What is it all about?
Mountain Bike Orienteering (MBO) is a fun off road event were YOU choose the course! The choice of route is up to you! 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 your Sportident dibber and a map with checkpoints preprinted on the map – although no control description and points. The map is normally a 1:40,000 ordnance survey map or 1:15,000 orienteering map with all the checkpoints pre-marked on the map with the control number and the value (in different colours).
It’s at this point when you can begin to 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?
The courses are designed so that complete novices can compete with the professionals. In fact it’s not unheard of for a newbie to get more points than one of the pro’s being over zealous and being late back to the event centre thus loosing lots of points.
As the start, you will clear your dibber and be given your control descriptions and points. The control descriptions will be something like “T-Junction, On Gate Post”. The checkpoint should be a navigable feature on the map. It will have a value assigned to it which will of a value ranging from 5 to 30.
You now have 3 hours to get as many points as possible.
It’s at this point that you can begin to plan your route. Route choice is entirely up to you. There are no marshals to tell you which way to go. 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.
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.
Now you cycle to your first checkpoint. The idea is not to “hunt the punch” but for you to easily find the checkpoint. They will normally be attached to signposts, benches, gates or other easily identifiable feature.
The checkpoints are sportident control boxes like the one on the right. You can approach these on foot or on the bike. When you find the checkpoint, insert your dibber until youhear a noise and the lights f lashes. The control number is automatically added to dibber.
You will sigh a huge sigh of relief after finding your first checkpoint and satisfied that you can actually read a map. Check your stopwatch and navigate to the next checkpoint.
Once you have collected as many checkpoints as you can in the allocated time, it’s time to head back to the event centre, download your results and wait for the prize giving. You never know, you may have done better than you thought!
Click on “More Info” on the right for FAQs, Costs, Event classes and more info!
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