Howard Street Dual returns to the streets of Sheffield

The ultimate form of head to head mountain bike racing returns to Sheffield City Centre on the 18th March to celebrate the Outdoor City Weekender.

The devilishly difficult Howard Street Dual course will pitch the best riders against each other and the resulting spectacle will surprise and delight seasoned race fans, families of all ages and unsuspecting passers by. To enhance the drama this year we will be racing in the dark; once the sun goes down the course will be lit up making the elbow to elbow action even more entertaining.

Made possible by Sheffield City Council the riders will race from the top of Hallam Square, across the front from Sheffield Hallam university’s main building and on down to the bottom of Howard street. They must negotiate a series of features sendable by the best and rollable by all. It mixes man-made constructions with street furniture, flat grass corners and custom wooden features. Last year the finish fadeaway and infamous chaos corner claimed many riders winning ways.

Racing will begin at 5pm and finals will commence around 7pm with practice and seeding taking place from 3pm. Dual Slalom is a knockout race format, pitching riders against each other, literally duelling their way down the hill. The winner stays on and the fastest racers progress through to the finals and the glory. Think Daniel San in Karate Kid! The riders must react fast to get off the start line quickest then push each other to the limits of their skill without pushing so hard they end up on the floor, with their dreams in tatters.  

In true This is Sheffield style, every rider who races will get a prize from our incredibly generous sponsors combined with a big cheer and all the glory. The fastest racers on the day will get to pick from the pile first. We have space for 32 lads and 32 lasses. Due to the nature of the event entry is by invite only and subject to race experience and radness. Applications for a place are welcomed by filling in details here, https://goo.gl/HCFkk7 .We’ll get back to those successful.

Sheffield will be a hive of activity during the Outdoor City weekender; from the Sheffield adventure film festival, to the Magnificent 7 road anti-enduro and the Climbing works international festival. Dual racing is both spectacular and easy to follow, and will provide as much of a thrill for the spectators as it does the participants themselves. With cow-bells and noise-makers lining the track, the racers will be cheered from top to bottom making it great fun for the whole family and the best hecklers in town.

Keep up to date with all the latest race information at ThisiSheffield.co.uk