Sleepless in the Saddle
Encyclopedia
Sleepless in the Saddle (SITS) is a series of 24-hour mountain bike races
held in the UK, Australia and the USA.
The format of the race allows entries to either be from solo riders, or by teams of varying sizes who ride in relay.
This is an endurance style event based on cross country tracks. The terrain is not so much the challenge as the battle against your mind and the elements. Racing continues throughout the night, with riders mounting lightweight but powerful lights onto their bikes.
The winner of the race is the person, or team, who cover the maximum distance in the 24 hour time period. Tactics are key, especially for solo competitors. Sleep and ride fast or battle through the tiredness and notch up the extra lap?
From 2005 to 2007 the event became part of the Kona Global Series. The races were held in the USA, UK, and Australia.
Sleepless in the Saddle races have been held at Catton Park and Trentham Gardens
.
The race became part of a series in 2005 with additional rounds in the USA and Australia. The Kona Global Series lasted from 2005 to 2007.
The 2006 US Race was held at Snow Mountain Ranch, Granby, Colorado
. The 2007 US race was cancelled.
The 2006 Australian Race was held at Redesdale, Victoria.
.
The 2010 Australian Race is sponsored by Jeep
From 2005, the UK race was sponsored by Kona
, previously it was sponsored by Shimano
.
The race sponsor for 2008, 2009 and 2010 was Endura, a cycle clothing manufacturer based in Livingston, Scotland
For 2011 Singletrack magazine are the headline sponsor.
2009 & 2010 results are available by following the Sleepless in the Saddle link above.
For Australian results
Mountain bike racing
The Union Cycliste Internationale recognised the sport of mountain bike racing relatively late in 1990, when it sanctioned the world championships in Purgatory, Colorado. The first mountain biking world cup series took place in 1991. Its nine-race circuit covered two continents—Europe and North...
held in the UK, Australia and the USA.
The format of the race allows entries to either be from solo riders, or by teams of varying sizes who ride in relay.
This is an endurance style event based on cross country tracks. The terrain is not so much the challenge as the battle against your mind and the elements. Racing continues throughout the night, with riders mounting lightweight but powerful lights onto their bikes.
The winner of the race is the person, or team, who cover the maximum distance in the 24 hour time period. Tactics are key, especially for solo competitors. Sleep and ride fast or battle through the tiredness and notch up the extra lap?
From 2005 to 2007 the event became part of the Kona Global Series. The races were held in the USA, UK, and Australia.
Sleepless in the Saddle races have been held at Catton Park and Trentham Gardens
Trentham Gardens
Trentham Gardens are formal Italianate gardens, and an English landscape park in Trentham, Staffordshire on the southern fringes of the city of Stoke-on-Trent, England. The former house on the site, Trentham Hall, became one of many to be demolished in the 20th century when in 1912, its owner the...
.
History
The first race was held in the UK in 2001 at Trentham Gardens. The UK races moved to Catton Park in 2005.The race became part of a series in 2005 with additional rounds in the USA and Australia. The Kona Global Series lasted from 2005 to 2007.
The 2006 US Race was held at Snow Mountain Ranch, Granby, Colorado
Granby, Colorado
The Town of Granby is a Statutory Town that is the most populous town in Grand County, Colorado, United States. Granby is situated along U.S. Highway 40 in Middle Park about west of Denver, Colorado, southwest of Rocky Mountain National Park...
. The 2007 US race was cancelled.
The 2006 Australian Race was held at Redesdale, Victoria.
Race Sponsors
The Australian race sponsor from 2006 to 2009 was KonaKona Bicycle Company
Kona Bikes is a bicycle company in Ferndale, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia. It specializes in high-performance mountain bikes, racing and touring bicycles. The company name comes from the owners' love of Kailua-Kona in Hawaii....
.
The 2010 Australian Race is sponsored by Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
From 2005, the UK race was sponsored by Kona
Kona Bicycle Company
Kona Bikes is a bicycle company in Ferndale, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia. It specializes in high-performance mountain bikes, racing and touring bicycles. The company name comes from the owners' love of Kailua-Kona in Hawaii....
, previously it was sponsored by Shimano
Shimano
Shimano, Inc. is a Japanese multinational manufacturer of cycling components, fishing tackle, and rowing equipment.In 2005, the company had net sales of US $1.4 billion. Bicycle components provided 75% of its sales income...
.
The race sponsor for 2008, 2009 and 2010 was Endura, a cycle clothing manufacturer based in Livingston, Scotland
Livingston, Scotland
Livingston is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It is the fourth post-WWII new town to be built in Scotland, designated in 1962. It is about 15 miles west of Edinburgh and 30 miles east of Glasgow, and is bordered by the towns of Broxburn to the northeast and Bathgate to the northwest.Livingston...
For 2011 Singletrack magazine are the headline sponsor.
External links
Results
For UK results2009 & 2010 results are available by following the Sleepless in the Saddle link above.
For Australian results