[Closed] PSA - UKGE Cancelled

Interesting read/grumble

https://www.rootsandrain.com/event-calendar/filters/2018,gb,en/

Given R&R have 68 Enduro events running in the UK this year maybe they were just not offering what people were up for.

As I sit here now reflecting, I believe there’s so many reasons UKGE hasn’t worked this year, the lack of support from the industry itself being one. The brands and the shops find that putting on their own events or supporting festival type races (which is more about just having a craic then serious competition) seems to be better for selling their products.

Many people have commented why they turn away from UKGE, it’s too hard, too serious, transitions times, I can’t make a full weekend, Full Face Helmets etc. etc.…

Had tickets for Dyfi. Pretty gutted as was looking forward to a big race in Wales.

Sadly seems that a national series just isn't workable.

I used to race the old series, for a few years, but didn't make any of the new as they didn't suit me.

I'm not going to criticise Steve and I don't think anyone else should, he's worked bloody hard and made no money. He's also a top bloke trying to organise a top class race series.

I see the biggest issue is that people just don't race full series like they did. It's the same reason the BDS stopped. I do think the EWS not having a round in the UK for a number of years hasn't helped this.

Many people have commented why they turn away from UKGE, it’s too hard, too serious, transitions times, I can’t make a full weekend, Full Face Helmets etc. etc.…

Dunno how similar cycling facebook racers compare to their sailing equivalents, but I strongly suspect there's a majority who will always have an excuse not to turn up, so I'd never trust feedback from people who aren't going about why they're not.

Big shame, Ive always been a fan of the series, best venues across the country, UKGE put a huge amount of work into trails, real shame that its ending, again!

For whatever reason people just not willing to travel across the UK  to race 2-3 day events in a series

UK really should have a national series, tough long stages, ransition times, big loops, a proper stepping stone to EWS even if its just each round put on by regional organisers.

sadly I think steve is right, its a lot of comittment & enough people just arent up for it 🙁

Big shame Dyfi is cancelled, UKGE helped build some great trails round there

It’s with deep regret and sadness, we have to announce that rounds 4&5 of UKGE are going to be cancelled. I’m truly sorry that it has come to this.
Putting on a series of this size costs so much money and time that it needed rider and industry support, but both were down on previous years. I could go onto blame things here, but I’m not going to, just give you fact.
If the series were to continue, then the series will put itself into debt. I have not taken any money f<span class="text_exposed_show">rom the series whatsoever since I started work on it in 2017. With no other personal income over that period, there is no way I can pay off any debt. Once I have paid off suppliers from round 3 I will let everyone know what is left and what they can expect to receive as a partial refund.
We could just continue to take your money, but I’m not a crook. Unfortunately, we just haven’t been able to generate enough entries to make the last 2 rounds happen.
This is my fault alone and I will have to carry that burden till the end of my days and never organise another race.
Deepest regret and huge apologies,</span>

Taken from Steve's Facebook post.

Massive shame that it hasn't worked out, and I really hope there is still space for a national series. Maybe something similar to moto enduro the ACU organises and promotes a series where a few different clubs host an event would share the work more evenly? I know something like this was being discussed before UKGE restarted last time.

A couple of mates have done UKGE, but most of my riding group (who do lots of other events) feel that the 'elite' nature of a national series makes it unappealing for weekend warriors, and the timed transitions puts off lots of downhillers and other good riders who would rather just have a weekend riding good trails without that added constraint/pressure.

Maybe keep times transitions for pro class, but removing the restrictions for the other classes

Bit of promo work could open the appeal to the non elites. Attract these people to their local event, even if not the full series

I think access to venues have changed too, people can go do a weekend at BPW, "race" their mates and get up lifted back to the top for another go. It isn't that much of a commitment and you can go mid week if it's a better fit for family life etc.

Plus there's a regional comp most places too, Southern enduro, Welsh etc, it's easier logistically

FF lids etc make sense from insurance etc, and are a requirement at bigger events like EWS aren't they? But it's another bit of kit etc.

A couple of mates have done UKGE, but most of my riding group (who do lots of other events) feel that the ‘elite’ nature of a national series makes it unappealing for weekend warriors

I have to agree with this really. I've done one of these before at Dyfi, and although I really enjoyed it, after riding at the mini enduros and at recently at 'ard rock, I much prefer the more relaxed nature of those "races" and being able to ride with mates.

After all, the "weekend warriors" are the ones who spend all the cash and are the target market. The amount of money flying about in terms of bikes and kit at 'Ard rock was eye watering.

I fancied a go, but for the round I could make (Eastridge) £75 seemed a lot to ride such a tiny hill. Probably £10 per minute of actual race time!

However, the same price for the Inners round was probably fair, and I don't mind paying that amount for a festival such as Ard Rock or Tweedlove.

For me, the solution for a national series would be to somehow stirp it back to the bear essentials and reduce entry costs as much as possible. They had a great standard of elites riding this year!

essentials and reduce entry costs as much as possible. They had a great standard of elites riding this year!

considering the work that goes in to digging trails & ther costs hard to get a 2-3 day event under £75 quid, camping is usually free too, of course fuel costs add up too.

& yeah some good elites there, problem is the level to attract them seems to put off many.

Id agree about Eastridge, its a fun venue, but im not sure its national standard

Am I having deja vu?

This reads almost exactly like a thread last year or the year before?  Or am I imagining things?

. https://www.wideopenmountainbike.com/2018/08/bemba-national-enduro-series-announcement-2019

Yes, all sounds very familiar.  At least UKGE was given a chance and the same alternative looks like giving it a go for 2019

https://www.moredirt.com/article/BEMBA-National-Enduro-Series-2019/7063/

I'd say sticking to a 2 day format is the best way to do it there.

If you have to take 5 days holiday to do a series without any travel time then it's killing for lots of people

so BEMBA are hijacking other enduros to make up a "national" series.  I'm surprised no one had done that before.  Keeps costs down and numbers will be kept up.

The only thing about the BEMBA plan, is that the individual race organisers gain nothing - they’d be full up anyway....

Same as the new national dh series makes a lot of sense as the people building the relationship locally run the event and get the best from an area and nobody has the burden of doing it all.

Except it makes sense for the local DH organisers as it helps them get entries in, when Enduro organisers don’t need that help

It was tabled in 2017 but shelved to allow the BES and then UKGE to give it a go (another go).

Well it seems like the only way there will be a national series unless somebody cracks the formula. I'm guessing none of the local organisers were forces to sign up so they must be happy with the idea.

But realistically keep it simple, keep it to a weekend and have some fun.

Except it makes sense for the local DH organisers as it helps them get entries in, when Enduro organisers don’t need that help

BEMBA are the Enduro organisers

& They want to see a national enduro series & are working together to build one, even if they would've sold out the rounds anyway.

The Bemba model sounds the same as Superenduro in Italy and the EWS - create an umbrella series that handles entries, marketing, pulls in proper sponsorship money etc.

The advantage to the local organiser is opportunity to scale up due to more resources (so more revenue), higher profile and hopefully in time, an opportunity to start charging the host area for the race to be there due to an uplift of "sport tourism" spend over a race weekend. Just the same as in almost any other sport.

<div class="bbp-reply-author">mikewsmith
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Well it seems like the only way there will be a national series unless somebody cracks the formula.

Steve cracked the formula back in year 2 of the UKGE. Keep it simple, make it work for the riders that pay the bills before you worry about the elites. And then he kept changing it and just about every change saw less riders come.And the BES did much the same and started their series as if they were taking over a sell-out show.

I've a huge amount of time for Steve and I wish he'd succeeded but nobody's really surprised, are they? It's the same attempt failing for the same reasons. Sure it's a tougher environment for racing these days but every time someone says how hard it is, I just think the SES brought 50% more riders to Innerleithen than UKGE did- in fact the SES will get more people at Pitfichie than Inners and Pitfichie is basically in the arctic.

Hoping that BEMBA can make a good go of it.

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Pitfichie is basically in the arctic.

I was there a couple of days ago and yeah its a long way north, and yeah I will be there for the SES!

https://enduro-mtb.com/en/the-curse-of-the-national-uk-enduro-series/

A little bit more info here with interview with organisers of PMBA, SES, WGE and Tweedlove.

Does anyone know any more about how the 2019 series will be run? Is each organiser going to host a specific event which makes up part of UK series (how I expected it would be) or will a pre-existing event in each series be designated as a UK round (how it sounds in the article)?

Steve cracked the formula back in year 2 of the UKGE. Keep it simple, make it work for the riders that pay the bills before you worry about the elites. And then he kept changing it and just about every change saw less riders <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">come.And</span> the BES did much the same and started their series as if they were taking over a sell-out show.

Basically this. I raced the series back in 2012 & basically did a few every year. I used to really enjoy them, until the dicking around with rules came along. Then people started rocking up on Thursday night, to get practice in all day Friday & just sessioning the seeding stage on the Saturday. Working full time, i'm just not interested in wasting holiday to go racing in the UK.

That said, I do miss the bigger days out. Being southern based I have raced the Southern Enduro's for the last few years, which has been fun. But, the thing that makes them great (basically one day events) also frustrates me. A day out is 20km, including practice. I'd still like to do them, but have the option to race bigger events. The Southern Champs was a great event for this reason.

Reading that article, i'm sort of shocked that out of 9000+ racers, only 1500 have done more than 2 races and only 500 have done 6 or more. That pool of people is tiny.

Is each organiser going to host a specific event which makes up part of UK series (how I expected it would be) or will a pre-existing event in each series be designated as a UK round (how it sounds in the article)?

Not sure how much I'm meant to say yet but... a bit off both Pre-existing, successful, one off events.

Hopefully it will be a show case of the UK best enduro's and be a stepping stone to the EWS for riders from the UK. Whilst still be open and accessible to all levels of riders.

Reading that article, i’m sort of shocked that out of 9000+ racers, only 1500 have done more than 2 races and only 500 have done 6 or more. That pool of people is tiny.

bit sad, I completely agree that as fun as shorter local enduros are a big loop on testing tracks is what made UKGE stand out,

but UKGE full series is a big committment, across the whole country, in fuel alone is a fair amount, plus accomodation, etc

friday practice made it even harder, unpopular helmet rules, more competition, local & 1 off big events....

Reading that article, i’m sort of shocked that out of 9000+ racers, only 1500 have done more than 2 races and only 500 have done 6 or more. That pool of people is tiny.

And that's spread over all the series.

Reading that article, i’m sort of shocked that out of 9000+ racers, only 1500 have done more than 2 races and only 500 have done 6 or more. That pool of people is tiny.

How much of those one off riders are accounted for by Ard Rock? Though still huge, I'd say removing those Ard Rock riders who are there for a bike festival rather than a race would make the numbers far less frightening.

Fingers crossed organisers find a way to appeal to the masses and elites in the same event and put together a seires showing off the best available riding in the country.

2.enduros is easy with the local ones, it still says the serious pool is still small. Given how spread they will be geographicaly it sums up why a full on national series is a tough sell.

Potentially adding some more a/b sections and an extra stage for an elite serious cat would work for the regional events.

At the end of it you need to work out what a national series gets the rider who enters.

Does it get you ews points?

Does it get you more sponsorship?