Freeriding in Florida. Photo posted by ositoking.

I just spotted this announcement for a MTB skills clinic and race series in the British Virgin Islands that’s sounding pretty good to me right about now. Why wait for better MTB weather here in the US when you can just hop down to the Virgin Islands for an early start to the season?

The skills session and first race seem to be geared toward beginning riders and kids aged 8-12 so it should be a great family vacation opportunity. I think I’ll start saving up now to make the trip next winter

We’ve just updated the race calendar with the dates of the Carmichael Training Systems Sand Creek Mountain Bike races.  Most of the races will be held at Bear Creek Regional Park and the June 13 race is a UCI C3 race (one of just seven in the US) and a USA Cycling MTB XCO (Cross Country Olympic) Pro Tour race. If you live in Colorado, don’t miss the action at these races!

Press release from the Sand Creek Sports race director:

Get your bikes ready!  The Carmichael Training Systems Sand Creek Series mountain bicycle races return to the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado on Sunday May 10th at Bear Creek Terrace in downtown Colorado Springs.

This seven race Series features the June 13th Carmichael Training Systems Sand Creek International Classic at Cheyenne Mountain State Park on a new 8.8 km course in the shadow of Cheyenne Mountain, home to NORAD.  This UCI race is one of the races in the new USA Cycling Pro MTB XCO Tour as well as the Western Final in the new US Cup Series!

In addition to the four Wednesday races, the Carmichael Training Systems Sand Creek Series
will conclude on August 1st at the US Air Force Academy on the famed Falcon Trail as the State Games of America mountain bike race!

The Carmichael Training Systems Sand Creek Series is sponsored by Carmichael Training Systems, Ascent Cycling, About The Shot Photography, Kings Chef Diner, Front Range Othopeadics, Peak Regions Cyclist, Doubletree Hotel-Colorado Springs World Arena and
Sand Creek Sports, Inc.

Please visit the Sand Creek Sports website for more detailed race information.

Over the past three weeks Singletracks members from all over the world have added more than 100 new mountain bike races and events to the mtb race calendar!

Abovetheridge submitted the most new events, including mountain bike races in Virginia and the popular Muddy Buddy rides.  Congrats to abovetheridge who will be receiving a 1-year Singletracks PRO membership and a set of new Kenda mtb tires!

Singletracks frequent contributor, EZ-E, also submitted many new mountain bike events.  Among them, a few challenging 100 mile endurance mtb races like the Cohutta 100 and the Shenandoah Mountain 100.  Since EZ-E came in second place in the contest he’ll be getting hooked up with a Singletracks Training membership (should come in handy for training for a 100-miler!) and a Blackburn mini pump.

Fastedjones, a mountain biker out of Oregon, takes third place in the contest for submiting downhill and dual slalom mountain bike races in The Fluidride Cup series.  Fastedjones will get a Singletracks t-shirt and Niterider tail light for his contributions.

Thanks to everyone that submitted mountain bike races and events to the calendar.  With so many mtb races to choose from, hopefully you’re training and getting ready for your next race now!  Have fun at the races and be sure to come back and share your race photos and reviews!

Photo from Leadville Winter Mountain Bike Blog.

Most of us have heard of the Leadville 100 mountain bike race – the grueling 100-mile race course that takes place above 10,000 feet each summer – but there’s actually a newer race series happening in the Leadville, CO area this time of year: The Leadville Winter Mountain Biking Series. Melanie Wong writes about her experience riding in a recent series race in the Vail Daily and it’s a great read if you have the time.

Last weekend’s race took place at the Tennessee Pass Nordic Center near Ski Cooper and the course consisted of cross country skiing trails ridden in the dark. Apparently 65 riders showed up for the race (a record for the series) and there were riders of all types and ages (including at least one single-speeder). The next Leadville Winter Mountain Biking Series race will be held at the Mount Massive Golf Course and will follow a unique 2-person relay format around a fast 6-mile circuit.

It’s great to see groups organizing races and group rides during the cold winter months since most of us just make excuses that keep us from going out alone. Just goes to show you it’s always possible to get out and ride, no matter where you live or what the weather conditions may be!

Add any NEW mountain bike race or event before midnight, February 16, 2009 and get FREE Singletracks stickers, plus you’ll be automatically entered to win other great schwag.  We want to shout out to the top Singletracks users sending in the most races so far – Thanks to fastedjones, spazjensen, and element22!

You still have a chance to pass these guys up by submitting more new races/events, the top 3 contributors on February 16 will win:

First place prize: 1-year Singletracks PRO membership and set of Kenda MTB tires

Second place prize: 1-year Singletracks Training membership and Blackburn Mammoth 2-Stage pump

Third place prize: Singletracks T-shirt and NiteRider CherryBomb tail light

Adding races and events is super simple.  Check out the websites for your state’s or local mountain bike clubs and organizations for races, festivals, even trail work days.  Then come back to Singletracks and tell us the date, location, and a few other details so we can help spread the word about these great mtb events happening all over the world!  Fill out this Add an Event form with any NEW mtb event and your entry will be submitted for review and approved (if not already listed on the race calendar) within 24 hours.

When your mountain bike race or event is posted, you can RSVP for the event and let others know you’ll be there.  Plus, you can post photos and reviews of past events!

Have questions or need help adding an event?  Contact us.

An unidentified rider at the 2008 Arrowhead Ultramarathon (from arrowheadultra.com)

The Arrowhead 135 kicked off at 7am this morning with 61 competitors and riders on their way from International Falls to Tower, MN by any human powered means available (including mountain bikes). A quick check of the weather shows it’s -6 degrees about 4 hours into the race with snow forecast for later in the day. Nighttime temps are forecast to be in the negative teens and 20s but it’s possible some racers may finish before midnight (the course record is just under 16 hours).

The Grand Forks Herald has a great article about the race and profiles some of the competitors in this year’s race including one guy who spent the night sleeping in a snow bank to prepare! Most of the racers are riding Surly bikes to stay on top of the snow and to carry the required gear – sleeping bag, tent, sleeping pad, and stove with fuel plus at least 3,000 calories worth of food. The race is unsupported meaning riders need to carry everything they need to complete the 135 mile course on their own. In 2006 only 10 out of 46 racers finished due to temperatures in the negative 30s. Makes me feel like a complete turd for wimping out on riding when it’s barely below freezing…

If you’re developing cabin fever while trying to stay in mountain biking shape this winter, you can also be preparing your 2009 race plans. If you have never tried a mountain bike race, find a race and you just might surprise yourself with how fun and rewarding it can be. For inspiration, let’s take a peek into the life of Unreal Cycles sponsored racer, Matt Adams. Matt shared with us his passion for riding bikes, his training regimen, and his 2009 racing schedule:

“Over the past seven years I have spent countless hours aboard my bicycle. My two wheeled companion has given me way to escape the trials of day-to-day life, a way to lose myself in another world.

My Unreal Junior has become a close companion. Downhill, dirt jumps, street, or slalom, the Junior loves it all. It has helped to make my training a joyful experience.

I ride a minimum of four days a week, more if I can help it. The typical day involves racing cars down the suburban streets in my hometown of Pacifica, California. Then hitting the dirt jumps or downhill trails, depending on my mood: keeping it fun is important. At least three of these ride days are followed by a second grueling upper or full body workout. I have found jiu-jitsu to be an excellent addition to my training regime. Twice a week I hit the mats for 3 1/2 hours. The core workout is intense. Sit-ups, leg lifts, pushups, pull ups, bench press and curls are a daily must as well.

In 2009 I will be focusing on racing on the west coast. I’ll be hitting some of the local Sandhill Ranch series, the Sea Otter Classic, some North Star races, and the Southridge Classic in Fontana come November. I will also be doing several of the CCCX races in Monterey. Also in 2009 I will be helping instruct at a local XC camp, and doing a 24 hour race in July.”

We’re wishing Matt the best of luck in his upcoming races. This spring, we’ll be testing an Unreal frame similar to Matt’s, so stay tuned for more about this unique build from Unreal Cycles.

A race schedule like Matt’s may seem daunting to most of us, but to reiterate his own words,”keeping it fun is important.” So what are you waiting for? Whether it’s entering your first mountain bike race or testing your endurance in a 24 hour race, just get out there and have fun!

If you’re seeking a little adventure on the cheap in 2009 consider the Khanchendzonga Mountain Bike Challenge March 18-30 in the Indian Himalayas. The race course will cover 267 miles and nearly 46,000 feet of climbing over nine days of racing. The best part (other than getting to spend nearly 2 weeks in India): the race costs just $500 which includes 3 nights in hotel, 9 nights in tents during the race, and breakfast & dinner. It’s all part of an effort by the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation to increase travel and tourism in the region. Airfare to India is probably the biggest expense for most riders but once you’re there you’re all set except for the bike!

The race stages themselves are relatively short (between 23 and 44 miles per day) which gives riders the chance to experience the cultural richness at each stop. Tread ranges from singletrack to jeep tracks to village roads so there’s definitely plenty of opportunity to get some Indian dirt on your knobbies!

I had the opportunity to go to India a few years back and although I didn’t make it to the Himalaya it was definitely a trip of a lifetime. I just hope the air quality is better in the Himalaya than it is in some of the larger cities – might want to bring a dust mask just in case!