Bushwhack Mountain Bike Challenge

IMPORTANT! Due to wet trail conditions, this event will not be held on Feb 23rd. We're seeking permission to hold it on a later date and will post that info as soon as we have it confirmed. Until then, registration has been turned off. We'll email out info to attendees as soon as we know the plan.

Mountain bike endurance event consisting of Lake Crabtree singletrack and Umstead State Park gravel paths. Treat this as a preseason fitness test and a replicable training ride to measure your fitness and equipment over the upcoming season.

Riders will complete a loop of Lake Crabtree Trails, enter Umstead State Park for an approximately 18 mile double-loop and then finish back at Lake Crabtree with a second loop. The route totals about 32 miles. This will be the same course used in 2012 & 2013. Links to the route maps are below.

No prizes. No swag. Finish times will be posted online.

We'll start in three waves (Expert, Sport, and Rec) with a short road prologue to help spread the field before you hit the singletrack.

$35.00 per rider, with a limit of 125 riders.

Registration is through this Meetup and Paypal. See below for details. Waivers will be signed at check-in.

REQUIRED GEAR:

• mountain bike

• helmet

• cell phone

• race number visible on front

RECOMMENDED GEAR:

• food/drink for duration (water spigots available in Umstead)

• plastic bag to keep phone dry

SCHEDULE:

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM; Check-in at parking lot near Lake Crabtree County Park boat ramp.

9:00 AM – Pre-event briefing at check-in location.

9:30 AM - Event Start at the check-in location. The Finish will be back at this same location.

Park etiquette:

THIS IS BIG - A disproportionate volume of complaints inside Umstead State Park are that a mountain biker rudely buzzed by a horse/runner/soccer mom.

• Pass on the left and call out before you pass.

• Generally keep right.

• Yield to walkers, runners, and horses.

• Don't buzz other park users - even when they're 8 abreast on a trail.

• Do not litter.

• Be A kind park user.

• Wave and say thank you to park staff.

Route:

Course maps: Part 1 map (http://www.gobushwhack.com/images/Map1-Bushwhack_MTB_Race_LCCP_Start_Route_Rev1.pdf), Part 2 map (http://www.gobushwhack.com/images/Map2-Bushwhack_MTB_Race_Umstead_Loop_Rev1.pdf), Part 3 map

A lap around LCCP and out the back gate by the bench, then a lap around Umstead (Reedy Creek Lake Trail, left on S.Turkey Creek Trail, left on Cedar Ridge Trail, right on Reedy Creek Lake Trail, right on Graylyn Trail, right on N. Turkey Creek Trail, straight on S.Turkey Creek Trail, right on Reedy Creek Lake Trail, to Old Reedy Creek Road), and a final lap around LCCP again. Route turns will be marked with field chalk and arrows in LCCP and with arrows on paper plates in Umstead.

Estimated distance = about 32 miles