The stars of Scotland’s mountain bike scene have been recognised at the annual Scottish Mountain Bike Awards.

Organised by the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, more than 150 guests attended the awards evening last Thursday (16 November) at the Drygate Brewery in Glasgow.

A total of 13 awards were presented to riders, businesses, clubs, event organisers, community groups, tourism and services companies who have excelled throughout 2017.

A public vote was held for the Mountain Bike Rider of the Year with Katy Winton and Lewis Buchanan taking home the prizes. Both ride for Trek Factory Racing in the Enduro World Series.

The Best Mountain Bike Event was once again won by the Tweedlove Bike Festival.

In the business category, newcomer A S D-Xine – founded by former Robert Gordon University student Andrew Davidson – won the Best Product award with its revolutionary Go-Charge hydration device.

Milngavie-based Flaer took home the Best Scottish Exporter award, with the Best Business to Academic Collaboration award going to the University of Strathclyde and ByCyclogical for their work developing an innovative cycling storage device. Cleikum Mill in Innerleithen won the MTB Friendly Accommodation award and Off the Grid won the Best Service Provider prize.

In the participation and sport categories, Bespoke took the hotly contested MTB Community Project prize, with Midlothian Cycles taking home MTB Club of the Year.

Guest presenters on the night included Stu Thomson of Cut Media – regular collaborators with Danny MacAskill – and Chris Ball – managing director of the Enduro World Series.

Danny Cowe, co-presenter of the evening and business development executive of the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland said: “The awards evening was a fantastic opportunity to showcase and celebrate all the fantastic achievements within the Scottish mountain bike community. With such a large turnout on the night and with over 65 nominees throughout the categories, it shows that the sport and industry is in a strong place.”

Graeme McLean, project manager of Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, said: “We know that there is still issues and challenges in Scottish mountain biking, and we are working hard to solve them but we do need to take the time celebrate our successes. By bringing everyone together we can highlight and promote the great range of activity which is happening in Scottish mountain biking. We are always inspired to hear how our community, clubs, businesses and riders are punching above their weight in the world of mountain biking.”

List of winners;

• Scottish Mountain Bike Product Innovation of the Year – AS D-Zine Ltd, Go Charge
• Best Scottish Business Collaboration with a University – ByCyclogical and University of Strathclyde
• Endura Exporter of the Year – Flaer
• Scottish MTB Friendly Accommodation Provider of the Year – Cleikum Mill Lodge, Innerleithen
• Edinburgh Napier University Scottish MTB Service Provider of the Year – Off the Grid MTB
• Event of the Year – Tweedlove Bike Festival
• Scottish Cycling MTB Photograph of the Year – James McLean
• MTB video of the Year – H&I Adventures, On Wandering
• Shand Cycles Scottish Mountain Bike Club of the Year – Midlothian Cycle Club
• IBIS Cycles Scottish Mountain Bike Community Project of the Year – Bespoke
• Scottish Mountain Biking Local Hero – Barbara Murray and Euan Speirits
• Scottish Female Rider of the Year – Katy Winton
• Scottish Male Rider of the Year – Lewis Buchanan

Pictured: MTB Service Provider of the Year (L-R: Graeme McLean (DMBINS), Off the Grid MTB, Prof Geraint Florida James of Edinburgh Napier University)

Scottish mountain biking and its links with business and entrepreneurs will be celebrated next month at the annual Scottish Mountain Bike Awards.

Organised by Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS), in conjunction with the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland (MTBCoS), the evening of celebration – which will take place on 16 November at the Drygate Brewery in Glasgow – will recognise those that contribute towards making the sport world class in Scotland.

Nominations are now open, with award categories covering numerous areas including tourism, clubs, riders, accommodation providers, product manufacturers and community groups.

The awards will also celebrate the sector’s best innovations and collaborations with universities throughout the country.

Last year, Edinburgh Napier University took home the Best Scottish Business Collaboration with a University award after its work with Flaer was recognised.

Academics from the University worked with the company to develop the world’s first chain performance system for mountain bikes. The system automatically applies fluid to the chain as you ride, giving maximum power transfer to the wheel and smoother gearshifts.

The technology has continued to be developed and was recently used by the ORICA-SCOTT GreenEdge professional road cycling team throughout the season, including during this year’s Tour de France.

Professor Geraint Florida-James, lead academic of the MTBCoS, said: “We are delighted to again be involved with these awards to recognise all the great work and expertise going into developing the mountain bike industry. The work that we do at the MtBCoS supports companies who are developing innovative cycling products and services and this will be a great opportunity to recognise the talent we have on our doorstep.”

Danny Cowe, business development executive for MTBCoS, said: “We see these awards as another method of highlighting the great progress of Scottish companies and celebrating the fantastic scene in Scotland. We had a great response last year from Scottish businesses and we would urge any Scottish registered company with a mountain bike product or service to fill in an application form and take part in these awards.”

Graeme McLean, project manager at DMBinS, said: “Mountain biking brings increased participation – helping us to become a happier and healthier country alongside giving Scot’s the opportunity to succeed on the world stage along with brings economic benefit, often to some of our more remote areas.

“These awards will highlight and celebrate examples of great practice in these three areas which will help Scotland maintain its reputation as one of the leading countries in the world for mountain biking.”

The Scottish Mountain Bike Awards were devised last year, with 11 different categories, more than 3000 public votes and more than 50 applications. This year, the public will also choose the top Scottish mountain bike riders of the year and the Scottish event of the year.

Full details on the awards and its categories can be found at http://www.dmbins.com/developing/scottish-mtb-awards-2017/