely new challenge? Try these wacky yet tough bike races taking place across the globe.
If you find your average Lycra-clad road race a bit strange, then our list of the world’s weirdest bike races is certainly going to raise your eyebrows.
So, whether it’s racing mountain bikes with chariots, racing them underwater, or racing a child’s big wheel down a steep hill, here are five crazy races you have to check out.
1. Bog Snorkling World Championships
The average bog snorkler (or is that snorklist?) likes to snorkel through wet, sludgy, freezing cold two-metre-deep bogs, while trying to get to the other side as fast as possible. As you can imagine, a mountain bike bog snorkeler likes to do the same, but on a mountain bike.
Now that’s as cold and as wacky as it sounds, although competitors are allowed to fill their tyres with water, hopefully helping them to sink to the bottom for that all-important grip.
The event takes place every year in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales and is only £15 to enter.
Where: Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
Price: £15
2. Marymoor Crawl
Velodromes are usually associated with huge sprinters thrashing round at high speeds. However, the Marymoor Crawl, or sometimes known as ‘the longest lap’ competition, likes to turns things down a notch.
The rules are somewhat changeable depending on where you live, but the basic premise is one of holding a track stand on the finish line for up to four minutes, until a bell randomly rings and then you have to race round for one lap as fast as you can.
If you cross the finish line or dab a foot before the bell rings you’re disqualified, which leads to a whole load of track sprinters hilariously trying to stay upright before they’re set loose for one frantic lap.
This race is no longer running, but we had to include it!
3. Brompton World Championship
If you own a fold up Brompton Bicycle and fancy yourself as a racy super commuter, then perhaps it’s time to give the Brompton World Championship a try.
Held every year, the race consists of a Le Mans style start, where competitors have to run to their folded bikes and assemble them before pedalling away.
In a final twist there is a mandatory dress-code requirement of a suit jacket, shirt and tie. Even Lycra shorts are forbidden with regular trousers, skirts or shorts being the legwear of choice. The London final is Saturday July 28, so should definitely go and watch!
Where: St James Park, London
Price: If you want to watch the race from the VIP hospitality area then tickets are £17.50, otherwise you can watch for free around the course. Race entry is usually £50.
4. World Mountain Bike Chariot Racing Championships
Green Events are the same company that organises the previously mentioned MTB Bog Snorkling World Championships, so it stands to reason they also organise the equally weird World Mountain Bike Chariot Racing Championships.
In this event two mountain bikers pull a ‘charioteer’ on a specially designed chariot. There’s a time trial and a mass start race and, from the looks of things, fancy dress is highly encouraged.
Once again it’s cheap to enter at £20, so there shouldn’t be anything stopping you and your mates from having a go in 2019.
Where: Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
Price: £20
5. Bring your own big wheel
Taking place in San Francisco, you know, that place famous for steep hills, the Bring Your Own Big Wheel race combines adults bedecked in fancy dress with a child’s big wheel trike.
Everyone races down the hill at the same time, leading to hilarious crashes aplenty, which might explain why so many spectators turn up.
Fancy dress seems to be a big part of this event, so if you want to be a serious competitor, you’ll need to think up a crazy outfit that equals this wacky event.
Where: San Francisco, US
Price: Free!
6. Red Bull Goni Pony
2 min
Red Bull Goni Pony uradni video
Pognal smo hudiča na vrh Vršiča! Četrtič! Bilo nas je več kot 1000!
If tearing up a 13.5km Slovenian mountain pass with an average gradient of 10.8% sounds hard, then Red Bull Goni Pony is going to sound truly brutal.
Not only do you have to conquer the aforementioned climb, but you have to do it on something called a ‘Pony bike'. These 20’inch folding bikes (think an ancient Brompton) have no gears or lightweight carbon fibre and have been a tradition in Slovenian households since the 1960’s.
Once again fancy dress is highly encouraged and there’s four pit stops positioned along the length of the climb, where refreshments are available for those mad enough to take on this crazy race. Keep an eye out 2019 registration.
Where: Vršič Pass, Slovenia
Price: €15