[OGRipper]

I think some of you guys are taking it too seriously. Sounds like it's intended as a fun, grass roots event with a throwback, renegade vibe and a built-in method of leveling the playing field (i.e., darkness). The sort of event where the ultimate result is not as important as everyone having a good time, and where a little DIY ingenuity can shine. Kinda sorta like a chainless race.

If that is the case, the participants should willingly accept the challenge of figuring out a lighting system that works. Otherwise, it won't really be much different than any other race, and you should just run it during the day (or not at all).

 

[ChrisKring]

you don't need flood lights lighting the whole course. Might as well run it during the day.

I have a $99 Tourtech LED light that puts out 900 Lumins connected to a $27 Lipo 3S RC car battery that will run for 4 hours and charge in 1 hour. If you don't want to put your own system together, the Magicshine system is only $130 or so and is $900 Lumins.

I rode 24 hours of Canaan one year with less than 100 lumins and the downhill section was just as technical as most DH courses.

 

[Eastern States Cup]

4 Hour XC/DH relay race held at Tremblant in conjuction with the Canada Cup. We were up there in 2009 and it was pretty cool. All riders had lights and some sections of the courses were lit with generators. The XC guys raced thru the mountains village, while the DH guys rode up to the top and waited to be released when the XC guys got to the finish. The DH course was open ski trail to a tourist wood walkway next to a waterfall.

My buddy from Xprezo, Antoine finished third in 2010.

 

[Jim Mac]

consecutive usage is the key word. it gets dark at what, 8:30/9 in the summer and starts getting light around 6-7? 8-9 hours of on/off usage will kill a battery(unless im wrong about a light's burn time). plus, if youre droggy when riding at 3am im sure youll forget to shut your light off on the lift.


edit: lights on course will broaden the entry list even more, especially for those without lights.

Just look at how any 24 hour XC race is run ( I did 4 of them, though team only not solo). You plan out your recharging via multi lights/packs. Generally, the promoters provide access to electricity, you provide the rest.

 

[spleen123]

ill do it!

 

[EastCoaster]

I'd fill a bus of kids for that, no problem.
Free beer and rock and roll would seal the deal.

Gotta get Troegs to co-sponsor!

 

[EastCoaster]

The festival vibe would def. attract more folks like myself and the guys that I DH with...

We're not racers but love to ride DH. But attracting the WHOLE DH crowd... Pajama clad race and leave types all the way down to the DH for fun riders.... all inclusive.
More participants, bigger event, more fun!

Oh, and what Mickey said!

 

[Tedman]

I think the idea we have is a single run fun event, during a race weekend, for the people who want to have a good time at night. If its too much of a interference for the "serious" racers, then simply don't register.

Its a throwback to the days of fat tire festivals, and clean pure fun. The days that a lot of you don't remember because you were still riding trikes.
Believe it or not, there was a time when race weekends were a big party, naked crits, lake jumps, lots of kids races, etc. And yes, even Platty did night group rides from the top with helmet/bar lights in 1998.

Personal lighting would be the primary light source as it promotes bike lights and night riding. Hence, Lupine Light as the sponsor.
We don't expect a huge field, but if it got 25 riders out for a fun event, then that's 25 people that didn't sit around with nothing to do. Especially the campers.

We are lacking in fun events today. Most of us planning this are 40+ and remember how much fun race weekends use to be. We are just trying to reintroduce a tension-free event to today's race scene.

I noticed some of the posts immediately took this idea to a huge orchestrated event. That's not what we want to do. Simplicity is our goal. If it proved to be something people want, then possibly evolution could set in and bring a sanctioned, "serious" night event. But like everything, start small and move forward.

I'm glad to have read a mixture of opinions on this. You guys have given excellent feedback and input so far.
I appreciate your honesty, and enthusiasm and hope we can pull this together.
Thanks Monkeys!!

 

[jonKranked]

Hey Ted, question... with having a light sponsor for the event, would there be any possibility of talking them into either renting out lights for the night (like, for an additional cost to the registration, a light would be included for use during the event)? or providing a discount on a purchase of a light system on site with event registration? Personally, I don't have a light system, that's one of the things holding me back from this type of event, and I kinda doubt I'm the only one.

 

[SuspectDevice]

It is really rad that both here and in the Platty threads people are talking about rolling things back a little and brainstorming ways to have fun and help mountains get paid.
I'm afraid of how many mountain and races that we have here in the NE.
It's a double edged sword- it's sweet that so many of us have 5 fantastic race venues within two and a half hours.
Talk to mountain owners and mountain management they're not as stoked as we are. Some of them are scared. Rider days at some mountains are getting precariously low.
They key is to get more people to the hill on weekends that aren't GES,ESC or GRT.
Of course adding more activities to a big race weekend can be a recipe for disaster, or at least poor participation in some of the "peripheral stuff"
A stand alone event can be pretty hairy too since every weekend is already filled with race events preventing the serious racers from heading to their favorite local hill to "train" i.e. have fun.

The clear solution- way more fun, for everyone. All the time.
I'd love to see if an organizing committee could start shooting ideas back and forth in a way that the GES and ESC promoters can't.
They have their hands full putting together some of the best race series on the continent.

Does anyone want to volunteer to be the Minister of Fun?
We need to do everything we can to drive rider days to our local mountains

Without a lot of participation and planning by the potential participants pulling off something unique is very risky. In the DH world, which is WAY smaller than most people realize it's doubly slow.

Awesomeness- Engange!

 

[Tedman]

Hey Ted, question... with having a light sponsor for the event, would there be any possibility of talking them into either renting out lights for the night (like, for an additional cost to the registration, a light would be included for use during the event)? or providing a discount on a purchase of a light system on site with event registration? Personally, I don't have a light system, that's one of the things holding me back from this type of event, and I kinda doubt I'm the only one.

Hey Jon......thanks for asking. That's a great question. I cannot answer without consulting Lupine. My hope is that something could be formulated to provide riders with an opportunity to purchase lights at a discount or rental. I think he'd be motivated to work with people in an effort to get people involved in the event and night riding in general.
Night riding XC is already very popular around the world and this event could spread some awareness to the whole night riding scene.

 

[pterodactyl]

Im in...Would be fun to do an enduro DH or DH/ AM race in the night or day at Platty. I will wear a glostick suit.

 

[IH8Rice]

I will wear a glostick suit.

the 70's leisure suit will be hard to beat. its classier

 

[pterodactyl]

Right, the plattekill podium has never seen such class. I could wear my prison jumpsuit instead...I dont think i will need a light with that on.

Im thinking the Delta House team would and should be the premier team at an event like this. Not saying we would win or even do well, just that there is no doubt we would enjoy ourselves more than anyone else. We are always our own bike festival.

 

[TheTruth]

Ill go

 

[Sandwich]

yeah, I guess I think of a race like this a lot like a 24hr of lemons race. Sure the racing is legit, but you can win solely based on your choice of a horrid car or costumes..

 

[Jim Mac]

Im in...Would be fun to do an enduro DH or DH/ AM race in the night or day at Platty. I will wear a glostick suit.

Isn't that what you wore on your entire China trip? Chinese Pollution Body Condom?

 

[IH8Rice]

Im thinking the Delta House team would and should be the premier team at an event like this. Not saying we would win or even do well, just that there is no doubt we would enjoy ourselves more than anyone else. We are always our own bike festival.

best idea yet

 

[simontac]

Hi,

Had a friend who ran in the night race at COP in Calgary, Alberta this past September 2010.
Said it was awesome - and fast. Team division, and solo divisions. They had lights at key sections he said, but definitely not on the whole course.
Think it was sponsored by Red Bull or something.
He said it was the most unique and exciting DH race he has done.

 

[simontac]

Looked it up. Red Bull Dusk till Dawn at COP, Calgary, Alberta.
Start time 10pm, finish 5am.

Check it out - awesome pics and event. Do it in the east, and you will have more entries than you could handle.

Also I want to race in Enduro DH events - sort of like the 12 hr ones done at Angelfire and Telluride.

 

[DHJUNKIE]

i think a 12hour race would be freakin awesome as hell!

 

[bullcrew]

Hey Jon......thanks for asking. That's a great question. I cannot answer without consulting Lupine. My hope is that something could be formulated to provide riders with an opportunity to purchase lights at a discount or rental. I think he'd be motivated to work with people in an effort to get people involved in the event and night riding in general.
Night riding XC is already very popular around the world and this event could spread some awareness to the whole night riding scene.

We get 22+ riders for our (monthly) night DH trains till 12:30 AM here and the predator night race was a blast...
If you can pull it off do, Its a blast even under stadium lights theres a ton of black areas and its great...
Night DH is pretty sick definently push for it the guys would have a good time...