Welsh Gravity Enduro Series (WGES) & Bemba National Enduro Series (BNES) Rules and General Rules 2020:

To define the rules specific to the events organised by WGES. These are designed to complement and support existing BC and UCI cycling regulations and are intended to provide rules and guidance specifically for the Welsh Gravity Enduro sector. This is not downhill or cross country, but a new discipline/format.

Refunds and Transfers:

If you wish to cancel or transfer a booking please note the following cancellation conditions:

Face value of 2020 WGES tickets:

WGES Mash UP races

£34.50

(£49.50 as sold)

WGES Series

£220

(£235.00 as sold)

 Welsh Open/BNES

£52.00

(£67.00 as sold)

or

 Welsh Open with Camping option

£60.00

(£75 as sold)

  •  If you cannot attend the race; Tickets are refundable up to 1 calendar month from the day of the race to their face value! all refunds will be paid to the card you paid with as soon as possible. Booking fees are not refundable.

  • All refunds are subject to a £15 admin fee per individual race entry. Multiple tickets on the same booking will incur the fee per ticket.

    Only refund or transfer requests emailed to [email protected] will be considered

  • Inform us of your full name, category racing and which race we are dealing with by EMAIL ONLY  [email protected] 

  • Please note we will not deal with any cancellations over the phone, by text or Facebook or any other social media.

  • Transfer requests up to 7 days before the day of the race are applicable for any remaining events in that year.

  • Transfer requests 7 days or less notice will be ignored.

  • Please note you can not swap your entry with another rider.

  • The race weekend starts from 15:00 on the Friday before the race, therefore the time scales above mean all e-mails must be received by our deadline which is 1 calendar month or 7 days respectively before the race day.

  • The above policies are not dependant on circumstances and are final.

  • Force Majeure: If Welsh Gravity Enduro is prevented (directly or indirectly) from performing any of its obligations under the entry agreement by reasons of act of God, weather, strikes, trade disputes, breakdowns, government or political action, interruption of transport, acts of war or terrorism, communicable diseases, acts of omissions by a third party for any other reasons whatsoever outside of Welsh Gravity Enduro’s control, then Welsh Gravity Enduro will be under no liability whatsoever to you and may as its option, cancel or postpone the event. If the event is cancelled or postponed we will not be liable for costs of travel fares, hotels, or any other expenses that may be incurred. It is your responsibility to ensure the race is going ahead before travelling. We will do our best to inform you if the race has to be cancelled or postponed via email & social media platforms. We do not accept liability if we are unable to contact you on the email provided or if you do not have social media. Online entry to the event implies knowledge of the aforementioned. We strongly advise that you check before making travel and accommodation arrangements. If the event is cancelled we are unable to refund or part refund any entry fee, we are also unable to transfer your entry to another event. If the event is postponed we will advise via email and social media, I you are unable to attend the re-scheduled event we will offer a time limited period of 7 days from the announcement for refunds, all refunds will be subject to the terms and conditioned outlined above. Please read all correspondence carefully! we are not responsible for wrongly read correspondence regardless of age. By registering to attend an event, you have confirmed that you have read and understood our cancellation policy.

    Please follow the Welsh Gravity Enduro Series on Facebook/Twitter and Instagram to ensure you are kept up to date.

Format for WGES Mash Up & BNES:

  • Mash Up! All stages are live timed for 5 hours* from 10:30-15:30. (* 4 hours 11:30-15:30 for rounds 1 & 2)
  • Mash Up! You can leave the arena as early or late as you like but live timing will start and finish at the published times
  • Mash Up! You must do at least 1 run of each stage to get an overall position
  • Mash Up! & BNES The stages are numbered and named.
  • Mash Up! You can do the stages in any order you like eg: if you get to the stage 1 and its very busy then carry on to the other Stages
  • Mash Up! You can ride in a group with your friends but please seed yourselves on stages and allow a safe gap between yourselves (20 seconds is recommended)
  • BNES: You will have a start time for each stage which you must endeavour to stick to through out the course of the day
  • BNES Practice, please refer to the schedule for the race
  • Mash Up! & BNES You must complete every stage in one go, no sectioning!
  • Mash Up! & BNES Pushing or riding back up the stages is strictly forbidden! Instant DQ!
  • Mash Up! & BNESYour timed stages will be added together for an cumulative time which will decide the winner in each category.
  • Mash Up! & BNESThe top 3 in each category will be required for the podium
  • Mash Up! & BNES Attendance of the prize giveaway on the day of the event is compulsory! or you will forfeit your prize. 

1. Bike

A. Stages during racing must be contested on the same bike. Unless you have entered more than one category eg: Hardtail & Ebike. Clearly there is scope for set-up change between practice race day, however, the same chassis, suspension forks, rear shock, wheels and cockpit must be used for all stages during racing. Random checks will be undertaken.
B. Bikes must be of a sound mechanical order and have no electronically or mechanically assisted motors (unless an Ebike). Bar end plugs or equivalent must be fitted. Official checks will be undertaken. Any rider not adhering to this will not ride the course or start the race.

C: Ebikes are to pedalec (Epacs) only and limited to 15.5 mph and to have no more than a 250 watt motor.

D: If you have entered 2 categories, you will only be issued one timing chip at a time. You must return the first chip in order to receive the second.

E: The use of Emtb’s  is only for those riders entered into the Emtb category.

2. Courses

A. Stages will be taped where it is deemed appropriate. Taping will leave suitable line choices where possible, but it will not allow for any significant ‘cutting’ of race track. Where course tape is only present on the outside of a corner, this defines/marks the route. It is not open to inside or homemade lines.
B. Two pieces of tape on either side of the track is deemed “A gate” and must be passed through.
C. Any competitor seen to be crossing stage tape, marker posts or taking any route deemed to be off the official race track will be penalised.
D. There must be no interference with the track such as removing rocks, roots or branches (Unless there is an inherent safety risk to following riders) Any competitor deemed to be interfering with the track will be penalised.
E. Creative line choice is allowed, however, creating your own trail/line is not allowed. If a Commissaire or marshal witnesses or receives unbiased witness evidence, the rider will be penalised. 2 riders (not from the same team) who witness another rider taking a short cut may report the rider with his/her and their number to the nearest official/marshall, stating where the offence took place, penalties will be judged on the amount of time gained plus a set penalty decided by the Commissaire or official.

F. For Mash up events and BNES; only full runs are allowed. No sectioning at all. If you have to stop please leave the race course as soon as possible.

3. Conduct

A. Competitors must behave in a sporting fashion, observe all rules and instructions provided by organisers, timing staff and marshals.
B. Should you be caught by another rider in a stage you must pull off the racing line to allow a safe passing move. The pursuing rider must give clear audible notice of which side they intend to pass. For example; the pursuing rider may shout “On your left”, allowing the slower rider to move to the right.
C. Foul or abusive language aimed at any of the Welsh Gravity Enduro series team will not be tolerated. Any such action will result in an on the day penalty. The organisers may also impose a lengthy restriction from any future events.
D. Any rider coming across an incident on stage that he/she deems serious must stop immediately and inform the nearest marshall.

E. No Motorized play things will be allowed on site.(Except for official use with prior permission)

4. Signing on

A. All competitors must sign on, pick up and fix their number board to their bike before riding the course. Timing transponders must be fitted to the right hand fork leg facing backwards as in the photo.

…
B. All competitors have to supply a deposit of £100 for the timing chip. This can be a credit card, debit card or cash. No money will be taken form the cards unless you fail to return the transponder in a reasonable time after the event.
C. Race numbers will be issued at every round so you get to keep a memento of the race
D. If you tamper, modify or deface number boards in any way please make sure all logos are still visible. Failure to comply with this will result in a penalty.
E. Personal insurance is not  mandatory but recommended.

5.Safety Equipment

A. Helmets are compulsory and must be worn at all times while riding a bike, they must also be secured properly at all times, they must carry a Snell, Kite mark or EN 1078.
B. If a rider is seen without their helmet on a transition whilst on their bike, a penalty will be imposed.
C. A full face helmet is NOT compulsory, but it is highly recommended.
D. Full length gloves are advised, body armour is highly recommended.
E. Shoulders to be covered by at least a T-shirt or long sleeve top, NO VESTS!

6. Link sections

A. The organisers will mark out a link between stages and a set time to reach the next stage. It is important to use the marked link so we can trace riders in case of emergency or injury.
B. Any rider caught or seen off the linking stage may incur penalties
C. We will endeavour to place an A2/3 map in the sign on tent for your reference, we recommend that you take a photo of the map
D. Helmets must be worn and properly secured whilst on your bike this includes all transitions!! 1st offence will be verbal warning and will be recorded. 2nd offence Disqualification!

7.Time penalties

A. There are no time penalties for being late in ether the Mash Up.

B. Late stage start penalties will be applied at round 6 of the BNES. You will have a start time for each stage that you must adhere to! You will all get a seeding run on the Saturday afternoon from 15:35 on stage 5! If you are late you will be slotted in at the earliest opportunity without causing interference to riders who are on time, Stages will close 5 minutes after the last seeded rider has finished the stage.  Penalties will be applied for every second you are late up to 30 seconds maximum per stage!
C. Please note penalties exist for not wearing your helmet and cutting transitions. 1st offence verbal warning,  2nd offence  Disqualification.

D. Stage finishes will close 5 minutes after the stage start closes based on seeding start times, any runs completed outside of this time will not be counted.

E. Seeding will count towards your overall time. Failure to complete the seeding run will result in the slowest overall time in your category plus 10 seconds being applied as your seeding time.

8. General

A. A second breach of any rule by a competitor will result in a harsher penalty, the organisers can also eliminate the rider from the remaining rounds of the series. No uplifting of competitors is allowed on Saturday or Sunday, if seen, you will be disqualified from the event and a possible multiple race ban may be applied.
B. There is a duty of care to your fellow rider, if you witness an incident please stop and help as best you can, Re-runs will be allowed in this scenario.
C. If a stage is cancelled due to an incident, all complete runs for that stage up to the point will count.
D. Gravity Enduro is by definition an Enduro, please take with you all clothes, food etc that you require to get you through the day and bring your rubbish back with you. Littering will not be tolerated.

E: Practice for the BNES rounds is ONLY allowed on the Saturday of the race weekend. If you are caught riding the marked/taped/signed stages outside of official practice (08:30 -17:00 Saturday of race weekend ) you will be disqualified immediately. No exceptions. The breaking of race tape at the entrance to a trail constitutes complete pig headed-ness and you will be cursed to ride forever in the shadow of shame.

11. Cameras (bike, body mounted)

The use in competition of cameras attached to riders, cycles or helmets is prohibited, unless previously authorised in writing by Welsh Gravity Enduro. Onboard cameras are permitted during practice or designated training sessions, but the use of such cameras is authorised solely when the camera is attached to the bicycle or top of helmet**. The rider is solely responsible for securing the fixation of the camera in order to avoid any danger or distraction.

**Helmet cameras are only allowed if fixed using a detachable factory fitted mount supplied by the helmet manufacturer.

Chest Cams & under peak cameras are strictly forbidden.

Responsibilities

It’s a Mountain Bike Race, there is an inherent risk to those competing, Entry to the event warrants acceptance of the risk to you and other people.
Riders attend the event on their own account and at their own risk. The rider is responsible for the safety of his bike and clothes. The organisation is not responsible and cannot be held responsible for any injuries and/or damages as results of any action during the event, or during practice for the event.

Online entry to the event constitutes full understanding of the risks involved in Mountain Bike Racing.
The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any rider in breach of any of these regulations.
This agreement starts with the entry. The organisation reserves the right to make any necessary changes or even to cancel the whole event according to safety problems at any time, official orders, government laws or other unforeseen events, weather, force majeure…
The organisers will endeavour to give all entrants a time derived from the electronic timing chip system provided. However, they are not responsible for the timing. This falls on the timing company.

In the event of no times for the event there will be no refunds.

Protest
Protests against the result or disqualifications should be addressed to the Event Organiser within the 15 minutes following the end of the race.

Data protection Act 1998
By submitting an application to take part in an event, the participants also allow the event organisers to use personal data for campaigns and activities connected to the events subject to current GDPR guidelines.

The personal data and entry specific information you give will be used by the Event Organisers for the purpose of processing and publishing entries and results and of maintaining membership information. We will not pass this data to any other third party unless lawfully advised to do so. Credit and Debit card details are held solely by the Payment Service Provider and are unknown to the Event Organisers.

The organisers shall have unlimited rights to publish pictures of the participants; to forward these photos to press representatives and to use them for marketing activities.
The organisers retain the right to change rules, terms and conditions as required.

Waiver of liability
Every rider understands and admits that his participation in the event is voluntary. He/she assumes full responsibility for any injuries or damages from his/her participation in, or practice for, the event. He/she recognises and understands that mountain biking and the activities associated with this event may be hazardous, that his/her participation is solely at his/her own risk and that he/she assumes full responsibility for any resulting injuries and damages that may occur.
Every rider affirms that he/she is in good health. He/she declares that he/she is physically fit and capable to participate in the event. Every rider understands it can be a strenuous day out with significant amounts of climbing and distance to be cycled in order to complete the course.
Every rider has to acknowledge that he/she has read and understand this entire waiver of liability and agrees to be legally bound by it

E. YOUR TIMING TRANSPONDER MUST BE HANDED IN AFTER YOU HAVE FINISHED OR IF YOU RETIRE. THIS WAY WE KNOW WHERE YOU ALL ARE

THE EVENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO FAILURE OF THE TIMING, COURSE MARKING, INFRASTRUCTURE.

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ORGANISERS, LANDOWNERS OR ANYONE INVOLVED BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE EVENT.