On your bike! Visit Chelmsford in Essex for some hardcore mountain biking action

The place to go if mountain biking is your thing, in tandem with all of the other Olympic sports

Regarded as comfortably within the belt for commuters who work in the city, Chelmsford in Essex is one of the places that has been confirmed as a location for the 2012 London Olympics – with plenty of investment to ensure that key competitors can train as well as compete in a great environment for everyone.

The area is a place of outstanding natural beauty, and landmarks such as the Chelmsford Cathedral and an authentic 18-arch Victorian viaduct are just some of the things to marvel once you book the accommodation and arrive for the summer games. Indeed, if you choose the train to arrive here, you may be lucky enough to be on a train that uses this viaduct on its route, allowing you to see a birds’ eye view of where you are going to be staying and what you have to look forward to.

Here’s some interesting trivia that might make you envy Chelmsford and wish to return even when the Olympics aren’t on. A property programme on Channel 4, for example, recently determined that Chelmsford was in the top 10 best places to live in Britain – ranking a very respectable 8th.

Mountain biking: A discipline to admire

Mountain biking is one of the four tests of cycling aptitude that will be conducted during the 2012 Summer Games, and it stands out from the others because it won’t be held in the Velodrome.

You’ll need to book accommodation for a long weekend it seems, as all of the mountain biking action will take place on Hadleigh Farm on Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th of August. A grand total of 80 people are going to be competing for just two gold medals: one for the ladies, and one for the gentlemen. It looks set to be an intense and gripping weekend to say the least!

In actuality, it is worthwhile to note that mountain biking is one of the newest sports to be included in the Summer Olympics; the first time it became a fixture was in 1996 for the Atlanta games, and the concept of mountain biking only came to fruition during the 1970s in California. You’ll be able to enjoy countryside at its finest as you watch bikers battle through a hilly route with challenges and obstacles along the way; a daunting race of up to 50 km that truly tests stamina.

Best summer 2012 holiday accommodation

The things to look forward to in Chelmsford

If you want to make a short break of it, there are plenty of day breaks and attractions to enjoy while you are in Chelmsford. For example, there are cruises, picnicking and fishing facilities available in this scenic town, not to mention quaint tearooms and cafes for you to visit.

Another striking feature is Chelmer Park for those who want to stick to the sporting theme. With local teams battling it out in sport such as hockey and cricket, the play might not be Olympic standard but the experience will be just as gripping.

Where to go if you’re peckish in Chelmsford

In addition to some great takeaways if you’re staying in a hotel room or an apartment, Chelmsford is just brimming with some sumptuous restaurants for you to try. These include pizza, pasta and upmarket starters at Bartellas; The Blue Bridge with live performances on the piano every evening, and an informal ambience with gorgeous leather seating at La Vista.

How to get from A to B in Chelmsford

In addition to great cycling routes (of which there will be many considering what this town is hosting for the Summer Olympics), the transport links into Central London for other events is excellent.

You can get from Chelmsford to Stratford in just 24 minutes, meaning that you are never far away from even more action once the weekend of mountain biking draws to a close.

By going to London Liverpool Street, there are also multiple line connections available to the London Underground, with many boroughs hosting some fantastic sport during the games. Thanks to investment in better infrastructure, it will all be available to you as well.

A brand-new bus station, readily available cabs and plenty of accessible roads if you are driving to Chelmsford with your bikes means that there is plenty of flexibility to help you get the most out of your holiday. Once you’re here, you won’t be disappointed with the standard of accommodation – or anything else for that matter!