THE MERIDA EX is supported by some of the best names in mountain biking.
We have been in the business of making bikes for over 50 years, and while many things have changed over the years, we still make our bikes by hand. It was very much the intention of our founder Ike Tseng to improve the reputation and the quality of bikes ‘Made in Taiwan’, and that still remains the main objective for us today.
The last few years have brought some exciting developments, including the current range of our test-winning trail hardtail, the BIG.TRAIL, the lightning-fast and hugely versatile (see the 12 hours of enduro challenge here) NINEY-SIX, THE EX as well as Bikeradar ‘Bike of the Year’ winning ONE-SIXTY and ONE-FORTY, and the only recently launched and also THE EX winning ONE-TWENTY.
Many of our staff members are avid enduro racers and look forward to another chance to mix it up on the tracks and talk bikes with everybody over après ride drinks.
We are super excited to be part of this event again and look forward to welcoming everybody to the best-kept secret in the UK mountain bike event world.
Shimano was established in 1921, so it has been in business for over 100 years. In this time, we have introduced to the market many innovations in bicycle components and technology with our flagship road groupset Dura-Ace bringing di2 electronic shifting to the road racing world which enhanced and dramatically improved shifting performance, speed and accuracy.
This innovation continues with new products continually being brought to the market, one recent introduction being the Shimano STEPS EP8 e-bike system.
Our headline act, EP801 is a more intelligent drive unit that offers controllable high-performance power with a max torque of 85Nm across a wider cadence range than ever before. The result is smooth power and enhanced control to provide that natural ride feeling on the trails.
- 85Nm of max torque across a wider cadence range
- Smooth and intuitive for a natural ride feel
- Compact and light, weighing just 2.7 kg
- More intelligent, enabling FREE SHIFT and AUTO SHIFT capabilities when combined with the new DEORE XT Di2
- Provides expanded connectivity via CAN and ACC ports
- Quiet motor lets you enjoy the trails without distraction
- Improved heat management means no drop in performance during long climbs
- Extensive customisation options with E-TUBE PROJECT Cyclist app via FINE TUNE mode
- Assist modes: Walk, Eco, Trail and Boost
The Shimano Team are looking forward to seeing you all at THE EX to do what we love, ride bikes, talk bikes and drink a beer together.
Visit our dedicated Shimano STEPS website.
You can find out more about the EP801 power unit here.
Exposure Lights has been Designing, Engineering and making lights with real rider benefits in the UK since 2004. Born from U.S.E., manufacturers of ground-breaking components for 30 plus years, Exposure Lights are made to enable the rider to see more; the more the rider can see, the more control, the more control, the more confidence gained, the more confidence, the faster the rider will be, the faster the rider, the more fun had.
Exposure Lights are pre-loaded with technologies to make night riding easier; REFLEX Technology has three different ways for the bar light to calculate the rider’s speed enabling REFLEX to give the right lumen output at the right speed, so brighter when needed and dimmer when not all automatically. Hence, there is no need to push a button. Helmet lights with TAP technology, the rider simply taps the light or helmet to change the mode between high and low, no button needed. At the top of that descent, full lumen output with a simple tap.
Exposure Lights are thrilled to be once again officially involved with The EX and can’t wait to join the fun for the third year running!
Visit Exposure Lights & U.S.E. online.
The National Trust has supported THE MERIDA EX from the word go and has been instrumental in shaping the event into what it is today. A core purpose of the National Trust is to provide excellent access to the outdoors, sometimes through hosting events like THE MERIDA EX, to enable people to reconnect with nature and the great outdoors. This links closely with the Trust’s other core purpose of nature conservation and looking after the countryside for everyone.
Hopefully, people having a great experience participating in events like THE MERIDA EX will encourage to come back as visitors, bring their families and spend more time discovering Exmoor. For the National Trust, it is about building a relationship with people, helping them to understand and care for the countryside, growing support for the organisation and its cause, and ultimately enabling them to deliver a healthy, more beautiful environment.
Quality, innovative components, and thoughtful accessories—all made with a rider-first and no-compromise mentality. Whether you’re looking for a replacement part, upgraded components or wheels, or entirely new add-ons that modify the look and feel of your bike, every Bontrager product is built to make your next ride better than your last.
Born Out of Necessity
Race Face was created by a group of die-hard mountain bikers hell-bent on doing things differently. When the gear couldn’t keep up with the riding, we made our own. The mountains near Vancouver turned out to be the perfect playground to dream up and test legendary parts.
Rider driven, team tested
There’s one simple rule we live by: riders come first. We serve the rider and their needs because they’re the keepers of the sport we love. And before we release any of our gear into the wild, we have it tested by world-class riders on some of the harshest terrains on earth. If it survives them, it’s ready for you.
Lead Don’t Follow
We’re a lot like you. We love being in the woods, hanging out with friends, and flowing downhill on two wheels. We live and breathe this stuff, and we want to see the sport grow and succeed. That’s why we fearlessly take the lead, pushing mountain biking beyond what’s possible. We’re blazing the trail, and we want to bring everyone along with us.
One Big Happy Family
If you ride, you’re one of us. The only requirement is that you have fun doing what you do. Because when you’re fully in your element, that’s when you are free to push your riding beyond the ordinary.
Ex-Enduro
We at Race Face are honoured to be on board with the Ex-Enduro and help guide you through the event. We will be providing ratings at the start of each stage to prep you for the difficulty ahead. It might be a stage best suited for our Charge armour where lightweight, minimal protection and breathability are key, or it might be a full send stage, and you might want our Flank gear. Having ridden it before, there’s plenty of variety and lots of spice!
RideGuards are designed, tested and made in Bristol, UK.
With over 20 years of designing for some of the world’s best-loved bike brands, combined with our passion for bikes, design and local manufacturing, led us to create RideGuard mudguards.
We’ve used multiple guards for all sorts of riding over the years, and we felt we could make improvements. Our guards are designed, tested and made in Bristol, a city with a well-established cycling tradition. One that gives us access to a variety of athletes, riding applications to test our guards, and ensure they’ll work anywhere in the world.
We’re passionate about keeping things local and making our products as eco-friendly as possible. RideGuards are manufactured from recycled industrial waste, don’t require any extra packaging, and with added features like the Sag Setter on the PF1 guards, we’re making the most of every last piece of material.
Visit www.rideguard.co.uk online.
Once again, we are supported by the Bristol Beer Factory, allowing us to have a variety of their popular beers (all included in your entry fee) at the event, perfect for after-ride ‘refuelling’.