Equinox Omniloop | Unsupported Cycling Trial
A 24-hour 3D Time Trial from Ashton Keynes with three fixed loops, variable rider-chosen distance and points awarded for every completed loop.
24 hours in balance
The Spring Equinox
The spring equinox is a threshold held in balance. Day and night stand almost level, winter loosens its grip, and the year begins to open again. It is not yet the fullness of light, but the first clear sign of return: movement after stillness, growth after dormancy, the road beginning to call riders back out.
The second trial takes its shape from that balance. Riders move through a landscape waking at the edge of spring, returning to HQ again and again as the hours pass from daylight into darkness and back towards morning. It is a trial of judgement, restraint and renewal, where progress is built through choices made while the world is turning towards light.
About this trial
The second trial begins where light and dark stand level. Twenty-four hours, three loops and no fixed distance waiting at the end. Each loop offers a different bargain: Earth is short and quick, Sun stretches further, while Galaxy asks for the greatest commitment and returns the highest score. Riders leave HQ and return again, each time deciding what the next hours can hold.
The clock treats the field equally, but the choices do not. Through daylight, darkness and the slow return of morning, the trial becomes a sequence of decisions: when to press on, when to recover, when to commit to the long loop and when a shorter one is the wiser choice. The question is not simply how far the rider can go, but how well they can choose while the hours disappear.
- Series role
- Core Series trial · Spring
- Current edition
- 2027 edition
- Trial date
- 20th March, 2027
- Distance
- Variable · rider’s choice
- Location
- Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire
- Format
- 24HR 3D Time Trial
- Entry fee
- £90
- Entry status
- Availability via Eventrac
Trial entry
2027 edition takes place on 20th March, 2027. Entry costs £90. Current entry status: Availability via Eventrac. Eventrac, Solstice Series' booking partner, handles availability, rider details and payment.
What’s included
- Curated 24-hour 3D Time Trial
- GPX route files for all three loops
- Live Follow My Challenge rider tracking
- Rider registration and pre-trial briefing
- HQ open throughout with bag drop, kitchen, toilets and showers
- Dedicated nap area
- Post-trial breakfast, tea and coffee
- Hand-designed take-home trial map by Nicky Shaw
- Completion recorded in the Series archive
Trial format
- 24-hour trial window
- Three fixed loops from HQ
- Earth, Sun and Galaxy loop options
- Loops may be ridden in any order
- Loops may be repeated as often as time allows
- Every completed loop earns its full points value
- Trial Pass for completing all three different loops at least once
- Self-navigated and unsupported throughout
- Female Solo, Male Solo and Pairs classifications
The Three Loops
Every loop begins and ends at HQ in Ashton Keynes. Each time a rider returns, another choice begins: repeat what has worked, step up to something longer, or commit to Galaxy knowing what it will cost in time and effort. Loops may be ridden in any order and repeated as often as the rider chooses within the twenty-four hours, with every completed loop earning its full points value.
- Earth: Approximately 18km, 1 point
- Sun: Approximately 60km, 3 points
- Galaxy: Approximately 116km, 9 points
The final 2027 routes may change slightly as route checks are completed. GPX files and updated loop details will be issued to registered riders before the trial.
Trial schedule
- Saturday 0730H
- HQ opens and rider registration begins
- Saturday 0940H
- Registration closes
- Saturday 0955H
- Final start-line briefing
- Saturday 1000H–1010H
- The field departs in staggered waves
- Saturday–Sunday
- Twenty-four-hour trial window, with Follow My Challenge tracking active throughout
- Sunday 1000H–1010H
- Trial window closes by rider wave
- Sunday 1015H
- Breakfast, tea and coffee at HQ
- Sunday 1200H
- HQ closes
Gallery
- Riders gathered at the Equinox Omniloop start line (2025)
- Two riders descending at first light on a frosty morning (2025)
- Three riders with lights blazing through the early dawn (2025)
- Rider coming towards camera at dusk beneath bare oak trees (2025)
- Rider heading away into the fading light under a winter oak (2025)
- Rider in profile against a pastel sunrise sky (2025)
- Two riders on an open road lined with bare trees (2025)
- Riders cresting a climb with green hills rolling into the distance (2025)
- Rider turning into the Equinox Omniloop finish flags at HQ (2025)
Community media
- Going Long — Shorts: Notes from an Ultra — Steve: A 33-minute episode of Going Long Adventure with Steve Shrubshall, published on 28 March 2025.
- Riding the First Ever 24 Hour 3D Time Trial — Equinox Omniloop: A first-person film from the inaugural Equinox Omniloop, presented as a 24-hour 3D time trial.
- James Benson-King — Equinox Omniloop: James Benson-King reflects on the loops, fellow riders and the decisions that shaped his Equinox Omniloop.
- Dotwatcher Commentary: Dotwatcher’s tracking and commentary from the 2025 Equinox Omniloop.
- Jess Golding — Race Report: Jess Golding’s account of riding the 2025 Equinox Omniloop.
Common questions
What is a 3D Time Trial?
A 3D Time Trial is a twenty-four-hour cycling trial built around three different loops rather than one fixed distance. Earth, Sun and Galaxy each have their own distance, terrain and points value. Riders choose which loop to ride next, in what order and how often, accumulating points until their twenty-four hours expire. The third dimension is choice. The fastest individual loop does not necessarily produce the best overall result; riders must balance points, distance, climbing, fatigue and the time still available.
How does the scoring work?
Every completed loop earns points. Earth is worth 1 point, Sun 3 points and Galaxy 9 points. Loops may be completed in any order and repeated as often as the rider chooses during the twenty-four-hour window, with every successful repeat earning the same points again. Results are ranked first by total points, then by total distance covered and then by total elevation.
What is a Trial Pass?
A Trial Pass is earned by completing Earth, Sun and Galaxy at least once each within the twenty-four-hour trial window. Riders may repeat any loop before or after completing the three different loops, but repeated loops are not a substitute for completing all three.
Are the loops fixed routes?
Yes. Earth, Sun and Galaxy are three fixed road loops beginning and ending at HQ in Ashton Keynes. Riders receive a GPX file for each loop and must follow the published route and direction. Riders choose which loop to ride and when, rather than choosing their own route between points.
Can I repeat the same loop?
Yes. Any of the three loops can be repeated as often as the rider chooses within their twenty-four hours. Every completed repeat earns the full points value for that loop.
Do I have to ride for the full 24 hours?
No. Twenty-four hours is the available trial window, not a requirement to remain on the bike throughout. Riders choose when to ride, when to stop and when to rest. A Trial Pass requires completion of all three different loops within the time available.
Can I rest or sleep during the trial?
Yes. The clock continues to run, but riders may rest whenever they choose. HQ includes a dedicated nap area, or riders may rest in their own vehicle. Riders using the nap area should bring their own sleeping mat, pillow and sleeping bag or blanket.
What facilities are available at HQ?
HQ remains open throughout the trial. Riders have access to a bag drop, kitchen for preparing their own food, toilets, showers and a dedicated nap area. Riders may also return to their own vehicle whenever they come back to HQ.
Can I access my supplies during the trial?
Yes. Riders return to HQ at the end of every loop and may access their bag drop or vehicle each time. Supplies can therefore be stored at HQ rather than carried for the full twenty-four hours. Personal or private resupply away from HQ is not permitted. Commercial services available to the general public may be used while riding.
Is the trial supported?
Omniloop is unsupported. There are no organiser feed stations or support vehicles on the loops. Family and friends are welcome at HQ for the start and finish but may not provide assistance during the twenty-four-hour trial window. Riders may use publicly available commercial services such as shops, cafés and petrol stations.
Is there live tracking?
Yes. Riders carry a Follow My Challenge tracker provided at registration, allowing their progress to be followed throughout the twenty-four-hour trial. The tracker must remain with the rider whenever they are out on a loop.
Can I ride solo or as a pair?
Yes. There are three classifications: Female Solo, Male Solo and Pairs.
What equipment is mandatory?
Hi-vis, a foil blanket, bike lights, a helmet and a charged mobile phone are mandatory. This is the minimum required safety equipment. Riders remain responsible for carrying any additional clothing, food, drink, tools, navigation equipment and spares they judge necessary.
Is insurance required?
Yes. All riders must hold valid third-party public liability insurance and provide proof at registration. A minimum of £1 million cover is recommended. Riders are responsible for confirming that their policy covers participation in the trial.
What bike is suitable?
Any roadworthy, non-motorised bicycle may be used. All three loops use road surfaces, so a road or endurance bike is a natural choice, but riders should choose a setup they are comfortable using repeatedly across a full day and night.
What happens if I scratch?
Notify the organiser as soon as possible using the contact details provided at briefing. Riders who scratch should return to HQ when safe to do so and return any borrowed tracking equipment.
Are entries refundable?
Entry fees are non-refundable unless the trial is cancelled by the organiser. If the trial is cancelled, riders will be offered a transfer to the next available trial date or a full refund. Entries are personal and non-transferable unless expressly permitted by the organiser. Full details are set out in the Terms & Conditions.
Explore the Series
Previous trial: Solstice Alleycat. Next trial: Solstice Sprint.