Best Endurance MTB Races

[CommanderBaker]

Soul Rider says "fuck the man".

Me like big laps too and fugg da man. I like to cover some country when I ride.

I've always been interested in Soldier Hollow, but it is same weekend of LOTOJA, one of my only road rides all year. Gonna ride LOTOJA this year with my new steel frame road bike .

[CommanderBaker]

I'm an endurance noob, but I rode the E50 in Park City last july and learned a lot. What I found really interesting was that the biggest obstacle to success was not necessarily fitness, but just knowing how to ride for that length of time. What I mean is that I rode a lot of training rides of 25-30 miles with lots of vert, and got to the point where I felt strong and fit. But I would hammer those practice rides hard and fast, and wouldn't really need to stop and eat much because they weren't that long. Well, at the 25-30 mile mark in the actual race, my body wanted to stop and eat, a lot. By that time, eating Gu was too late. I was pretty bonked out. So, I took it real slow, ate a lot, and got my strength back and finished the race. But I lost a buttload of time.

So, this year, I'm doing all 3 E races (12 hours of round valley, 100 mile relay with some friends, and 100k solo in August.) I'm hoping to be a little bit fitter this year than I was last year, but mostly I'm hoping to be smarter. Eat when you aren't hungry! All the time! And I'm definitely going to try to do some 40+ mile training rides.

If anyone else out there is doing any of the E100 series this summer, and wants to get out for some long days, lemme know.

Edit: The 24 hours of Soldier Hollow race is pretty new, and obviously close by to a lot of folks in Northern Utah. From what I hear, its a lot more low-key than the 24-hours of Moab, and probably a good choice for aspiring endurance geeks (like me). Anyone interested in putting together a team?

Good job Dong Luck Jong on the park city endurance 50. That is a challenging race. Eating is key - I still forget to sometimes and it will beat you down.

That is awesome to do all the Endurance 100 serie races this year. Boris, the director is awesome. I'd like race emm all, but have to skip the 12 hours cause it is the same weekend as the Creampuff.

The 100K Endurance solo is an ass kicker - you should be good and ready after the first two races.

I was a lil hungover (stupid) for the PC 50 last year and couldn't go maxi-super big. I think I finished in 6 hours. I wanna go faster
More single track more single track more single track

[mntlion]

http://www.braggcreek.ca/todo/cycle/bow80.htm

Bow 80

Bow Cycle's 6th annual Bow 80k Race.

Come spend a great day with everyone from Bow Cycle, and test your skills in K-Country with this awesome 80K Race. Hope to see you all out there!

Date: Sunday Sept. 10/06, sign in at 6:00 am

Registration: to be annonced

Participants: 200

Where: Station Flats, 16 km West of Bragg Creek on highway 66

Start: 7:30 am

Course: Starts at Station Flats, Sulphur Springs Trail, Elbow Valley Trail, Powder Face Trail, Prairie Link Trail, Prairie Creek Trail, Powder Face Road, Jumping Pound Ridge Trail, Cox Hill Trail, Tom Snow Trail, Lower Tom Snow Trail & Finish at Station Flats.

Post Race: BBQ, Massages (tba), Category Prizes & Draw Prizes

More Info coming soon on bowcycle.com



folks I ride with LOVE this race, mostly singletrack down, some ups are single some double.


also canmore alberta 24 hours is back this year.

[CommanderBaker]

How does an average Joe or mere mortal train for an event like this?!

Bike commuting is a great training program.

[CommanderBaker]

rontele: lots of time in the saddle

i did a 24hr race with some friends and two of their husbands decided to do it solo. They say the most important thing is not how far you ride in training, but more the time spent on the bike.

Though, i think both of them took a REALLY long nap sometime during the night and didn't ride too much the next morning. But they are mortals afterall, not those solo super freaks.



and speaking of 24hours races, has anyone done the 24hour race in Moab? I'd love to hear some beta on that one.

I've tried to do 24 hrs of moab a couple of times solo and ended up wussing out and doing 12 hours. I have a hard time ride around and around in circles. If I have a set geographical destination, I can ride there, but the concept of riding for 24 hrs straight just doesn't work well for me. I need to get tougher.

It is a fun race though because so many bike crazies. I might do it again a part of a duo or team. The course is challenging technically and riding through the desert at night with all those people is pretty cool...

[altagirl]

http://www.24hoursofsoldierhollow.com/

September 9th and 10th. Its at the Soldier Hollow Olympic site up in Midway. I don't know the exact loop, but theres a ton of trails/potential loops up there.

Each lap is 13 miles and 2000 feet of vert climbed. Burly.

Is any of this area rideable yet?

[Long Duck Dong]

Is any of this area rideable yet?

Yeah its all good up there. The ICUP has their soldier hollow race tomorrow, so the full loop is good.

[altagirl]

Yeah its all good up there. The ICUP has their soldier hollow race tomorrow, so the full loop is good.

Sweet. Maybe Lynx and I will check it out on Sunday.

[spanky]

On the east coast, the 24 Hours of Allamuchy is fun - although it seems to rain every year.

I'm seriously thinking of doing the Vermont 50 this year (riding not running).

[Lynx]

oh sweet, AG is on top of things.

yes indeed, maybe we shall (read: I hope we do!). can we find a useful map of the trails anywhere (hopefully at the soldier hollow info place maybe?)?

aside from this guy:http://www.24hoursofsoldierhollow.co...005_course.jpg

[Pedro]

On the east coast, the 24 Hours of Allamuchy is fun - although it seems to rain every year.

I'm seriously thinking of doing the Vermont 50 this year (riding not running).

I hear that Shit fills up Fast, like registration usually fills up in 15 minutes.

Let me know if your in, maybe ill head up. I have my eye on the wilderness 101, which is the same Day as the Jay Challenge www.jaychallenge.com. (Last weekend in july)

[goldenboy]

July 15. Crested Butte Classic, 100 miles, 3 (different) laps
Ultra low-key: no entry fee, no prizes, just ride and see how you stack up
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=175966

[CommanderBaker]

July 15. Crested Butte Classic, 100 miles, 3 (different) laps
Ultra low-key: no entry fee, no prizes, just ride and see how you stack up
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=175966

CB looks like fun I am craving some colorado alpine singletrack and beautiful views into Maroon Bells Wilderness. Do you think there will be any flowers I wouldn't mind hitting Doctors Park too.

I'll prolly always wonder what woulda happened if I took that job teaching at the CB academy.

I like these "bandit" races that are springing up. We need more.

The problem with alot these endurance races is that they cost so much to enter. I don't mind paying some because it is nice to have a marked course (I hate to stop and look at maps) and support stations, but $150-200 is alot for an entry fee.

I almost did the Kokopellis trail race this year which is another bandit race The Kokopelli race is hardcore - 150 miles of desert, totally unsupported http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=191723

There is another similar race this fall - the Grand Loop Race which circles the la salles hooking up kokopellis trail, the paradox trail and one other (uncompaghre???) - 350 miles and 45K vertical, totally self-supported. Hopefully it is a go after the problems at the Kokopelli race.

[p-tex]

Firecracker 50 or Breck 100

http://www.mavsports.com

FC50 is fun but tough. Did it last year. Good scene with the fireworks and post race beer.

[goldenboy]

No wonder it doesn't take much to get my ass handed to me in Crested Butte. Of the top 8 at Kokopelli, 4 are from CB or Gunnison. I'm a little proud right now...

[CommanderBaker]

No wonder it doesn't take much to get my ass handed to me in Crested Butte. Of the top 8 at Kokopelli, 4 are from CB or Gunnison. I'm a little proud right now...

Ha - tough guys out there ehhh?

I went to school (wsc) with Stubbe - who else is from CB/gunny? I know Ethan is and isn't Jon Brown?

I'd like to see the damage Jon Brown would do at the Creampuff. Could he keep up with Tonkin?

Tonkin is going to have some killer competition this year at the Creampuff - some bad asses from Utah are going to be up there this year.

[Bluebird]

I hear that Shit fills up Fast, like registration usually fills up in 15 minutes.

Let me know if your in, maybe ill head up. I have my eye on the wilderness 101, which is the same Day as the Jay Challenge www.jaychallenge.com. (Last weekend in july)

I, along with a bunch of friends, will be riding in the VT 50. I have never done it before, but all who have had a great time. It does fill up really fast.

The 24 hours of Allamuchy sounds interesting.

[mtnbikerskierchick]

I am a big fan of the Firecracker 50- a 50 mile mtn bike race largely on single track in Breckenfridge. It's definitely one of my favorite races. The race is 2 laps, 25 miles each.

[goldenboy]

Ha - tough guys out there ehhh?

I went to school (wsc) with Stubbe - who else is from CB/gunny? I know Ethan is and isn't Jon Brown?

I'd like to see the damage Jon Brown would do at the Creampuff. Could he keep up with Tonkin?

Tonkin is going to have some killer competition this year at the Creampuff - some bad asses from Utah are going to be up there this year.

Just a couple of tough guys, plus a really tough girl in Jari. Ethan Passant will win Montezuma's this year, count on it.

[DerJaeger]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the TransRockies Challenge yet. At over 600 km long, I think it's safe to call it a test of endurance!

(Not that I've done it myself; I wish...)

[Lynx]

oh yeah! my friend back east decided he was gonna do that race with a buddy, and they started training for it. and uh....i don't think it ever happened. i bet they got a-skeeered. real skeered.

[chaka]

for multi-day adventure, I hear good things from a reliable source who's raced them about:
1) Ruta de La Conquistadores (spelling sucks I am sure) Costa Rica
2) TransAlp challenge
3) TransRockies

[spanky]

Registration for the Vermont 50 opened this evening at 7 PM EDT. I got my registration in a few minutes past 7 and got this email a little while later...

Thank you all!
I thought you may want to know the stats on tonite's registration.
We sold out the MT Bike portion of the race in 1 hour. 612 in just 20 minutes. The total was 802. Yes we have a limit of 650, but we know from the past, 125 -150 will have other commitments on September 24th.
Thanks for making this registration the biggest yet.
We even have some early Runners signed up. We welcome them with GREAT enthusiasm. They are the growth of this event.
In the near future please check your confirmation slips closely for their acuracy.
I will make the changes if needed.
Cheers,
Mike

[Bluebird]

Wow, that is fast. The wife I signed up right at 7. I'm glad I didn't wait any longer. Let the training begin!

[CommanderBaker]

Damn VT50 looks great!! Extremo Registration. Did you guys have to train and take steroids to register that fast?

Creampuff has a 100ish person cap - nice thing iz that previous years riders get dibs on the open spots and the remainder of slots is left to noobs.

I am still figuring out what rides to do this year.

Definitely will do High Uintas Classic (sweet road race over Uintas), Creampuff100, PC E100, LOTOJA, and LCC and BCC hillclimbs. I want to do one or two more long MTB races out west...