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Just received this in my inbox:
We’re incredibly sorry to inform you that we’ve had to make the very difficult decision to cancel this years Exposure Light 24/12 event.
Unfortunately we’ve experienced big increases in costs this year with Toilets, Equipment, Showers, Marquees and transport all going up between 15 and 30%. On top of that we’ve been given extra fee for using Forestry land required so we can offer a longer course that everybody wants.
The cost to put on this event currently sits at around 25 - 28K which is a considerable increase on previous years.
Whilst we’ve just about managed to cover costs in previous years, this years entries have been slow. At the beginning of May we have to commit to non refundable deposits on our equipment order, T shirts, showers putting us in a point of no return.
Having spent hours reviewing costs against entries we’ve come to the conclusion that we simply can’t take the risk of loosing thousands and continuing with the event this year. At the same time we wanted to make sure we gave everybody sufficient notice as we know you may of been planning holiday time off work for this event.
It been a really difficult decision to make. We’ve always organised the event for fun and not profit. We’ve always had a great time at the event and see it a working holiday. It’s got such a long standing heritage and never wanted to see that come to an end. But it truth 24hr racing no longer has the pull it used to have. We’d like to think that this isn’t the end for the event. We’ll be following the market and seeing how we can bring the event back. That maybe in 2023 for later.
What a shame 🙁
That is a pity. It’s a cracking event.
I bet this will be one of the driest, sunniest Aug BH weekends in memory down there now…
That’s a shame. It’s a great event.
Arse.
Edit to say: the change in classes had put us off signing up this year (with cross border travel & covid a distant second).
Was looking g forward to going this year. Need ideas for similar events.
Anything similar worth going to?
Shame. Again ,some of the classes had been cancelled, which put us off. Couldn't enter the one we wanted too, which we'd done for a few years.
I bet this will be one of the driest, sunniest Aug BH weekends in memory down there now…
Lol, some legendary mud-fests over the years
Yeah I wasn’t happy with racing everyone over 40 either, but this has become an annual “man trip” for me an junior. Looks like I might replace it with a trip to Afan lodge and his first Wales trip, which will be a memory for him.
Can’t have been easy for the organisers. At our own events we’ve seen a trend toward late entries presumably due to worries about Covid and lost money, it feels as though - with lack of forward entries - they may have suffered the same.
Gutted too. Was looking forward to it.
Last year every single event I signed up to got cancelled. First world problem and all that. Still annoying.
This seems a growing thing that events just aren't economically viable...
🙁
They made a very half-arsed job of hosting the National 24hr last year, not impressed. I wouldn't be going back if it wasn't the Nationals (also raced there when it had the Nationals in 2017 (I think?) Terrible course, not weatherproof in the slightest and a lot of people were pushing in a lot of places. Also have memories of NPS races being similar mudfests and equally unenjoyable.
Guess that's put quite a few off.
@mjsmke have a look at Longest Day/Longest Ride, awesome event. Short course doesn't sound much on paper but it works great, very well run, good craic and just a lot of fun. Pain in the bum to get to though, but not much harder than Plymouth for anyone north of Liverpool
Also, Kielder in October has the Nationals this year and that sounds very promising, those organisers have a decent track record.
And for something more exotic, 24hrs of Finale at the end of May absolutely has to be on everyone's bucket list!
It's the last longest day, longest ride so well worth going too (even harder to get to from Ireland, we're thinking of renting a fishing boat).
That's a bit too far for me. 9 hours according to Google maps. I'm South East.
Gutted for this.
Its right on my doorstep and was going to be my main season goal, but that said, I hadnt entered yet as didnt see the point in entering earlier than I had to, given the high entry fee and possibility of injury, illness etc.
With only 5 events in the SWXC calendar (one of which done and two that I cant make) it pretty much puts my 2022 MTB season to bed before its started.
We (team of 4) did ten years in a row, but the frequently dodgy weather and 6hr drive for us definitely made it harder to justify.
The on-site facilities also seemed to take a gradual slide over the years (I guess as the costs ramped up) and the selfish ability of people to hog an uneccesarily large patch of trackside camping made it more and more difficult to find a spot if driving down on the Friday, rather than the Thursday.
It's a shame we don't do it any more but a weekend away riding somewhere like the Peak District or some Welsh trail centres while staying in nice accommodation is about the same cost and more enjoyable.
The on-site facilities also seemed to take a gradual slide over the years
I agree, but I think it may have been lack of thought and basic incompetence rather than costs. I've been desperate for a coffee and cake after a couple of laps but not bothered queueing after seeing 20 people waiting for a single coffee machine to make one cup every 2 minutes. There was also the Keith Bontrager conversation. He asked for some slow cooked pork (iirc) and was told it wouldn't be ready for several hours, come back at some point around 2-3 in the morning. Obviously that's not helpful for someone trying to fuel a 24hr race.
a weekend away riding somewhere like the Peak District or some Welsh trail centres while staying in nice accommodation is about the same cost
£70ish for my race entry this year, and it used to be less than £50 per person, including camping for 4 nights. Where do you go for your nice accommodation?
I always thought it was a very cheap weekend away.
£70 entry including parking, camping, facilities.
I take my own food so no queues.
Really need something else to focus on so I don't loose motivation.
It's a shame, but I can see another of the big named (not so) endurance events going the same way this year.
What other endurance events are there?
I read Mountain Mayhem is not on. Do t know of any others.
mjsmke
What other endurance events are there?
I read Mountain Mayhem is not on.
This year it's a 6hr event, but it's definitely on - well, it is at the moment....
https://www.mountain-mayhem.com/
IdleJon
£70ish for my race entry this year, and it used to be less than £50 per person, including camping for 4 nights. Where do you go for your nice accommodation?
I can't remember the exact cost, but for a team of 4, I seem to remember it being over £200. Which, to be fair was perfectly reasonable. We even said for a few years that we would have been happy to pay a bit more for more showers & some proper toilets (like they had the first couple of years we did it).
I did say 'about the same cost - so yeah, probably a bit more expensive for a weekend away somewhere else. And by nice accommodation I mean something a step-up from a large tent & gazebo in a wet field.
Staying around N Wales, we have previously stayed in the Trawsfynydd hostel for CyB trips - that was around £20 a night and had warm rooms, a kitchen, drying room, excellent showers, secure bike storage and a pub up the road.
There's also a lodge/cabin/caravan place up the road that is very reasonable. I think we paid about £70 each for 2 nights there a few years back.
Near Afan we have rented a large house for £140 for 2 nights.
He asked for some slow cooked pork (iirc) and was told it wouldn’t be ready for several hours, come back at some point around 2-3 in the morning. Obviously that’s not helpful for someone trying to fuel a 24hr race.
Yep. They used to use Quaver catering with the massive white marquee.
You could get all sorts from burgers to pasta & jacket spuds. They also had tons of flapjacks & cake etc. It was quick & simple food.
Slowly the food options morphed into more 'artisan' & crafty offerings which clearly weren't set-up to just serve some kind of nutritious food quickly, for 24hrs to a lot of people.
There have been food places selling out before the racing had even started, or shutting up when the weather got too bad & going home (can't really blame them 🙂 )
It sounds like I'm being super-critical which is pretty unfair. A large part of our decision was the travelling time & expense.
But, when going every year the decline in facilities was definitely noticeable & a factor. It used to have a real village feel near the main marquee area, but it lost that IMO.
Probably less of a factor for people who are there to race, but we used to treat it as an enjoyable weekend camping while doing a bit of racing as well.
Near Afan we have rented a large house for £140 for 2 nights.
Hold on now, you said 'nice'. Near Afan is Neath or Port Talbot. I'm amazed you didn't catch cholera!
😀
What other endurance events are there?
I read Mountain Mayhem is not on. Do t know of any others.
10 Under the Ben is back on after a few years break, in mid June. Praying for at least a gentle breeze, as by that time the West Highland midge can make a sizeable dent in morale!
shutting up when the weather got too bad & going home (can’t really blame them 🙂 )
I think you can and should.
Anything in July?
Vittoria Marathon at Pippingford - https://eventrexuk.com/mtb-marathon-2022/
I’m looking for something else late July / early August also.