Join us for more fun, more pain!? (and the most friendly vibes).
Thanks to overwhelmingly positive feedback from this year’s riders (and because the TweedLove team just love making it happen), Scotland’s most popular summer MTB endurance event is returning for 2026. We’ll be back at the newly rejuvenated Glentress – course details will be released nearer the event.
If you’ve taken part before, you can expect to enjoy that same event buzz that’s always made Glentress 7 so special. Riders will start and finish their laps at the heart of the event village, while spectators and team mates provide the bants on the course. As always, it’s an event that’s enjoyable for a huge range of abilities whether it’s your first event or you’re a seasoned racer – great trail riding, a friendly atmosphere, smiles all round – and, of course, as much pain and effort as you think appropriate! And, of course there’s cake on every lap.
The course features some nice climbs, fantastic singletrack, great descents and a whole lot of fun. You can go as hard, or easy, as you like. Ride solo or in teams of two or three – the most laps in seven hours wins.
The Seven hour race – how it works
The aim? To complete as many laps as you can in seven hours. Riders can do as many laps as they want (or can manage) in the time. With the track going right through the pits areas, there’s ample opportunity to stretch out, rest and hydrate between laps.
If you are riding in a team, you ride in relay – with only one team member on the course at any one time. All timing is via an electronic card which is worn by the team member on course. When a rider crosses the lap finish line their time is recorded, and then they pass the card onto the next team member and so on. You’ll be given the chance to complete a final frantic lap – but will it be enough to win?
The solo and team pits and team changeover area are just above the event village at the start of the lap – read more below. The pits is where you will store all your kit for the day. Feel free to invite friends and family to cheer you on. The course is marked out all the way round and there are marshals at all key positions.
What you get:
- Seven hours of top singletrack riding
- Electronic timing by SI systems
- Approx 10km lap with 340m ascent
- Free entry into the event village and pits area for your family & friends, the atmosphere is awesome
- Feed station on course
- Event village with great food and drink
- The best course medics and crew
- On site tech support
This event is suitable for riders who are competent on blue and red grade trails. Any drop-offs are avoidable and technical sections are short and not too scary. More course info and stats will be released closer to the time.
Competitor & Team Pits Area
An area of spaces for team pits/base camps will be available beside the racetrack (multi-user path). It’s strictly first come first served, and these spaces will be available from 16:00 – 19:00 on the afternoon before the race (Friday 29th May) and from 08:00 on race day. You must get permission from an event official on site, before setting up in a space. These spaces will mostly be big enough for a single ez-up or similar. Important – you must not use tent pegs in the multi-path. Please note spectators and supporters are welcome in the pits area and all around the course – there are no limits on numbers in Glentress!
Strictly no vehicles are allowed in the event village except for official event/emergency vehicles. From 16:00 – 19:00 on the Friday & 08:00 – 09:00 on the Saturday only, you will be able to drop off ez-ups, boxes etc in the blue badge only car park adjacent to the event village. You’ll then need to park in the event parking field, walk up to collect your gear and carry to the pits area to set up. You can of course park & carry it further!
Please stay within a 3m x 3m space or less for your team area and consider sharing space with other teams. Strictly no camping in this area. Ez-ups etc are left at your own risk. Pits areas are only allowed in the signposted areas.
For Solo racers…
There will be a designated solos pits area beside the race track (multi-user path) for the use of solo riders, where they can leave food and supplies, preferably in a clearly marked plastic box, with a lid. There will be marshals and event staff in the area but items are left at the owners’ own risk. There is no space for solo riders to have ez-ups/tents/gazebos etc.
There’s no access to this area before 16:00 on Friday 29th May.
Categories:
Solo
- Female Under 30
- Female 30-39
- Female 40-49
- Female 50-59
- Female 60+
- Male Under 30
- Male 30-39
- Male 40-49
- Male 50-59
- Male 60+
Pairs
- Female Pair Under 80
- Female Pair Over 80
- Male Pair Under 80
- Male Pair Over 80
- Mixed Pair Under 80
- Mixed Pair Over 80
Trios
- Mixed Trio
- Female Trio Under 120
- Female Trio Over 120
- Male Trio Under 120
- Male Trio Over 120
If you don’t feel that these categories are right for you, please get in touch.
Registration times
Registration is at Event HQ at Glentress
Fri 29 May
16:00 – 19:00
Sat 30 May
08:00 – 10:00
Entry Fees
- Solo: £65, Pairs: £110, Trios: £150
You must be 14 years old on the day of the event – 30th May 2026 – to enter.
Want to get involved in other ways
Join us as a volunteer via our online application form. It’s a lot of fun (honest) and you’ll have Bike Valley’s eternal thanks!
Event FAQs can be found here.
Hillside Outside Terms & Conditions can be found here.
Photo Credit: Jerry Tatton