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.
Famous quotes containing the words sleepless and/or saddle:
“It is a bore, I admit, to be past seventy, for you are left for execution, and are daily expecting the death-warrant; but ... it is not anything very capital we quit. We are, at the close of life, only hurried away from stomach-aches, pains in the joints, from sleepless nights and unamusing days, from weakness, ugliness, and nervous tremors; but we shall all meet again in another planet, cured of all our defects.”
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845)
“As the saddle makes the horse, so the tailor makes the man.”
—Chinese proverb.