It’s been a busy summer at Full On as we’ve been gearing up for the upcoming season, but, in July we hit the road, headed to the Rockies 24 event in Canmore. After a few pit stops to visit shops and host demo rides, we made it to the Canmore Nordic Center, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.
This was our first time at the event and we quickly saw why it's known as a "bike party in the Rockies". We were excited to be there as official partners, setting up our tent to support the community of solo riders and teams. The race was founded by Cory Wallace, a six-time World Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Champion, and we were glad to be a part of the event he has built.
We arrived early on Friday and started the day by pre-riding the course to see what our customers would be in for. We then made sure all the folks using our lights were set up and ready to go for the race. It was awesome meeting everyone and the vibe around the Nordic Center was great.
Unfortunately for everyone, the weather turned and the rain started on Friday night and made the racing even more challenging. The weather eventually let up during the evening, but the course was muddy and the temperatures were unseasonably cold (down to 6 degrees overnight). We were impressed by the racers' resilience and determination to keep on riding through tough conditions.
Something that we noticed was the high level of attention that riders pay to everything else on their bikes, lighter wheels, faster-rolling tires, perfectly tuned suspension, but lighting seemed to be an afterthought. When it comes to the crucial night laps, it seemed to me that riders viewed their lighting as good enough... and really as a commodity where all lights are more or less the same. Some even said their lights are 10 years old but they are still good. There are few bike related accessories that we accept as good after 10 years, and more so with bike lights where the LED and battery technologies have improved vastly over that time.
(An example of some common lighting we were seeing on the left, Sean decided to go help out and shine an MB6 on the trail on the right)
Throughout the night, the last thing riders should have to worry about is their equipment. Our goal was to ensure a seamless riding experience when using our lights. We were set up on the course and did quick battery changes for our customers, giving them one less thing to worry about so they could focus on navigating the challenging course.
The reward for us was seeing the impact firsthand. To be honest, we weren’t surprised when one of our renters told us he had clocked his single fastest lap of the entire 24-hour race in the dead of night using the MB6. Using our light, he was able to ride with a confidence that others simply couldn't find in the dark. It was awesome to have another rider say:
“I used this light at the 24hr race. Amazing light for its light projection, wide beam and brightness. I've been using this light all summer and looking for way more night riding because of it. Do yourself a favour - after you look at all of what's out there, buy the MB6. You'll be amazed.”
Another highlight was seeing 2023 Nepal National Champion, Usha Khanal, using our light for her night laps. Usha is an incredible athlete who has represented her country at the UCI Cycling World Championships and numerous other events.. Knowing that an elite rider of her caliber trusted our equipment to guide her through the mud and rain was great.
The Rockies 24 weekend was a testament to the grit and stoke of the mountain biking community, and we definitely recommend people add it to their 2026 calendars. We left Canmore ready for sleep and really encouraged by the feedback we received on the MB6 and how it helped riders ride faster, feel safer and have more fun. We’ll be back for sure next year and maybe even with a team of our own. If you want to ride with us, shoot us a message!
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