This unique event combines the physical challenge of mountain bike racing with the cunning of orienteering. You get to explore places which are not normally accessible to mtn bikers - charting a route from the start point to the overnight campsite that will inevitably involve grinding up several steep hills, flying down others, and generally having an outrageous time in some out-of-the-way places.
It works like this... Hook up with a riding buddy, or buddies, to form a two, three or four person team.
(The course area kept secret until two weeks before the event.But I can say that it will be between 40mins to an hour of ChCh.)
At the start of the Saga you receive a map of the area with controls marked on it. The controls are worth different points depending on how difficult they are to reach. The aim is to score the maximum points in the allowed time. You only get the informaton just prior to the start, so it's up to you to think of the best strategy to get around the course giving you the most points for the least amount of expended energy! Remember, there is a second day.
We'll lug your overnight equipment and food to the campsite for you, but you need to be self sufficient during the day.
The Cyclic Saga involves two long-ish days so you'll want to be reasonably fit, and have some basic map reading skills. But it need only be as hard as you make it - you are able to choose a route and pace that suits your skills and fitness.Controls are set out to be acheivable for beginners and the elite. The '09' course will have an endless amount of route choice....but thats good.... isn't it?.....................ha ha ha..good luck.
Remember that the fittest will not always be the winner on terrain like this. It will help, but a combination of brains and brawn will help more.
March 14th & 15th 2009
Check it out at http://www.cyclicsaga.co.nz
?!?). Top of that you can even be late from finish line for 25 minutes 
and burn your points... 
