EXPOSURE LIGHTS BIG NIGHT OUT event Builth Wells 11th April 2009
For the 6th time since the launch of night marathon riding The EXPOSURE LIGHTS BIG NIGHT OUT (ELBNO) will once more open the season of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series. On the 11th April 2009 just before darkness sets in around 300 riders will make their way out on the hills surrounding Builth Wells and will tackle not just the physical and mental strain of the mountain bike marathon but also the element of darkness to spice things up a little bit.
The EXPOSURE LIGHTS BIG NIGHT OUT was included in the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series in 2004 and since then has found lots of fans amongst the marathon and 24 hour riders. Since the start of ‘marathon night riding’ more and more riders have given this rather different and unique event a try to test themselves and their equipment against the elements. For a course John has put together an approximately 40km long loop which is loaded with single track, open moreland, forest roads and fast flowing off road sections which will make this event a real challenge without taking the chance of a weekend double (riding the event on both days - £15 discount if you enter the ride both days) away.
The ELBNO night marathon (11th April 2009) will take place on the same weekend and will be based at the same location as the Spring Marathon (12th April 2009). Both events are part of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2009. Camping will be available (included in the entry fee) from Friday night through to Monday morning at the Royal Welsh Showground.
 Course Profile Download:
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Camping, registration and start time:
Camping will be available (included in the entry fee) from Friday night through to Monday morning at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells
Start times:
- The ‘Exposure Lights Big Night Out’ (night marathon) will start at approx. 7.30pm on Saturday the 11th April '09 at the Royal Welsh Showground.
- The ‘Spring Enduro’ will start at 10.30am on Sunday the 12th April '09 at the Royal Welsh Showground.
Registration opening times:
Saturday from 12pm - 8pm
Sunday from 8 - 10am
The ELBNO will have only one distance to choose from but the Spring Marathon will have three different courses. The longest will be the approx. 65km course, followed by the approx. 45km option and the approx. 30km Mini Marathon. The approximately 65km long course will be using some of the course of the EXPOSURE LIGHTS BIG NIGHT OUT. But we can promise you that it will feel completely different to ride this course first at night and then in the daytime.
The entry fee for the ELBNO is £30 per rider. On Sunday the entry fee for the approx. 45 and 65km ride is £30 per rider and £25 per rider for the approx. 30km Mini Marathon. If you are in between 12-15 years old and are taking part in the Mini Marathon then your entry fee is only £20 rather than £25.
If you are taking part in the night marathon and any of the Sunday marathons the price will be only £45 rather than £60 and you will obviously get ‘double’ the treatment (tea and cake when you get back from the ELBNO, finishing present/T-shirt, energy food and technical support around the course).
Your entry fee for the Sunday round of Merida Bikes MTB Marathon includes:
- Ride entry
- Free pasta party (held on the Saturday night before the ride on Sunday)
- Free usage of service stations
- Free usage of facilities
- Free skills and riding tuitions (run on Saturday)
- Finishing T-shirt
- Free camping and parking
Your entry fee for the ELBNO night marathon includes:
- Ride entry
- Free post event food (when you come over the finish line on Saturday night)
- Free usage of service stations
- Free usage of facilities
- Free skills and riding tuitions (run on Saturday)
- Finishing present
- Free camping and parking
 Helping Hands
Keep yourself fit to ride with a little help
MTB Works offers first class maintenance, and pre- and post race treatments to athletes. They provide advice on injuries, self care, stretching and maintenance routines, using a wide range of techniques from orthopaedic massage and facilitated stretching to electro-acupuncture and cryotherapy. In addition to hands-on work they also supply sports supports, taping, medicated anti-inflammatory plasters, anti-contusion liniments and advice on sports nutrition. These services will be available throughout the series – see www.mtbworks.com for more.
CycleActive Skills Arena
New for 2009 will be the Skills Arena, brought to you by the UK’s leading mountain bike instructors at CycleActive. This will be the place to come to on Saturday to learn to hop, drop, manual, corner faster, brake harder and control your bike in testing situations.
“It’s a new format for this season – instead of taking groups off-site we’ll be running focused, intensive 1 hour sessions in a custom built skills arena. We’re building the woodwork this winter, so be prepared for some timber trails and exciting riding,” said CycleActive boss Chris Ford.
We’ll bring you more on this as the season progresses. Skills sessions will have restricted numbers but you’ll be able to sign up online closer to each event. All the sessions are free as well, so take advantage of this chance to learn from the best in the business, and push your skills up a level before the Sunday event.
Skills on Sundays
The Sunday sessions provided by CycleActive have been incredibly popular with younger riders, but also many adults who are not riding the event. This year there will be a split of sessions on Sunday, with those for youngsters alternating with adult sessions. “We’ll use the same course as Saturday, with a few modifications, so youngsters and adults of all abilities can come along and learn something, and have a lot of fun too,” explained Chris.
Teaching great technique to young riders makes a huge difference. This programme of CycleActive junior training is something we’ve seen at Merida events for 3 years now, and many of the youngsters who started with CycleActive back then are now blasting round the 25 or even 50 courses with real confidence. Again, it’s completely free and you don’t need to sign up for the Sunday sessions – just check times on the board when you arrive.
EXPOSURE LIGHT BIG NIGHT OUT specific info:
• The event is limited to 300 people so please make sure you enter soon.
• There is an advisory list of items which should be taken on the ride. Please expect to be checked on this and if you can’t fulfil the requirements we reserve the right to deny your taking part in the event.
The following list is on top of our usual recommendations for any of the events of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon series.
- Waterproof jacket
- Tools and inner tubes
- Energy food and drink
- Space blanket
- Backup light
- Sufficient lights for off road night riding with burn time in between three to five hours (depending on your abilities and how long you expect to be out there)
- Red LED rear light
• We strongly recommend that you have experience in night riding and endurance riding.
• The course is approximately 40km long.
• £15 discount if you do the night Enduro (on Saturday night) as well as the day Enduro (on Sunday morning). The exception to this rule is that you will get a £10 discount if you do the ELBNO followed by the Mini Marathon (only £25 entry fee) on Sunday.
• Start of the EXPOSURE LIGHTS BIG NIGHT OUT is at approx. 7.30pm on Saturday 11th April 2009 at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells.
• Tea and cake at the end as well as at the feed station(s).
• EXPOSURE LIGHTS will be on site with a selection of their newest lights and light accessories.
Location and our man on the ground:
The April Builth Wells event is the location for the Spring Marathon (12th April ‘09) and the EXPOSURE LIGHTS BIG NIGHT OUT - Night Marathon on the 11th April ‘09.
Our man in Builth Wells is John Lloyd – I don’t think we have to introduce him at all. John is the main man behind the series and an expert when it comes to the trails around Builth Wells. Give him a ring on 01982 552923 if you have any more specific questions.
 BUILTH WELLS - EXPOSURE LIGHTS BIG NIGHT OUT - NIGHT MARATHON
Now going into its tenth season the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series (formally known as the ‘100’ series The birthplace of the) was first launched in Builth Wells – the unofficial capital of the UK mountain bike marathon scene. Situated in the beautiful unspoiled countryside of Mid Wales, Builth Wells is an ideal base from which to explore the many attractions and events held throughout the year in this part of the UK, especially the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon. The river Wye flows through the centre of Builth Wells on its way to Hereford and Ross-on-Wye, along the flanks of which stand many wonderful hotels and bed and breakfast establishments in the town. Builth Wells also has a picturesque golf course and conference facilities.
Mid Wales is largely unspoiled by industry and Builth Wells is situated at the centre, making it a wonderful place to explore the rest of Wales and the west of England. Take the chance and explore the history of Builth Wells and visit the wonderful castle site (now sadly only a mound) which is perched above the town.
Local Information
For information about local services and accommodation please get in touch with the local Tourist Information Centres and check out the local web sites.
BUILTH WELLS
Tel: 01982 553307
Fax: 01982 553841
Email: builtic@powys.gov.uk
Address:
The Groe Car Park
Builth Wells
Powys
LD2 3BT
Web: www.builth.co.uk
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