After such a hard days racing the day before the team refuelled and got an early night ready for the British Marathon Champs. With the sun out again and even stronger thean the day before it was going to be a tough task for some tired legs to have a go and especially tough for Chris, Brodie and Will who were diving into the 100km Championship event around the very hilly and unforgiving Margam Park circuit.

As the gun went to signal the start of the 100km race it was clear that Chris had every intention of getting a good place as he comfortably sat within the leading group among which was Olympian Oli Beckingsale, Dave Collins, Paul Oldham, Nick Craig and many other top riders. However the heat and the efforts of the previous day took hold at the 50km mark and Chris was no longer able to carry on suffering from exhaustion and dehydration on what was a scorching day in Wales.

The team travelled to a sun kissed Margam park in Wales for the third round of the British MTB Series on the back of some good form and in high spirits. The weekend included the British Marathon championships which the majority of the team had committed to so it was sure to be a long weekend especially with temperatures forecast at around 25 degrees.

As the team woke up to sweltering heat Alex prepared for his early start in the Youth category on a course very different to previous years with new sections and constant climbing on varied terrain. Alex set off at his usual blistering pace getting a good start and settling into the front group of the race.

A lot of people have a soft spot for Crow Hill and it is easy to see why. A well set up course with a great arena that the riders visit 3 or 4 times each lap adds to spectator interest, while the lack of any real hills for climbing or descending means full on, no respite effort for the full race.

A good draining course, even if the rain was torrential it wouldn't affect conditions at Crow......... and so as we drove through torrential rain that might have come straight from the film Bladerunner we hoped that the course really was as good draining as had been said. Nat and Ben were both looking forward to a race around last years National Champs course, and this year it was in reverse!

The team went into round 2 of the National Series almost at full strength and after a disappointing round 1 had a lot to prove! The event was set up as a world cup test event as they look to host a round of the series in 2010. The course had only just been finished literally days before but that didnt seem to matter as a true mountain bikers race awaited!

Alex showed that he is now back to full fitness with a terrific display of determination to finish 4th after narrowly losing in a sprint for 3rd. After working his way up the technical course suited him and as a first year Youth he gave the older guys a real challenge...

It has been 2 years since the Dragon Series visited the Rhondda Heritage Park, then it was for the Welsh National Championships, this time the 2nd round of the 2009 Welsh Dragon XC Series visited the legendary South Wales course. In the words of many who rode it, the Heritage Park offers 'Proper mountain biking' with hard climbs, tough singletrack and even tougher descending. Some people even found it too much and after pre-riding the course decided against racing. A shame, but this is mountain biking and it should be more than a test of physical fitness, the riders technical ability should also be tested...

The first race of the 2009 Southern series was held under blue skies and bright sunshine, defying the weather forecast which all week had predicted rain. Bordon is a very popular course with riders, whilst not hilly it more than makes up for it with tight, fast and flowing singletrack with berms, doubles, drops and jumps, its great fun and 550 riders turned up to enjoy it...

It was nearly a full turn out in Rugby for the first Midlands regional race of 2009. The team were pitched in the arena and with good weather and a great event put on in some stunning grounds it was sure to be a good day!

The Juniors and Youth riders were first off in a full day of racing and it was Alex who showed he is gradually coming back to form after a long lay off at the start of the year. he took a well deserved 2nd place in the Youth field and notched up some more ranking points in the process...

The team had a mixed first National race of the season. With Brodie and Paul out with injury and illness respectively the team were already short on the ground but with an impressive pitch in the arena and a bright orange gazebo (which doubled up as a sun tanning booth if you spent too long inside)it was an exciting time for the team...

While Nat was at the Gorrick series picking up a great 2nd place, three of the team took a long trip to Wales for the first round of the new Welsh Dragon series.

Ben had a great start and found himself with one for company as they passed the start/finish for the first time. He was unable to hold his companions wheel though, but after slipping back to second place rode a comfortable race to finish second and pick up some National Ranking Points...

Nat joined Orange Monkey shortly after it was formed five years ago and has been steadily progressing over recent years. The step up to Junior is a big one and after the disappointment of the last round of the Gorrick series, Nat was out for a result...

For the fourth year in a row Orange Monkey sent some riders to Cyprus to take part in the Sunshine Cup and for the third year running they chose the Afxentia stage race in the Macheras mountains, just outside Larnaca.

Unlike previous years the riders were greeted with poor weather, experiencing cloud, rain and even hail throughout the three day race. Paul, Chris and Ben flew to Larnaca accompanied by Will and Matt who provided exceptional support throughout the week as the guys looked to get some early season international racing in...

While some of the team were away in Cyprus Nat and Alex went to get some early season racing in at round three of the Gorrick series. For Nat it was some more racing as he builds towards his first season as a Junior and for Alex it marked a return to racing after an operation to remove his appendix on New Years day...

The final round of the thetford winter series saw a big turnout of monkeys, for some of who this was there first race of the new season. paul started his first race since June after recovering from a knee injury and Chris started his first race for Orange Monkey so it was an exciting day all round for the team.

Ben took another podium in the 2 hour Junior race as he gets some valuable racing in before the start of the NPS in April. It was another impressive display from Ben who this year steps into the Junior ranks...

Our two first year Juinor riders took themselves off to the latest round of the Gorrick series at Tunnel Hill for some quality racing in preperation for the jump up in category this year.

Both riders have made the transition from Youth to Junior, which not only carries an extra lap of racing but has the pace of the Elite field to go with it...

Orange Monkey Cycling Team is delighted to introduce their all new line up for 2009!

The team have re-launched with a host of new riders, new faces and a real change of look for the new season. Orange Monkey started in 2004 and has grown from strength to strength and is now one of the most recognised MTB teams in the UK. We believe the time is now right to move up to the next level and as such have re-launched for 2009 with new sponsors, new kit and new bikes and will now look to move forward with the goal of regular International racing in the not too distant future...

We are absolutely delighted to introduce the latest addition to our team, Chris Andrews.

Chris joins us from Kinesis where he had many years of success including a high 7th place finish in the overall Expert rankings last year amongst a tough quality field of riders. Chris also managed a 3rd place finish at the final round of the National points Series and finished no lower than 5th in the same competition all season.

Not only does Chris have obvious natural talent which has seen the team monitor Chris for the last 18 months but he also has the hunger and appetite to succeed at the highest level...

The team unfortunately announce the departure of Graham and Matt from the team...

Orange Monkey can today announce that they will begin a host of new and exciting partnerships in 2009.

The team will ride Cannondale bikes next season supplied through Heales Cycles in the most exciting sponsorship deal that Orange Monkey have had since starting back in 2004. Heales Cycles will now become our primary sponsor and we look forward to working with both them and Cannondale over future years to come.

As well as this we have exciting deals in place with a new cycling website, a fantastic Pyrenean Holiday company, as well as some great products from Jim Walker distribution...

News: New Website... New Logo... New Look!

To compliment the fresh look, Orange Monkey is proud to introduce a new look website. The new webiste is designed to provide further information into the team, improve functionality and to increase exposure for our sponsors.

We have also changed our team logo, to the new funky design pictured left and are delighted to have these new designs going into the 2009 season...