Weekend Information for Competitors

Weekend Schedule

The full weekend schedule is available here. We have planned the weekend to allow you to do the Endura Hill Climb and get back in time for the Dukes Gathering on Saturday. On Sunday, you will be able to get around the Madison Childrens Enduro with your little rippers and still have time to start the Gravel Enduro and complete the Rondo Full Dukes Event. The kid's pump track will be available all weekend with Saracen and Ridgeback kids bikes to demo as well!

Hill Climb start times will be clarified once the event entries are closed and numbers are finalised.

Accommodation

Running over 2 days, many of you will want to stay over. We are made up to have secured fantastic bunk house and hostel style accommodation, as well as camping at the beautiful Gartmore House. Further information is available elsewhere on the site and here.

Parking

In the centre of Aberfoyle Village is the Council Riverside Car Park, which is accessible from next to the Tourist Information. Extending from the back of this car park is the Wool Centre Car Park. Both the Council and the Wool Centre have allowed us to use their parking. However, please be aware that this is not exclusive and that the Wool Centre is expecting several coach tours. May we politely ask that you do not use the coach park, block coach parking or the road with your bikes, and please be courteous to other car park users.

There is also additional car parking at the forestry lodge above the village on Dukes Pass. Those booking accommodation at Gartmore House also have the luxury of a cycle path all the way to the centre of the village too!

Refreshments

Aberfoyle is blessed with superb local amenities which the Dukes Weekender is proud to support. The event village will be based around the fantastic Forth Inn which offers great food and drink for lunch and dinner. However, the icing on the cake, the Landlord will also be putting on breakfasts on Sunday morning. Just the other side of the Information Centre is the Delicatessan and Butchers which sells a variety of amazing take away lunch options. If you'd prefer to sit down, at the bottom of our hill climb, Liz McGregor's cafe will offer lovely lunches and make your eyes bulge with their array of mouth watering cakes which you can wash down with a brew of your choice. Two-thirds of the way up the Hill Climb route Harviestoun Brewery will be setting up a pop up bar at the entrance to GoApe and the David Marshall Lodge to add to the atmosphere. The Lodge itself has a great little cafe with breathtaking views. Back down in the village there is also another lovely little cafe/restaurant in the Wool Centre, more great coffee and cake at Aberfoyle Bike Hire shop and two more licenced eateries: the Clachan and the Fairie Tree. In the car park there is also fast-food provision. Please support our local village businesses. You won't be disappointed.

Event Village

Just behind our parking is the fantastic Forth Inn. Historically a watering hole of Dukes and hiding place of Bandits, we'll be crowning our new Duke and Duchess of the Hill at the Podium in the back of their car park. The rest of the car park will host our kid's Pump Track over the weekend. Sign on is in the back of the pub, and their amazing hall is hosting the Dukes Gathering. Tricked out and unique Rondo bikes will also be on display.

The Rondo Ruut, the perfect do it all bike - enter the full weekend and you could just win one!

Bikes/Rules

We have had a few people asking about restrictions and also bike setup... We want to keep this fun, but insist on a few things.

At all times while taking part in the event you must wear a helmet, even on the hill climb... No exceptions!
If you are completing the Full Dukes Weekender event, you must use the same bike for all stages including the road hill climb. We will however allow a wheel and tyre change.
If you are only competing in the hill climb, specialist bikes are welcome but keep them legal. They must have a front brake and a means to slow down the rear wheel. With a normal freehub this means a rear brake. However a fixed gear will also slow the bike down, so in this case a rear brake is not essential. Remember you have to descend the hill again to get down.

There will be spectators including children so be safe! All other rules and regulations here.

Gravel Enduro Bike Setup: A few tips from us

A few of the stages have some short but sharp climbs in them. We'd certainly recommend either a double chainring setup on the front or a wide ranging cassette.
The stages are a good variety of riding. Singletrack and forest road with a lot of twists and turns. We'd recommend not going to slimline or slick on your tyre. A good, strong gravel/cross tyre with some tread if you're on the gravel bike, otherwise if you're on an MTB go with a lightweight xc tyre.
Remember you will be out on open trails for the event so take what you need with you for the day. Multi-tool, tube(s), pump, extra clothing layers and food/drink.

Any questions the please get in touch at info@dukesweekender.com and please keep tuned into our Facebook site and emails for further updates as the weekend fast approaches.

Schedule

Saturday 8th Sept

10am - 4pm Children’s Pump Track with demo bikes

12noon - 5.30pm Sign-on at the Forth Inn, Aberfoyle

3pm Hill Climb starts (Individual start times TBC)

6.15pm Hill Climb Prize Giving

7pm Dukes Gathering, the Forth Inn

Sunday 9th Sept

8am-10.30am Sign-on at the Forth Inn, Aberfoyle

9.30am Children’s Mini Enduro starts

10am – 4pm Children’s Pump Track with demo bikes

10.30-11.30am Adult Gravel Enduro starts (riders will be spread out leaving in small during this period)

12noon Children’s Prize Giving

5pm Adults Prize Giving

Location

The event village will be based in and around the Forth Inn, Main Street, Aberfolye. Pop FK8 3UQ in your Sat-Nav. There is car parking available in the council car park and behind the Scottish Wool Centre.