The Ex Enduro

08/01/2025

Great to see that Pete from made our event his 'Race of the year' in his recent 'Our Pick of the Best of MTB in 2024' listing on the site, commenting "Yes, I only did one race in 2024, The Ex. That said, it retains its charm as a low entry, race-only trails, tight-knit affair that just isn’t replicated anywhere else. Multi day enduros are not common in the UK but Mike and his team make it work, with many folk returning for multiple years in a row. I just wish it was closer to Scotland."

Great feedback from the man. If you fancy finding out yourself or having another instalment of THE EX, then make sure you preregister now on our event website www.the-ex.co.uk, to get the all-important entry link for when the entry goes live on the 2nd of March.

19/12/2024

After THE MERIDA BIKES / Merida Bicycles UK EX 2024 presented by Shimano-MTB was another huge success, and thankfully a little less soggy than 2023, we will be back for the 9th edition in 2025! It will, of course, take place on the hills and valleys of beautiful Exmoor and will once again be 3 days of fun, food and perhaps the odd pint.

As always, the focus of the event is bringing you challenging, grin-inducing riding and racing. This is supported by a laid-back and friendly atmosphere with little touches to make your enduro experience a truly unique one.

The 2025 event will take place from the 12th to the 14th of September 2025 and will be based in Allerford, a small village between Minehead and Porlock.

We have updated our event website, www.the-ex.co.uk, with all the usual details, including the all-important PRE-REGISTRATION page.

If you are in the mood to join us next September, make sure you go straight to the PRE-REGISTRATION page and add your name/email. This will give you the private entry link that you will need to enter when online entry goes live (for pre-registered riders only) on the 2nd of March 2025 at 9 am.

We wish you all Happy Holidays and New Year and hope to see you on Exmoor next September.

Paul, Michael and the whole THE MERIDA EX team

02/10/2024

The ‘dust’ has started to settle, and we are still looking back with a big smile on our faces at this year’s slightly more testing MERIDA BIKES / Merida Bicycles UK EX, presented by Shimano-MTB.

Once again, the team from Shimano did a sterling job keeping things going and helping immensely to make our event happen. THANKS!!!

We can’t wait to do it all over again in 2025.

More news about that soon.

24/09/2024

Another great write-up of our event, this time from the hands of the team at Mountainbike Rider Magazine.

See why MBR contributor and MERIDA BIKES / Merida Bicycles UK EX, presented by Shimano-MTB Grand Vets winner Mick Kirkman loved the three rather challenging days in the rain so much and why he generally thinks that THE EX should be on everybody's events list.

The Merida EX Enduro presented by Shimano is one of Britain’s most notorious three-day events. And as if the total of 24 stages and 4,600 metres of descending wasn’t enough, it was one of the wettest on record. That didn’t stop 80 entrants from enjoying some private trails and plenty of hospit...

18/09/2024

Always lovely to see our small event being featured on Pinkbike.

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/video-and-race-report-the-2024-merida-ex-multi-day-enduro-race.html

Check out the little race and event report from this year's MERIDA BIKES / Merida Bicycles UK EX, presented by Shimano-MTB and add it to your bucket list for next year.

Three days of riding, a total of 24 stages and over 4,600m of descending on trails that are little known and often not open to the public.

12/09/2024

If you want to re-live some fond memories/see what you missed, the full video from THE Merida Bicycles UK EX presented by Shimano-MTB is now live on YouTube - follow our link in bio to give it a watch!

Big thanks to you all for turning up and keeping the smiles going, plus huge thanks to the people who make this happen, namely our marshal crew and event sponsors:

MERIDA BIKES
Shimano-MTB
Silverfish UK
Race Face Performance Products
Bontrager
National Trust
Bristol Beer Factory

Is it too soon to think about next year? 🧐

09/09/2024

Day two at THE Merida Bicycles UK EX presented by Shimano-MTB was a big one! With 10 stages of sinuous singletrack to get stuck into, the riders had to rise early for their big breakfast - and coffee, lots of coffee. Luckily the weather was on their side, though trail conditions definitely posed a bit of a challenge with some slipping and sliding. That provided plenty of thrills and the odd spill as they headed up a stout 1,600m of climbing, with the morning uplift boosting the descending time to a chunky 1,850m.

Tired legs deserved a proper treat for Saturday evening, so the riders had a sit-down dinner, complete with white shirt table service. It was then time for them to have some special lactic acid laden entertainment, with some roller racing. Happily, no dinners were seen again, though there was plenty of sweat! That was followed up with some live music and maybe the odd hydrating sports beer thanks to Bristol Beer Factory

📹 Joey Millward

MERIDA BIKES

09/09/2024

What a weekend that was! It was quite possibly the soggiest edition of THE Merida Bicycles UK EX presented by Shimano-MTB on record, but it didn’t get in the way of a good time!

We’ll have a full report soon, but here are the overall winners in case you were wondering - though everyone that got to the end is a winner in our eyes 🤩

Open Female
🥇Rachael Gurney
🥈Amy Jones
🥉Natasha Litherland

Open Male
🥇Luke Teare
🥈Nick Horsley
🥉Luke Paterson

Vets Male
🥇Guy Chandler
🥈David Valler
🥉Stuart Brereton

Grand Vets Male
🥇Mick Kirkman
🥈Graham Sheldon
🥉Ian Sanders

E-Bike
🥇Sam Shucksmith
🥈Simon Wakely
🥉Liam Mason

You can find the full results by following the link in our bio.

MERIDA BIKES

09/09/2024

Day one at THE Merida Bicycles UK EX presented by Shimano-MTB is done and dusted! There may have been a bit of humidity in the air, but our 80 intrepid racers got stuck into our signature mix of technical woodland trails and flat out blasting regardless of what the weather was doing. After almost 1,100m of descending, the fun wasn’t over as the sun set - it was time for some more night racing courtesy of Exposure Lights Night Stages. It got pretty wild, but the reward of a big BBQ and maybe the odd Bristol Beer Factory refreshment at the end helped our riders power through!

📹. Joey Millward

MERIDA BIKES

04/09/2024

Even a perfectly prepared bike can go awry during the three days of rugged riding and racing at THE Merida Bicycles UK EX, which is why we're very pleased that Shimano-MTB are on board once again as a title sponsor. As well as helping to make the event happen, they'll be around to help if you've got any pressing technical questions or queries about Shimano products, plus showing off some of their latest kit such as the updated EP801 drive unit. If you've got yourself and your bike in a mechanical pickle, they'll also be at the event village every day to try and help get you rolling again too!

MERIDA BIKES

01/09/2024

And so it begins. (Marking that is)

31/08/2024

In just under a week's time, we will get ready for the much-loved Exposure Lights night stages at THE MERIDA BIKES / Merida Bicycles UK EX presented by Shimano-MTB when, once again, the riders will be tackling 3 stages and finish the day with the superb after ride BBQ at Horner Farm, just meters from the finish line of the final stage...as far as we are concerned, night riding perfection. A big shout-out to Exposure Lights for their continued support - we can't wait to get things going next Friday.

Only 6 more sleeps!