2010 Big Blue Adventure Series

Although we don't often stray from "pure" MTB racing events here on the blog, I did want to take a minute and note the mostly NorCal-based Big Blue Adventure Series of Xterra (i.e. MTB) triathlons and off-road adventure races:

Big Blue Adventure features triathlon, trail running and adventure racing. Our courses offer authentic outdoor “Big Blue” experiences, highlighting the diverse and varied natural terrain and geographic regions of California, Nevada and the west. Experience the high desert, the Sierra and Lake Tahoe region in all of its summer and winter glory, conquer the rolling golden hills and reservoirs of the San Francisco Bay Area, and survive the rugged Pacific Coast of Northern California.

• 4/3/2010: Folsom Lake Adventure Race (Granite Bay/Folsom Lake, CA): 2-4 & 6-12 Hour Multisport Race with kayak, mtb, trail run, navigation
• 5/8/2010: Red Tail Adventure Race (Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore, CA): 2-4 & 6-12 Hour Multisport Race with kayak, mtb, trail run, navigation
• 5/8/2010: XTERRA Del Valle (Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore, CA): Off-road triathlon: Swim, Mountain Bike, Trail Run
• 6/26/2010: XTERRA Tahoe City (Tahoe City, CA): Off-road triathlon of Swim, Mountain Bike, Trail Run
• 7/10/2010: Ocean Blue Adventure Race (Half Moon Bay, CA): 2-4 & 6-12 Hour Multisport Race of kayak, mtb, trail run, navigation
• 8/28/2010: XTERRA Lake Tahoe (Incline Village, NV): Off-road triathlon of Swim, Mountain Bike, Trail Run
• 9/18/2010: Tahoe Big Blue Adventure Race (Northstar at Tahoe, Truckee CA): 2-4 & 6-12 Hour Multisport Race of kayak, mtb, trail run, navigation

See the whole schedule with more details at Welcome to Big Blue Adventure.

Downieville Classic Registration Open at 8PM

It's just about that time:

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING 2010 EVENT!!!!!
Ah yes, it's that time of year again. The race to get into the race. On-line registration for the Downieville Classic All-Mountain and Cross Country categories will be opening this Friday, February 19th at 8:00pm. We will post specific url links for each event that will take you to Active.com, so be sure you are entering the correct event. It is helpful to already have an account set-up with Active.com before attempting to register. This is important, because like I said, navigating through the registration process quickly and accurately can mean the difference of winning or losing-out on an entry into the race.

Here are the links (won't be live until 8pm tonight):

• Cross Country Race
• All-Mountain Race (XC + DH on same bike)

Good luck -- All-Mountain should sellout within 30 minutes or so.

2010 Gold Country Gravity Cup Series Finalized

After being thwarted in creating a gravity series in Auburn last year, Jimmy at Global Biorhythm Events announced a Super D / Downhill series for 2010:

It's been a long road to get this to happen. After a 5 hr long meeting yesterday the ASRA and Global Biorhythm events worked out the pro's and con's of having a DH series here in Auburn.This will be a 5 races series. April 3 will be the first race. Dark Horse racing, Auburn Bike Works will be helping with the DH events and Super D events. We will have a speed trap with radar !!. Full EMT staff. Full timed starting gate for both Super D and DH races. BBQ after events are over . Full van shuttles. The rest of the series will start in October - Jan. The Oak Tree Super D" is on June 19th. This super D is a long fast run. Starting at Green gate on Fuel Break to Culvert - cross the road( Flagman with radios) down Mammoth bar to Confluence trail. Finish at Confluence. More information will be posted in just a few more weeks on www.globalbiorhythmevents.com, Don't forget the Mammoth Bar OHV area charges $10.00 to get into the park so car pool on race day .

Race Day Dates:

• April 3, 2010
• October 23, 2010
• November 13, 2010
• December 4, 2010
• December 18, 2010

More information at Global Biorhythm Events

MTB Challenge Series Starts Tomorrow

Tomorrow (Sunday) is the kickoff of TBF Racing's MTB Challenge series in Granite Bay. Here a look at the series changes for 2010:

TBF Racing is excited to start our MTB Challenge Mountain Bike Racing Series at Granite Bay, Folsom Lake this Sunday, February 7th. This year our MTB Challenge Series will have a new course for each of the individual races, plus will feature some multiple trail options on the course for more fun.

The 2010 MTB Challenge Series will have a 7-mile course with more single track, less sand and no water crossings, while keeping all of the favorite sections you loved riding in previous years. The divisions and distances will be:

• Junior (14 and under) one lap 7 miles
• First Timers one lap 7 miles
• Novice two laps 14 miles
• Sport and Single Speed three laps 21 miles
• Expert four laps 28 miles

This year for the MTB Challenge Series we will offer a custom Series colored race t-shirt with the first MTB Challenge event, and then a custom MTB Challenge racing cap with the second event, and a custom pair of MTB Challenge racing socks with the third event. We will also provide more raffle prizes at each event. Sign up for the entire MTB Challenge Series and save $30 with a Race Week Sale on Monday and Tuesday, February 1st and 2nd on the 2010 MTB Challenge Series available through Active.com.

Looking across Folsom Lake, it still seems a bit soggy. We'll have to see what the weather holds tomorrow AM. More info on the races are available at the TBF Racing website.

Whistler Bike Park For Sale

Interesting news about Whistler's Bike Park (with a slight NorCal angle):

Whistler Mountain Bike Park in Canada, site of the Kokanee Crankworx and Red Bull Exodus, is being put on the auction block on February 19.  Intrawest ULC, owners of the Whistler and Blackcomb mountain resorts, are reported to have missed payments on a $1.4 billion (yes, with a ‘B’) loan last month.

The lenders, which include Lehman Brothers and Davidson Kempner, hope for a speedy sale of Intrawest  in one transaction.  The assets include more than a dozen resort properties, including Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Steamboat and Winter Park in Colorado and Squaw Valley in California.

Via Bikerumor.

2009 Loma Rica MTB Crit Series

Hot off the presses, a new short track series for the Sierra Foothills:

The Twilight MTB Crit Series at Loma Rica Ranch

Race Dates (Saturdays):

• August 8th
• August 22
• September 5th
• September 19th

The first of its kind, it is all about bringing more competitive Mountain Bike Racing to the Nevada County community. There will be food, local brews, local vendors, LIVE music and the beautiful Loma Rica Ranch setting. Anyone can come and enjoy the race days!

The series will be a benefit for Youth Bicyclist of Nevada County (YBONC) and the Nevada Union High School Mountain Bike Team.

This special race series will be held at Loma Rica Ranch in Grass Valley (MAP).

The course is described as "MTB Dirt Crit with a 1 -1 1/4 mile course with a mixture of single track,gravel road, pavement with some surprises." The race costs $20 for adults and $10 for Juniors (18-).

2009 Cool MTB Race Results

Race results for last weekend's Cool MTB Race have been posted.

Photos are posted at several places:

• BadJenny's Photos
• Kirby Photography
• John Mackey Photos

There is also a race report at the Xtreme Outfitters blog.

2009 Northstar at Tahoe Summer DH, Super D and XC Series

The folks from Northstar at Tahoe kicked down all the details on all their summer MTB racing series and it's going to be full season up in Tahoe: the DH and XC series are back along with a new Super D series (The dates used in this post are the newest dates, as of 3/14/09).

Downhill Series (DH)

Over 20 divisions for men, women and juniors, beginner through open class. Top three in each division receive awards. Cash prize to men’s and women’s open classes and Northstar Resort mountain bike tickets will be raffled off at each event! Raffle and awards are scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. on the Verizon Wireless Music Stage at the Skating Rink.

• Sunday, June 21 (All classes: upper to middle Karpiel. Expert / Pro: lower Dogbone (slabs), to bottom of Karpiel (vietnam), to stadium jump finish. Sport / Beginner: lower Phodogg, to stadium jump finish.)
• Sunday, July 26 (All classes: Gypsy)
• Sunday, August 9 (Expert / Pro: Dogbone, top to bottom, to stadium jump finish. Sport / Beginner: upper Karpiel, to Speed Control, to Phodogg, to staduim jump finish.)
• Sunday, September 20 (All classes: Boondocks, top to bottom.)
• Sunday, October 4 (3rd Annual Live Wire Classic)

Registration is $30 ($40 for open class) and will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. in the Village at Northstar ™ Season Pass & Tickets Office the morning of the event. Racer lift tickets are $30 (must have proof of registration). Lifts open to competitors at 9:00 a.m. and the first race begins at 12:00 p.m. Format will be a 1 run race. USA Cycling license is not required. Helmets are required.

Super D Series (NEW)

Super D is best described as a downhill cross country race.

• Saturday, July 25
• Saturday, August 8
• Saturday, September 19

Northstars Super D races will begin at 3:30 at the Top of either the Tahoe Zephyr or Vista Express Chair lifts and finish in the village. Super D is a hybrid event combining aspects of the disciplines of Cross Country and Downhill racing. These courses are typically not as technical in nature as Downhill races; testing both a rider’s endurance and bike handing skills. Most competitors will choose a 4-6 inch travel trail bike to compete on. This is a great event a lot of people can enjoy. There isn't a whole lot of climbing so you don't have to be in great shape, although it doesn't hurt, and you don't need a full downhill bike to make it down.

Cross-Country Bike Races (XC)

Try your luck in this fun, recreational mountain bike race for all ages and abilities. Courses are suitable for beginners through experts. Awards are given out at the conclusion of the series based on cumulative points. A generous raffle is held each week. Helmets are required.

• Thursday, July 2
• Thursday, July 9
• Thursday, July 16
• Thursday, July 23
• Thursday, July 30
• Thursday, August 6
• Thursday, August 13

The race fee $15 per racer or $70 for the seven race series. Registration is 5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. with the race time at 6:00 p.m. sharp. Stop by Big Wave Burritos & Wraps after the race for the awards raffle and Thursday Local Racer's Food & Drink Special.

Downieville Classic Update

Interesting little update on the Downieville Classic website:

STAY TUNED for the following new developments:

Title Sponsor pulls-out and leaves event in jeopardy. Remaining sponsors asked to step-up.

Talks resume with sanctioning body over Official All-Mountain World Championships.

Saddle Tramps confirmed for July 11th street party.

Say goodbye to downhill only categories, it's All-Mountain, all the time.

Mark Weir threatens retirement from the event. Jason Moeschler pledges to try harder.

So some of this definitely sounds like some pre-race hype (do you need hype for a race that sells out within 1 hour ?) but it's interesting that the Downhill only registration may be over. I, for one, think that's great but ... there will certainly be some unhappy campers.

Registration for the LOTTERY (?) is stated to open on March 15th at 8:00PM.

2009 MTB Challenge #1 Race Report

Quick update: overall results and divisional results posted.

Sorry about the delay but got sidetracked before putting together my race report. To make up for it, here is some quick video of the end of the race with a bit of the awards:


And here is my race report from the race:

The theme for my race day was "late." Late to get up, late out of the house, late to register and late on the course. I got to the registration table with 10 minutes to spare but didn't manage to make it up line in time for my categories start. I decided to just take off with the Novice group and see how it went.

Which was good, because even the Novice group was kicking my *ss. As someone else mentioned, the course was really quick and everyone looked to be in mid-season shape. Top experts were logging 25 minute laps (for 4 laps), Sports were in the 27 minute/lap range and some "Novices" were sub 30 minute/laps. Needless to say, I was not in any of those groups.

I got a decent but not good first lap down and started to warm up in the second. In fact, I even pulled a negative lap time but the third lap was my Waterloo. On a course which mandates flowy, momentum riding, I was tired and out of sync with some lower back pain (apparently I am not in "mid-season shape"). Towards the end of the race, I was felt like I was going backwards while battling the headwinds on the final stretch.

Net result: just missed racking up my first DFL of the season.

I clocked the course at about 6 miles per lap (first lap was 1 mile longer due to lead over levy) and 650' climbing per lap. It was pretty much like last year's MTB Challenge except you took the Cyclocross start (away from parking area, up on the levy and then to the "normal" course. Here's what it looks like on the map:

There are some photos on MTBR and Ron has posted his single speed race report on his new blog.

The next MTB Challenge race is in two weeks (2/22).

MTB Challenge #1 Preliminary Results

UPDATE (11:30PM): overall results are in. And photos.

Just got back from TBF's MTB Challenge #1 and I wanted to post some quick snaps of the preliminary results while they're still fresh. Click on the pictures to see them full size (so that you can read them).



Remember these are just preliminary results (I know that some of the results were mis-classified) and the final results won't be posted until tomorrow night (probably).

I'll have my race report with video and pictures later tonight.

MTB Racing This Weekend: Feb 7-8 2009

Not a huge weekend for MTB racing in NorCal, but there is a MTB Duathlon and the first race in the TBF MTB Challenge series going on outside Sacramento in Granite Bay.

Weather for the races are looking a bit mixed: although there have been only light rains over the past day or so (I can almost see the course from where I am), the temperature has dropped down to more seasonal levels. Expect low 40F, possible light rain but tacky course conditions.

Here's the full nationwide MTB race calendar for this weekend:

02/07/09: Southridge Winter Series (SoCal)
02/07/09: Global Bikes McDowell Meltdown (AZ)
02/07/09: Chanoko Mountain Bike Duathlon #1 (NorCal)
02/07/09: Dragon GAP Charity Winter Mountain Bike Race (MI)
02/07/09: The Dirty Dozen™ 12 & 6 Hour (TX)
02/08/09: MTB Challenge #1 (NorCal)
02/08/09: Nothing but Noodles Winter Short Track Series (NC)

2009 Schedule Starts with MTB KickStart Sunday

Yep, the long wait since the last November's 24 Hours of Gold is almost over. This Sunday is the first NorCal MTB race of the year: TBF Racing's MTB KickStart in Granite Bay, CA (near Sacramento).

TBF Racing started the KickStart last year (read my race report) as a way to gently ease into the MTB schedule. It is also a prologue to their MTB Challenge Series.

As XC races go, it's pretty tame: 7 mile laps of 900' of rolling hills (sometime with a little sand). Novices and Junior do one lap, Sport and Single Speed do two laps, and Experts clock three laps. Go to the last year's race report to see elevation and map details.

Event: MTB KickStart
Dates: January 25th, 2009
Location: Granite Bay, CA (Granite Beach, Folsom Lake Recreation Area) [MAP]
Competition: XC
Cost: $40, $50 on race day. 18 & under are $30, $40 on race day.
URL: http://www.tbfracing.com/events/mtbkickstart.html
Registration: active.com or onsite
License: none

2009 Prairie City Race Series

The race dates for the spring 2009 Prairie City Race Series have been posted. This XC series runs weekly on Wednesday nights near Folsom, CA:

"12 races Wednesday evenings from April 1st until June 24, 2009 (We will count your 10 best finishes toward your points total) NOTICE!!! There will NOT be a race on May 27th due to the Hang Town Motorcycle Races!

APRIL: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd*, 29th
MAY: 6th, 13th**, 20th (NO RACE the 27th!)
JUNE: 3rd***, 10th, 17th, 24th
JULY: BBQ & Awards - Date: July 1st - Location: Beal's Point at Folsom Lake. 6pm-ish"

Via Prairie City Race Series.

Fall Downieville Status

The folks up the mountain at Downieville Outfitters wrote to share the current Sierra conditions:

Fall is upon the Downieville Downhill, and some of the best conditions of the season are upon us. The fall rains pack down the dust, the trails get tacky like velcro and the fall colors entertain the eyes.

Riders will be able to check the Downieville conditions web page for trail conditions at: http://www.downievilleoutfitters.com/conditions.php

The Condition Reports are to help inform riders just how deep into the season we can ride the high country - and how great the dirt conditions can be. Riders usually think Downieville trails are shut down after the first significant storm, when it is sometimes rideable through Thanksgiving. A few years ago, rideable even into December.

We will be updating the conditions reports bi-weekly and/or after any storm rolls through.

So squeeze every last day of the high country adventure riding in before we are hemmed in to the repetitive local ride all winter.

They'll be updating the conditions every other week.

2009 World MTB Tandem Championship Rumor

Rumors have it that the Worlds MTB Tandem championships and unicycle worlds will be in Cool, CA in October of 2009. Things appear to be shaping up:

• Three classes (Men's, Women's and Coed) with "winners take all" in each category
• $100 entry fee
• 150 racer (team ?) limit
• Payouts for each class winner
• Unicycle race two laps 22 miles and Tandem three laps 36 miles
• The course will change from the Coolest 24 to be more Tandem friendly

More when I hear it.

2008 Northstar Live Wire Classic Results

Northstar at Tahoe has posted the results for yesterday's Live Wire Classic (PDF).

Congrats to Female Open winner Asa Salas and Pro Men's winner Tim Krentz.

Robert Lowe has posted some great photos on his smugmug site. The photo below is just one of dozens.

Live Wire Classic Weather Update

For those of you heading up the mountain for Sunday's Northstar at Tahoe Live Wire Classic, you take a look at the weather update before you leave. There is talk of snow at higher elevations.

Check out http://tahoemountainbiking.ning.com/ or call 530.562.2268 for the most current and up to date information.

UPDATE (11:45AM): Northstar has closed the MTB Park today: "Due to environmental concerns we have decided to not open today. When it rains and we create mud we have the chance of that mud being washed into the sensitive drianages that surround the bike park. Protecting our environment is our number 1 priority. We all do our very best to try and have the park open and be able to provide a top quality riding experience. We hope to be open tomorrow and still hold the 2nd annual Live Wire Classic. A decision on opening will be made by 8:30 am."

2008 CLIF MTB Challenge Results

TBF Racing has posted the results for Saturday's CLIF MTB Challenge XC race (overall, divisional).

Congrats to top Expert Male Keith Hillier (followed closely by Bob Delp) and top Expert Female Jayne Peterlin.

NorCal MTB Racing This Weekend: 9/26 - 9/28

It's about the last BIG weekend of racing here in Norcal:

Today marks the start of the Whiskeytown Classic up north just west of Redding, CA. It's a full three days of racing, starting with this afternoon's short track race at 4PM. This is followed by cross country race on Saturday morning and a Super D on Sunday. The XC race features 10 mile laps with 1400' climbing/lap while the Super D is a three mile descent. The racing costs between $20 - $35 depending on the event.

Tomorrow is a full day of XC racing across Northern California:

• In the North Bay, the 5th edition of the Lake Sonoma Series starts at 10AM. Located just west of Healdsburg (in aptly named Lake Sonoma Recreational Area), this monthly race features tough singletrack and costs $20.


• In the Sacramento region, TBF Racing presents the first CLIF MTB Challenge at Folsom Lake. It's a six mile course that goes out to Doton's Point and back (looks similar to the MTB Challenge courses). Beginners will do one lap, Sport two laps and expert three laps. This race will set you back $50 on race day.
• Further east near Reno, the Sky Tavern Resort will host the Sky Tavern Classic. Starting on Saturday morning, the XC race will cover 6 miles laps (with one to four laps depending on class). Sunday will feature a downhill race through tight singletrack (somewhere around 2.5 minutes long).

The MTB racing schedule starts to get a bit thin after this weekend, so please take advantage ...