Shelley lofts her new steed

We’d run the Killer Loop competition during 2008, each month hiding a bottle on a different great ride around the UK. The lucky finders then gained entry to the finale weekend and the chance to win a new rig and somewhere exciting to ride it. There’d need to be some sharp elbows at work as the crème de la crème of mbr readers battled it out for top spot.

It didn’t look good for Shelley as she wheeled her ancient Stumpjumper to the finale startline, jostling for position with the other nine riders, all blokes and all on modern rigs. An impromptu betting ring among mbr staffers quickly developed as the readers took off looking for the first of six checkpoints they’d have to navigate to. It’s safe to say Shelley wasn’t odds on favourite.

But it soon became apparent she was no slouch, almost beating our snapper to the first checkpoint at Moor Top. This became a feature of the day as our trusty photographer Macca played catch-up, chasing the lightfooted rider around the forest.

A weary Shelley finished up at the Kings Arms pub in Hawkshead three hours after starting, to claim her prize – a Santa Cruz Superlight and riding holiday in Sardinia, courtesy of Saddle Skedaddle. To say she was delighted was something of an understatement, but she put her success down to some fortuitous sightings on the drive over. “I saw three birds of prey and I knew I was going to win. An owl, a woodpecker and a robin,” she said. Lucky for here she’s a better rider than she is an ornithologist.

Many thanks to all those who came along, those riding and those lending moral support to the competitors and propping up there bar – it wouldn’t have made much of a feature without you all. Thanks as well to all those who took part in the Killer Loop series we ran over 2008, hope you all enjoyed taking part. Rest assured, we’ll be back with some new competitions in the near future. You can see the full write up and pics of the day’s events in the March issue of the mag.