Sloc/Cronk ny Arrey Laa trail closed for maintenance. Will probably remain closed until E2E. It won’t be safe to ride short term, but will also need some time to settle. Anyone caught ignoring the temporary closure will be reported to E2E organisers.

Manx businesses asked to help promote use of woodland.

SUCCESS: Mountain biking at South Barrule

The government is asking for business proposals to increase opportunities for recreational activity within its forests.

The Forestry, Amenity and Lands Directorate has successfully trialled mountain bike trails, improved access for horse riders and pedestrians and allows several hundred organised events each year in its forests and across its estate.

It is clear from the numbers of visitors to the forests and hills that there is increasing interest in outdoor recreation on the estate.

Not only are there benefits in terms of enjoyment of the forests, but the health benefits of an active, outdoor lifestyle are vast.

With increasing interest in outdoor leisure pursuits, the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture is therefore currently looking at what other facilities and activities could be accommodated within its plantations on a commercial basis.

The department hopes to be able to enter into a business relationship to deliver improved recreational and health benefits without adding any financial burden to the taxpayer.

This will offer groups or individuals the opportunity to establish a viable business, with the associated employment benefits that this brings.

All ideas will be considered but, careful consideration should be given to maintaining public access to the estate, maintaining the tranquillity of some areas, safeguarding the environment as a whole, the suitability of any operations and the likelihood of success.

If you have any ideas or a business proposal, the department would be interested to hear from individuals or groups by Friday, August 24.

All submissions will then be assessed and further contact made where applications are felt to have potential to offer sustainable activities. Any queries should be directed to the Forestry Directorate on 801263

Funding pulled for filming of End-2-End
Published online at 14/08/2012 10:32:59

The government has withdrawn funding for the filming of the End-2-End mountain bike race.

The event has been recorded by Greenlight Television for a number of years and the 2011 race was broadcast on Sky Sports in March.

Greenlight says government met some of the cost of filming, and recently they were told that funding was to stop.

Speaking in March, political member for the Department of Economic Development Geoff Corkish said “cycling continues to be an important part of the Isle of Man’s vibrant sporting life and the End-2-End challenge is one of the Island’s fastest growing events”.

He said they were looking to capitalise on the growing popularity of the sport to generate more visitors.

This year’s End-2-End is on Sunday September 9th, and 1700 people have registered for the race.

There’s a new gym in town…well in St Johns to be precise.  V2 Gym is a new, sleek,  modern, functional gym that is situated on the Kennaa Estate in St Johns, just of the Hope Road.  Why not pop on over to the new website and sign up for one of their sessions and you never know you may just get lucky and land a Kettlebell session with our very own LDLR 2012 Solo Ladies Champion Cat.

Full directions to the gym can be found on the website HERE.  If you visit the gym from this post/site please let them know so they know we’re doing our bit to help promote the new venture.

Loaghtan Loaded MTB are proud to support V2 Gym and it’s instructors and wish them every success for the future.

For those that were too slow to get your entry in for Longest Day, Longest Ride 2012, entries for Longest Day, Longest Ride 2013 officially opened at 12 noon, Sunday 17th June 2012!

There were several people that had issues with their event jerseys not fitting or who had not changed the drop down and ordered an XS mens jersey when they should have ordered a L or possibly XL (no names mentioned this time as I’m sure you know who you are 😉  If those people that have had issues please contact me (gadge@ldlr.im) then I can make sure we get the correct jersey ordered.

Paul Moulton from MTTV catches up with Lead Organiser Gary Cooper in the closing hour of the 3rd annual Longest Day, Longest Ride.

Watch the preview to the Longest Day, Longest Ride 24hr Charity MTB Challenge HERE.